Just leave him, he’s not doing any harm

The Hanoian attitude to motorbikes is an odd one.

For the most part, despite these being the most necessary of possessions, there appears to be little pride attached to them.

Even for 17-year-olds on borrowed bikes, doing wheelies with two helmetless mates riding pillion, the ego is in the moves not the wheels.

Reluctantly lend your keys to someone and there are no “don’t worry” promises offered in return.

Park a bike and it’ll be manhandled in line. Even pushed between two other bikes if space is short. Mirrors, useless at the best of times here, are knocked out of their alignment. Paintwork is unapologetically scratched.

As much as I can repeat the mantra of “that’s just how it is here”, people slouching on *my* bike – a common occurrence – never fails to irritate.

Okay, so the kid who parks the bike – if he has nowhere to sit – then it’s okay if he sits on a bike. I suppose.

But, if I can see him from my table and…hang on, now he’s got his dirty feet on my seat…

Try as I might to stay calm, that really bugs.

In one balcony bar recently, half a dozen of the parker’s mates, who looked like trouble to my middle aged eyes, dropped by and started making themselves comfortable.

One was literally lying completely horizontal on my bike.

“Do they work here?” I enquired from of the waitress as we overlooked the parking area.

“No,” she said.

My wife looked embarrassed as the waitress shouted from the bar requesting that they move.

Recently, leaving a local shop, a baby was sat on my bike, propped up by a grandparent.

A motorbike as high seat. This child was being fed. Baby slop spattered over the frame.

It should irritate me less. I used to laugh at this.

What’s my problem?

Property is less personal here. Space too. A little consideration so I can enjoy personal peace and quiet?

It isn’t going to happen.

It’s just the way it is.