For my Nairobi friends, I want to update you on the latest changes in Bunyala road. The roundabout is no better, and is possibly worse, but that is not my topic today.
As I walked out of the compound for my afternoon exercise of playing in the traffic, I was surprised to find that there wasn't any! For weeks there have been more cars trying to get down the hill in the afternoon than most could shake a stick at. By the time you dodged the ones coming down, you nearly got hit by the ones trying to come up. All traffic had been diverted from Bunyala Road onto two dirt roads leading into Masaba. Masaba Road was utter chaos after 4:00 pm until about 8:00 or 9:00 as cars exited Masaba turning right onto Bunyala to go on to the main road through Nairobi, Uhuru Highway.
So, where were all the cars on Friday? I walked along Kiambere Road, where there was still no traffic. So, I guessed that Bunyala must be open, but Kiambere was still blocked. I was right. Both sides of Bunyala were functioning, two lanes in each direction. The equipment, the piles of dirt, everything had been cleared away and traffic was all there. It was coming UP Bunyala quite well, but going down was two to three lanes deep, trying to cross the bridge over the railway line and get past the roundabout.
Then today, Saturday, I decided to try to go do my shopping about 3:30 in the afternoon. That isn't the best time, but that's another story. I decided to head down Masaba and turn right on Bunyala. I've been doing that for 30 years. As I made the turn, I noticed the dreaded triangle!
For some time now, the traffic department has been trying to stop people turning right across oncoming traffic. The latest plan for that is to put in a triangle that forces you to turn left. Today, that would have meant driving to the top of the hill, trying to get around the roundabout at the top (where there were already double lines of traffic in parking mode) and then inching my way all the way back down the hill. Beware, fellow-Nairobiites, if you make that right turn, you will likely end up in traffic court. I escaped that fate today, but will not be making that little move in the future, God willing.
Getting to church in the morning is going to require some strategic planning. If I go up the hill, I will get into the Catholic church traffic. If I go down the hill, the police may catch me turning right. So, if I go down the hill, then up the hill, round the roundabout and back down the hill, maybe I can finally get on the road to get to church. Life is certainly getting more complicated in Nairobi.
As I walked out of the compound for my afternoon exercise of playing in the traffic, I was surprised to find that there wasn't any! For weeks there have been more cars trying to get down the hill in the afternoon than most could shake a stick at. By the time you dodged the ones coming down, you nearly got hit by the ones trying to come up. All traffic had been diverted from Bunyala Road onto two dirt roads leading into Masaba. Masaba Road was utter chaos after 4:00 pm until about 8:00 or 9:00 as cars exited Masaba turning right onto Bunyala to go on to the main road through Nairobi, Uhuru Highway.
So, where were all the cars on Friday? I walked along Kiambere Road, where there was still no traffic. So, I guessed that Bunyala must be open, but Kiambere was still blocked. I was right. Both sides of Bunyala were functioning, two lanes in each direction. The equipment, the piles of dirt, everything had been cleared away and traffic was all there. It was coming UP Bunyala quite well, but going down was two to three lanes deep, trying to cross the bridge over the railway line and get past the roundabout.
Then today, Saturday, I decided to try to go do my shopping about 3:30 in the afternoon. That isn't the best time, but that's another story. I decided to head down Masaba and turn right on Bunyala. I've been doing that for 30 years. As I made the turn, I noticed the dreaded triangle!
For some time now, the traffic department has been trying to stop people turning right across oncoming traffic. The latest plan for that is to put in a triangle that forces you to turn left. Today, that would have meant driving to the top of the hill, trying to get around the roundabout at the top (where there were already double lines of traffic in parking mode) and then inching my way all the way back down the hill. Beware, fellow-Nairobiites, if you make that right turn, you will likely end up in traffic court. I escaped that fate today, but will not be making that little move in the future, God willing.
Getting to church in the morning is going to require some strategic planning. If I go up the hill, I will get into the Catholic church traffic. If I go down the hill, the police may catch me turning right. So, if I go down the hill, then up the hill, round the roundabout and back down the hill, maybe I can finally get on the road to get to church. Life is certainly getting more complicated in Nairobi.
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