Some of you may have seen the pictures of my team riding benskins, or you may have heard that motos were the best way for us to get around. Well, they were, so I thought you might like to have the low-down on how to safely travel on a motorcycle in Cameroon.
First, you have to know the lingo. Moto, benskin, motorbike, all are appropriate words for the vehicle you will be riding. However, there is a difference between a benskin and a moto. A benskin is a taxi, while a moto is a personal bike. Benskin drivers are part of a union, so if they see someone taking money for driving people then they can report them. Their motorbikes are usually covered in bright vinyl with lots of different designs, so benskins stand out from motos. But not always.
Secondly, you need to get a helmet. Safety first, people.
And the last thing you need to do is learn how to flag a driver down. The best way to do that is to walk in the direction you are wanting to go, and every time a motorbike comes by, you stick your index finger out. If they are a benskin and free, they will stop and ask you where you are going. If they aren't free, they will drive right by, and if they aren't a benskin, they will usually shake their head at you.
So now you are ready to get on a benskin and go to your destination! Don't forget to agree on a price before you get on the bike, and tell the driver to go slow, especially if this is your first time. With the price set and the driver ready, now comes the challenging part of getting on.
Men, you are probably thinking, how is getting on challenging? I dare you to get on a moto in skirt, and then you can come back to me. Ladies, I hope you are wearing long, flowing skirts, because otherwise, you are going to have to ride side-saddle. With you long, hippie-like skirt, just hop on like you were wearing pants. Make sure your knees are covered, but kind of gather your skirt in front so the driver won't sit on it. If you are wearing a tighter skirt, one which would show your knees if you tried to ride normally, you should ride side-saddle. It's actually not so bad. I think I rode side-saddle more often than not because I made poor clothing choices while packing. Just hop right on, and you're golden. If there is more than one person riding (besides the driver), you'll have to sit on the back, because otherwise it'd just be awkward times.
And know you're on a benskin! You may be wondering where to hold on. If you are in between two people (say the driver and your travelling companion), don't worry about holding on. At first it might be a little scary, though, so I suggest holding on to your companion's knees. It won't help at all, but it's slightly more comforting. If you are on the back, just reach down and hold onto the seat or the luggage rack (which you are probably sitting on anyway). All in all, don't worry about it.
As you drive along, enjoy the sights and everyone calling out to you. Wave at people if you are feeling daring. If you feel uncomfortable with the speed, you can try to tell your driver to go slower. I won't promise that he actually will, though. Benskin is a lovely, refreshing way to travel. It is fast and beats the heat of walking, so I recommend it. It's a lot of fun, too, especially when you get passed the scared stage of riding benskins.
First, you have to know the lingo. Moto, benskin, motorbike, all are appropriate words for the vehicle you will be riding. However, there is a difference between a benskin and a moto. A benskin is a taxi, while a moto is a personal bike. Benskin drivers are part of a union, so if they see someone taking money for driving people then they can report them. Their motorbikes are usually covered in bright vinyl with lots of different designs, so benskins stand out from motos. But not always.
Secondly, you need to get a helmet. Safety first, people.
And the last thing you need to do is learn how to flag a driver down. The best way to do that is to walk in the direction you are wanting to go, and every time a motorbike comes by, you stick your index finger out. If they are a benskin and free, they will stop and ask you where you are going. If they aren't free, they will drive right by, and if they aren't a benskin, they will usually shake their head at you.
So now you are ready to get on a benskin and go to your destination! Don't forget to agree on a price before you get on the bike, and tell the driver to go slow, especially if this is your first time. With the price set and the driver ready, now comes the challenging part of getting on.
Men, you are probably thinking, how is getting on challenging? I dare you to get on a moto in skirt, and then you can come back to me. Ladies, I hope you are wearing long, flowing skirts, because otherwise, you are going to have to ride side-saddle. With you long, hippie-like skirt, just hop on like you were wearing pants. Make sure your knees are covered, but kind of gather your skirt in front so the driver won't sit on it. If you are wearing a tighter skirt, one which would show your knees if you tried to ride normally, you should ride side-saddle. It's actually not so bad. I think I rode side-saddle more often than not because I made poor clothing choices while packing. Just hop right on, and you're golden. If there is more than one person riding (besides the driver), you'll have to sit on the back, because otherwise it'd just be awkward times.
And know you're on a benskin! You may be wondering where to hold on. If you are in between two people (say the driver and your travelling companion), don't worry about holding on. At first it might be a little scary, though, so I suggest holding on to your companion's knees. It won't help at all, but it's slightly more comforting. If you are on the back, just reach down and hold onto the seat or the luggage rack (which you are probably sitting on anyway). All in all, don't worry about it.
As you drive along, enjoy the sights and everyone calling out to you. Wave at people if you are feeling daring. If you feel uncomfortable with the speed, you can try to tell your driver to go slower. I won't promise that he actually will, though. Benskin is a lovely, refreshing way to travel. It is fast and beats the heat of walking, so I recommend it. It's a lot of fun, too, especially when you get passed the scared stage of riding benskins.
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| Photo credit goes to Rebekah Schumacher, for capturing Serena and I riding off on a benskin. |
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! If you have any questions about benskin riding, feel free to ask. I'd love to tell you more. (If anyone more knowledgeable about the art of benskin riding reads this and sees any mistakes, please let me know.)
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