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Bali's Traffic: The Beautiful Chaos That Makes Sense
Your first ride from the airport is a shock to the system. You look out the window and there it is, a river of cars, buses, trucks, vans and what feels like a million scooters, all flowing together in a way that looks, frankly, like madness. Your knuckles go white on the door handle and you wonder how anyone survives this. But here is the thing about Bali's traffic. Give it a day or two and you start to see it differently. Immerse yourself in it and it actually begins to make sense. There is a flow to it, like water moving around a stone. It looks chaotic from the outside, but from the inside it is a system of small courtesies that everyone understands.
Bali Style Tours
9/20/20263 min read
Your first ride from the airport is a shock to the system. You look out the window and there it is, a river of cars, buses, trucks, vans and what feels like a million scooters, all flowing together in a way that looks, frankly, like madness. Your knuckles go white on the door handle and you wonder how anyone survives this.
But here is the thing about Bali's traffic. Give it a day or two and you start to see it differently. Immerse yourself in it and it actually begins to make sense. There is a flow to it, like water moving around a stone. It looks chaotic from the outside, but from the inside it is a system of small courtesies that everyone understands.
No One Gets Angry
That is the first thing you notice. Drivers and riders let each other into the flow constantly. Need to make a turn across three lanes of traffic? You put your hand out, you edge forward, and the traffic parts for you. Riding a scooter on the wrong side of the road? Perfectly normal. Between two lanes of cars? Of course. Up on the footpath because there is always room for that? Absolutely. The traffic simply moves around stopped vehicles, around turning traffic, around pedestrians and bicycles, like water finding its way around a stone.
The Horn Is a Language
In Australia or New Zealand, a horn usually means one thing: anger. In Bali, the horn is a language of its own. It says "I am coming around you." It says "ok, I see you." It is a friendly heads up, a little tap on the shoulder. Very rarely is it "you idiot, what are you doing!?" Once you understand that, the whole symphony starts to make sense.
Crossing the Road, the Balinese Way
Crossing the road is an art form, and you will learn it quickly. You wait for a reasonable lull in the traffic, then you cross together, side by side, walking at a steady pace. Do not run. Do not hesitate. The traffic will slow down or simply go around you. In most cases, someone will even stop and wave you across with a smile. If you are travelling with kids, hold their hands and keep them in the middle of the group, the steady pace rule applies to everyone. Those painted crossing signs on some roads? They really do not mean anything. Do not expect traffic to treat them the way they do back home. The Balinese system is based on eye contact, a steady pace and mutual courtesy, not painted lines.
The Serious Bit: Helmets and Insurance
Now for the part we have to say. Helmets are supposed to be worn in Bali, and yes, lots of Balinese do not wear them. But you are a visitor, and the rules for visitors are different. If you are on a scooter in Bali, it is highly unlikely that your travel insurance will cover you if you have been drinking, if you are not wearing a helmet, or if you do not hold an International Drivers licence that includes a motorcycle licence from your home country. That is not us being killjoys, that is the fine print that could cost you a fortune. Wear the helmet. Skip the drink if you are riding. Sort out the right licence before you leave home. It is that simple.
Our Advice
Do not be scared of Bali's traffic. Respect it, learn it, and let it wash over you. And if you would rather keep your eyes on the scenery than on the scooters, that is exactly what we are here for. Bali Style Tours will have a friendly face waiting for you at the airport, and we will handle all your transfers and day trips so you can sit back and enjoy the beautiful chaos from the comfort of a private car with a driver who knows every shortcut, every lull and every wave of the hand.