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Subscribe to RSSShocking video shows a toddler riding a toy motorcycle onto a busy highway in China. Msnbc.com's Dara Brown reports.
BEIJING – On Monday, a Chinese boy took the ride of his very young life. The 3-year-old was in the care of his grandfather when he decided that he wanted to see his mother, who works at a local KFC restaurant.
The kindergartener, from the city of Wenzhou in China’s eastern province of Zhejiang, waited until his grandfather had gone to the bathroom, then set off through the streets on a toy motorcycle.
The bike had been a gift of a relative who had left the battery out of the bike. But the boy’s grandfather, surnamed Peng, had decided to install the battery.
The child rode about 1.3 miles before arriving at a major Wenzhou traffic intersection.
Without pausing, the boy zipped right into the middle of the intersection, avoiding buses and other vehicles.
Boy shrugs off talk of fear
At that point, a traffic policeman named Zhang spotted the boy weaving through the cars and gestured toward him to stop the bike, then escorted him to the side of the road.
The boy didn’t know his family’s phone number, but his anxious grandfather – who takes care of his grandson while the parents work – was frantically looking for him on the streets and eventually came across them.
Asked later by Zhang whether he was scared at any point, the boy merely shrugged and said he had already learned how to cross a street.
No word yet whether Zhang cited the boy for traffic violations or let him off with just a warning and a little traffic school.
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Well this kid's insurance rates on that toy are going to skyrocket after his agents reads this article. Hopefully he learned to signal before making lane changes in the future. Hate it when kids don't use common roadway manners.
Soooooooo cute! Glad he is ok. Bet Grandpa pulled that battery pretty quick after that. Any guesses on this lucky child's first car?....
Really, has life in China been devalued that much that no one stopped to get him off the street ?
Wow, just wow.......
I wonder what kind of mileage that thing gets. This could be the new thing . . .
i bet they won't let him get a license until he's like... 8 !
Its incredible someone didn't stop their vehicle and help that kid! The Chinese have such a low value on human lives its incredible. I saw another video recently where a truck just ran over a little girl, killing her, then drove off like they ran over a speed bump.
The problem that has been highlighted with being a good Samaritan in China is that there is a fear of the person you are helping turning around to sue you.
But such a cute little guy, determined and sweet as boys are at that age. And poor Grandpa, that's a heart starting or stopping moment. Love all around them. Haters oust!
maybe they thought he was a midget....
.......geez-crise.
The article said he was 3 and a kindergardner. Wow. Don't US kids start at 5?
Well, anywho.....glad he is ok. And, that will teach grandpa to use the restroom while babysitting.
No one stops to help. Look at your future America. Socialism, huge government and removal of all personal responsibility breeds this.
You guys are a bunch of idiots ive seen people do hit and runs here all the time in America!
But were American we would never do that lol. only evil countries do! HAHAHA
You guys are a bunch of idiots ive seen people do hit and runs here all the time in America!
But were American we would never do that lol. only evil countries do! HAHAHA And to be quite honest i thought the little video of the guy was cute, dangerous but cute. Hes ok stupid people. Have you seen american drivers? They dont give a fuk about you.
Is his last name Chan by any chance? On a serious note those folks that was just driving casually by are just wrong! Glad this had a happy ending, but hopefully not for the little guy bun buns.:)
It's actually amazing that such a high percentage of kids actually make it to adulthood. It's just too easy for little ones to get into dangerous trouble, even with a careful family.
Alien---- No! greed, lack of a system and infra structure (no government oversight) (day care, old people care ( look at old people up and down West coast (Viet Veterans) wandering just like this little person, same thing as here, SFO!--and no one stops to pick up those "heroes", even in front of Trump Towers!--Please get educated, will you!--And the police is busy harassing people for stupid things, so the court income can offset the police state we have compared to other western countries, instead of child care, so the 37 % single moms can actually go to work!!!--after the "dippers" dissapered!
Let us fix it shal we? before dishing on other countries!
Three years old, wow. Half of adult Americans would be white knuckled and pale with fear in Asian traffic.
Alien, Wow, You have no idea what you are talking about. China is and has been becoming more like the USA all the time. Huge American corporations are all over the big cities in China. Have you not bought anything in the last 10+ years? If you have, look at where it was made.
And by the way, there are many words one could use to describe the Bush government years, however, small or shrinking are NOT included.
It is 2012, not 1984.
