How many people on the moped?

It is not surprising this doesn't happen every day and maybe it does and never makes it into the paper but yesterday a woman and her infant baby were killed and three others were injured when the electric moped the five rode was hit by a truck at a busy intersection. That's right - five people on an electric moped.

The woman's husband, their daughter and nephew were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment and are now in stable condition.

The woman, 28, and the 11-month-old infant she held in her arms, died on the scene after the truck knocked down their moped and ran over them, witnesses said. According to the woman's husband, surnamed Mu, the family was taking the baby to a nearby hospital to have a vaccine and they were stopping their moped at a red light when the fully loaded construction vehicle hit them.

What is most amazing here is that five people on a moped is not a rare occurance - you see it all the time and marvel at the way they all can even fit on to it.

Which brings me to the rule of the road - pedestrians have no rights whatsoever here in Shanghai. Vehicles rule, even mopeds. If you are crossing on a green light, that means nothing to cars turning right or left. If you are in their way, watch out - or more likely lights out!! You don't play chicken with these guys either. They are on a mission to get somewhere and nothing stands between them and their destination. Buses included. Two days ago Theresa and I saw a bus round a corner on a red light going at least 70KM an hour. If anybody had been crossing they were toast.

So there you have it. My upbeat post for today.