The rules of the Bicycle.

In Shkodër, the number one form of transport is the bicycle.
Everyone has a bicycle. So I thought I would tell you some things that you need to learn if you are living in Shkodër.

1) To ring the bell to tell people walking on the road to get out of the way!!
2) To sit on the back of the bike when someone else is riding the bike. ( I keep falling off! I’ve got no sense of balance)
3) To ride the bike with a small child sitting on a special seat at the front.
4) To ride a bike with a small child sitting on a special seat at the front, and someone else on the back.
5) To ride the bike with a small child sitting on a special seat at the front, and someone else on the back, and holding an umbrella at the same time. (not an easy one this one!!)
6) To ride the bike with a small child sitting on a special seat at the front, and someone else on the back, and holding an umbrella at the same time, and ringing the bell to tell people on the streets to get out of the way!!
7) To ride a bike with no brakes. As far as I can make out this is an art form mastered by middle age women who constantly use their feet as the brakes.
8) To ride a bike in the dark lanes when there is a power cut. This is an act of faith, as you cannot make out where the holes are.
9) To ride the bike holding on to another bike ( i.e. 2 bikes side by side, but with one cyclist riding one bike, and steering the other at the same time – I still can’t do this)
10) To fall off your bike without getting hurt.
11) Not to be too disappointed when the bike gets stolen. I have had 2 stolen in the last 10 years…although both times it was when we loaned the bike to someone else that it was stolen.