In the U.S. this would be a major child abuse/neglect headline. Grandpa would be jailed, Mom sighted for abuse, leaving her child with a person with no skills at watching kids and probably jailed. The kid would be whisked away into state custody. Nancy Grace would weigh in with her particularly obnoxious brand of sensationalism, along with the rest of the HLN hacks. It would be a feeding frenzy. All the you tube & MSNBC experts would be calling names, making accusations, threats and all the rest of the nonsense.
In China, a cop pulls him over and chats it up with him until grandpa happens along. Turns him over to grandpa and life goes on. No media circus, no child abuse or neglect charges.
Most commenters (just like MSN apparently) have zero clue about traffic in Asia. The primary rule for driving is:
The second point is that if he had been hit - NO ONE WOULD HAVE STOPPED. Anyone who stops to help is held accountable for what happens.
If you don't believe me goto YouTube and watch. It is absolutely insane.
Philip T Worsman
Really, has life in China been devalued that much that no one stopped to get him off the street ?
In short, No they don’t. This is a government that forces women to have abortions if they have a child already.
Yeah, I thought the same thing, is this a typo or what? A 3 yr old is NOT a kindergartner. So which is it?
I agree with you Abe Andon Parties. That little baby girl was run over again and again and no one lifted a finger. This little boy was lucky he didn't meet the same fate. Traffic there is a nightmare.
Sadly as a New Yorker, born and raised, I have to say that NYC traffic is headed that same way. Most people do not know how to make a turn without using two lanes nor use a signal; double parking is an everyday occurence even when legitimate parking is available and if their lane is blocked by a Fedex or UPS truck that, you guessed it, is double parked well they just feel they have a right to run over to the unblocked lane as fast as possible without signaling or if they do, they do not wait for traffic in that lane to free up in order to get in, as the rule states because they just can't wait one minute. Speeding is also rampant; the LIE is like driving the Autobahn. So many people get killed on it especially at night because they're speeding, under the influence or so drunk they're driving the wrong way. Today in the news a young woman was killed on Park Avenue by a speeder who fled and crashed into a taxi. The traffic RULES just don't apply anymore. Traffic in NYC is fast becoming lawless.
Ummm... Krisk5... you do realize that this is China - not the US. Kindergarten starts there when kids are 3.
All I can say is - wow. It's only funny because it's not my child. Had it been, I think I'd probably still be on oxygen.
Which reminds me... must take my son's battery out of his toy mustang tonight.
Actually it depends on what part of the world you are from...kindergartener can be a 3 year old in some countries. And this article is pointless...big wow a boy went through traffic and nothing happened...there are more pressing matters in the world...just look at what happened to the toddler girl child who got run over in China and no one cared or stopped for her...and yes she died, but no one cared. Really sickening. A nation I truly have no respect for.
I think it is funny how many people are saying how careless the Chinese are when thousands of kids are starving in the US and nobody cares!
Krisk5,
A 3 year old IS a kindergartner in China. Their education system is superior to ours, which is why they are kicking our butts technologically and economically.
The Chinese government will probably run him over with a tank if he does this again...........
Funny story, but only because the determined little guy didn't get hurt or cause an accident. I had to chuckle at the imagry, though.
Thank GOD! He was ok. But still, seeing as he was unhurt, it was funny!!!
Life is cheap in China.
If that is true it isn't because of something you read in this story. I have read of many kids escaping here in the US...is life cheap here too? The police helped him, the grandfather ran after him, and all is well. How does that show life is cheap there?
Stereotyping is always wrong. The Chinese police officer did exactly what any other police officer would have done. The grandfather did exactly what you'd expect a grandfather to do. The little boy did what little boys do.
But the cars and city buses just drove around him. None of the pedestrians he encountered during his 1.3 mile journey intervened. Even the motorcyclist just watched. Only when he got that far did a traffic cop do something.
@engnenk - May want to re-evaulate how much your life is worth, bet its less than the males in china.
You are so right! Remember the video that MSNBC had last winter of the 2 year old toddler wandering the street and then getting run over by a van? The van rolled over her, paused and then sped off. People walked by and AROUND her broken body as it lay in the street. NOBODY DID ANYTHING!! It wasn't until her mother found her and began wailing that anyone paid attention.
State sponsored genocide, in the form of "one-child policy." The devaluation of human life is, along with the total breakdown of any sense of community solidarity, the net result. Many folks will cheer this sort of blatant Eugenicist policy on, but refuse to acknowledge the truth of the cost to our common humanity. Very sad.
