You make it seem as if people all know the rules. Yes, the people we talk to one-on-one in person are well-educated, polite and find these things frustrating as well. But there are so many illiterate, otherwise uneducated people, and non-city dwellers who are unaware that anything is wrong. That's why the buses keep repeating that you shouldn't stick your hands and head out the window. Seriously, no bus in the US would need such a ridiculous announcement. You can be a superman if you think that is right, but I'd rather not get murdered by mafia or government people. I've told people to drive their e-bikes more logically and they almost got to the point of trying to fist fight me.

To be honest, there's nothing that any of us can do. You can be a silly asshat with the rules in your pocket, but that won't change people's behavior. Half of the people with licenses never took a test or paid for their licenses. They aren't going to stop to read a crumpled up piece of paper because a laowai tells them to. I live on a one way street but every day some moron drives the wrong way and blocks up all of traffic. People drive their piece of shit e-bikes way too close and too fast around pedestrians. If you stop and tell them to drive logically, they will be argumentative (my experience).

It won't change. Its not only the people's mindset, the simple fact is that the streets are just too narrow within the first ring. The streets weren't designed for this many cars, e-bikes, and people. Going all the way around to be in the right direction actually is a major pain in the ass from the driver perspective. Its more convenient from the driver perspective if everyone can slowly inch around when they get an opening. And of course if the goal is to slowly inch up cars are going to do whatever the heck they want. After all, that person had the money for the car and peasant pedestrians are poor, unimportant hitting targets.

This is life here. It really pisses me off to walk out my front door or come back home, but in the end Kunming is a nice enough place to put up with this small issue. Just be attentive and not too arrogant. A car is a car. A driver can still kill you. A reckless e-bike driver not paying attention can still kill you. If you really can't put up with the traffic issues, move to chenggong. I've considered it before.

I just wanted to let everyone on this thread know that regardless of the history, I had a very nice thanksgiving dinner with my close friends in kunming. And I savored the turkey.

Can someone just answer the question instead of being an obnoxious topic-changing troll?

I'd like to do this as well, but skip the annoying traffic getting out of the city. Has anyone brought their bike on the subway? If so, looking at the map, the last subway stop and the most northern point of Chengjiang is only about 25-30 km. That would be pleasant and provide ample time to bike around the lake.