It's not safe

...to ride a motorcycle in Indonesia. Nevertheless, its the main form of transportation for Indonesians, including children and old people.

Today, my bus hit a motorcycle carrying two fifty year old women. It's the second motorcycle accident I've seen thus far in Indonesia. The aggressive driver (they all are) forced the motorcycle off the road, and while passing we heard a couple of loud thumps from the side of the bus. Neither woman had any visible injuries. One was sitting on the grass, completely dazed (possible concussion?) with her helmet five meters way, and the other was angrily arguing with the bus driver and ticket collectors. The bus crew was "kind" enough to get off the bus, move the motorcycle further off the road, and get the women's luggage out from under the bus tire. I got off the bus and gave the dazed woman my bottle of water. There's not much you can do in that situation. Five minutes later we were back on the road. The bus driver didn't seem bothered. I'm sure he'll sleep just fine tonight. Such is life in this part of the world.