Red Robot Project

http://redrobotproject.wordpress.com/

Long overdue for a really hard look, red robots in Johannesburg are a unique subculture all of their own. Here's how it works:

You're driving along going somewhere nice and gentle, robot changes to red, you stop. All of a sudden there are people surrounding you, your windows are being washed, homeless talk is held up for you to see, some bloke has a black plastic bag offering to take your rubbish ... a young boy with a circus type act is showing off in the pedestrian crossing, his friend running around to the cars for tips. Beggar at the robot smiles and puts his hands together in the "please or thank you" gesture ... and there are some toy dogs waving tails and dancing. Oh, i nearly forgot the cell phone charger salesman.

When the light changes to green, these people all flee to the pavements again, en route to the crossing roads, which are now stopped. And it goes like this all day. Beggars, from 8 year old kids to ancient old men without legs, black and white alike, cardboard signs or no, they are there, you cannot ignore them.

Being on a bike saves me being the target of any of these people begging for attention, and hopefully cash. For me they represent a huge threat to my (and their) safety ... so as long as they get out of my way, i don't really have any direct contact with them. I've made a special plan sometimes, my favourite is a mixed fruit basket, lady with a kid, and of course colouring books and crayons. Never money, but for a hungry and thirsty kid, mixed fruit must be awesome. They're there everyday, so if you forget today tomorrow is another day .... but day in day out, well, you'd have to be desperate to be there.

A huge thanks to Sarah Britten for starting this page, i'll add it on the right under blogroll somewhere.

peace