THE most bizzarre thing happened in front of my eyes a couple of weeks ago.
During the usual morning rush hour, with cars bumper-to-bumper on the three-lane Commonwealth Avenue, I stopped my car as the others in front advanced, leaving a gap so that another car could turn out from the HDB estate onto the main road.
The driver, who otherwise would have waited ages to finally exit, raised his hand in acknowledgement at me as he turned out. I smiled and waved back.
A couple of hundred metres on, a U-turn approached. That driver and I had now filtered to the right-most lane, in anticipation of turning right at the Queensway junction, a bit further ahead of the U-turn.
A car on the driver's left was now signalling right, hoping to get from the centre lane to the right lane that we were on, clearly to make the U-turn. The driver now stopped his car, allowing that car to cut in. I noticed both drivers raising their hands in acknowledgement, too.
Could it be? Two courteous acts from Singapore drivers in the space of a few minutes? It was a rarity for sure.
I'd like to believe my act of courtesy to the driver in turn sparked off his courteous act to the next driver. My giving way, indeed, was borne out of the previous rare occasions that drivers had given way to me, too.
Being a runner and a road cyclist has further increased my awareness of other runners and cyclists on the road. Once in a while, a car gives way to me when I run past a lane it's turning into or out of. Usually cars just try to mow me down.
It's even worse on the bicycle, where most cars here don't understand we road cyclists are vehicles too. They honk at us, sometimes even as we keep to the left-most double yellow strips on an empty three-lane road.
Because of my experiences while running or cycling, and in appreciation of the kindness of drivers that have given way to me, I in turn give way to runners and cyclists when I'm behind the wheel.
It's called "pay it forward". And I believe it's the way to creating a more courteous society.
Try it for yourself. Give way to a fellow driver today, even if you have the right of way. And acknowledge the other driver when you've been a recipient of kindness in return.
I was in Melbourne for work over the weekend. In the mornings I would head out for a run through the suburbs. On one occasion, I was about to run past the mouth of a lane when I noticed a car to my right turning in from the main road. I stopped. He stopped. He smiled and flagged me to cross first. I smiled back, waved and continued running along.
I know I'll pay it forward the next time I encouter a runner on the road here.
Will you join me in doing so?