I ride motos (motorcycle taxis) at least 7 times a week, so these are some fun things that happen.
Try as I might to avoid it, when a moto stops and starts quickly, our helmets bang together. It’s super awkward.
During my commute to the YWCA, there is a big, long hill that we drive down and it’s gorgeous, but also a little terrifying? It’s like a drop on a rollercoaster with no straps.
Motos have pretty much free range of the road, so I normally feel a little smug weaving in between stopped cars at an intersection to get to the front. Cars are for suckers.
Sometimes, while I’m on a moto, we have to stop and get gas. Good thing being late is normal in Rwanda!
You’d think that moto drivers would always have change on them, but you’d be wrong. I’ve had motos stop and get change from gas stations, MTN booths (kind of like a bank, and phone booth in one? Idk how to explain it), and even other motos. Now I warn them if I only have big bills.
One of my favorite things is when it rains really hard, if you’re going down the street, you see dozens of moto drivers huddled under any kind of awning, building, what have you. Nothing like a bunch of grown men hiding from the rain.
Another fun thing is that motos can transport what seems like anything. I’ve seen a queen-sized MATTRESS on the back of a moto, for pete’s sake. They’re just driving along, minding their own business.
You have to haggle a price before you get on the moto, which was bad news for me at first because I’m TERRIBLE at haggling, but I always know when they’re trying to overcharge me (a muzungu price) because they smile after they tell me how much. Moto drivers really need to work on their poker faces.
Rwandans don’t hold on to anything while they’re on motos, so I always look like a n00b with one hand on the back handle of the seat.
Yesterday my moto driver stopped for a second just to talk to his friends before we continued on my way to work.
The end.
Below I have (the majority of) my commute work! Also just do me a favor and don't look at my face in the sideview mirror. That's embarrassing.
Try as I might to avoid it, when a moto stops and starts quickly, our helmets bang together. It’s super awkward.
During my commute to the YWCA, there is a big, long hill that we drive down and it’s gorgeous, but also a little terrifying? It’s like a drop on a rollercoaster with no straps.
Motos have pretty much free range of the road, so I normally feel a little smug weaving in between stopped cars at an intersection to get to the front. Cars are for suckers.
Sometimes, while I’m on a moto, we have to stop and get gas. Good thing being late is normal in Rwanda!
You’d think that moto drivers would always have change on them, but you’d be wrong. I’ve had motos stop and get change from gas stations, MTN booths (kind of like a bank, and phone booth in one? Idk how to explain it), and even other motos. Now I warn them if I only have big bills.
One of my favorite things is when it rains really hard, if you’re going down the street, you see dozens of moto drivers huddled under any kind of awning, building, what have you. Nothing like a bunch of grown men hiding from the rain.
Another fun thing is that motos can transport what seems like anything. I’ve seen a queen-sized MATTRESS on the back of a moto, for pete’s sake. They’re just driving along, minding their own business.
You have to haggle a price before you get on the moto, which was bad news for me at first because I’m TERRIBLE at haggling, but I always know when they’re trying to overcharge me (a muzungu price) because they smile after they tell me how much. Moto drivers really need to work on their poker faces.
Rwandans don’t hold on to anything while they’re on motos, so I always look like a n00b with one hand on the back handle of the seat.
Yesterday my moto driver stopped for a second just to talk to his friends before we continued on my way to work.
The end.
Below I have (the majority of) my commute work! Also just do me a favor and don't look at my face in the sideview mirror. That's embarrassing.