Incidentally, to the person who said that'll teach Grandpa not to go to the bathroom while babysitting: LMAO. My son is four and I still get nervous about that!
The Chinese do not care about children. It he had been run over, no one would have stopped. Watch the video of little Wang Yue and try not to cry. Those bastards walked around her little body and could not be bothered to stop and help a dying toddler. People said that they were afraid of being sued. If that were anywhere else everyone would have stopped and helped, its called being human.
engnenk
Life is cheaper in your country, wherever that may be.
When ever I read comments I get a little frustrated by the comments made about how that would never happen in the US. There was a really great sociology study done to see how fast people in the US and Canada would help someone who was hurt. In LA, NYC, and Toronto they had someone lay down on the sidewalk to see if anyone would stop to help. In both US cities it took hours for anyone to stop and check the person out to see if they were alive. In Toronto it took 1 hour. People were stepping over these people and carrying with their day. They also did studies in the 50s (unethical now) where someone was told to shock another person by a "doctor" for test purposes. Even though no one was really hurt, the actor would scream out, and then as the voltage got higher would stop making noises. People would continue shocking the actor even though they feared the person was dead because the doctor told them to continue. Or the prison study, or the study to show that Nazi Germany could happen here. The point is people regardless of what country we live in, we're all human and we can all be insensitive,self absorbed, easily lead and munipulated. I'm glad the little guy wasn't hurt, and because he wasn't hurt the story made me laugh a bit. He really really wanted to see his mom. Pretty smart little kid too, to wait until his grandpa had went to the bathroom, then get on a motorized cycle and start heading in the direction of his moms work. Don't think I could have done that at age 3.
engnenk & buster... I couldn't agree more. I still have have nightmares about the video of Wang Yue. That is something I truly wish I could unsee, but somehow I feel it's owed to her that people witness how she was treated and suffered so it doesn't continue. I was forever changed after viewing that and my opinion of China and its society plummeted. I had always wanted to visit there but have since removed it from any future travel plans.

"waited until his grandfather had gone to the bathroom, then set off through the streets on a toy motorcycle." And the grandparent of the year award goes to.....
How does that make the guy a horrible grandparent? Sure, I made the kids sit where I could see them, but things happen and the boy is okay. Kids are really good at escaping. I would have had the door locked, but perhaps the child can unlock it and had never shown any interest in leaving. I don't have all the facts...do you who judge him? He did come looking for him and obviously cared...
It wasn't the grandfathers fault. I hope he put's the child on a leash for awhile. Any kid who would do that. has got serious problems.
Why does he have a serious problem? The kid is 3-years-old. He is doing what any 3-year-old would do. Did you know any better at that age?
ABCzyx don't get too upset with Jake Darnell: You can't fix stupid! You are right the child is 3 years old for God's sake! Reading some of these blogs makes me think the 3-year old is smarter!
ABCzyx - 3-year old children don't have the same filters adults (should) have. They are very self-involved. They want something, that's all that matters. He wanted to see mommy, so no problem, he's gonna see mommy. He actually sounds like a very healthy 3-year old with a lot of problem solving skills. That said, I'm glad he didn't get hurt.
My 3 yo daughter waited until my back was turned and took off peddling her tricycle to Grandma's. Fortunately, it was only a couple blocks away. At 5, she got mad at her kindergarten teacher and took off for Grandma's - the school made a new "Nikki" rule, no child will be left alone in a classroom even for a minute! Kids can be very quick, it was NO one's fault. I could give you a ton of stories about friends and relatives whose children made a daring escape too. It happens. I'm just happy the little boy is fine.
the kid knew he had time when caught a whiff of grandpa Quang droppin' a duece
I ran away from school at 5. I didn't want to sit still and told my Mom that. Boy, did I get in trouble when I got home. The teacher about had a heart attack. YOu are right, kids are fast I do remember, I did wait till the teacher wasn't looking and snuck out.
Everyone was three at one time, they just don't remember it. If you don't have experience taking care of a three year old, ask somebody who took care of you when you were three. Bet ya that you might be surprised to learn what a little angel you were all of the time.
Oh yeah, I'm being sarcastic.
I remember when my daughter was 3. She chased a rabbit and wound up in the middle of a parking lot. When I finally found her, there was a woman standing there watching her making sure she didn't get hurt, but she did not approach her because the woman was a stranger to the child. Smart woman, just like the people in China who did not approach the child because of the consequences of what happens later.
The kid was rushing to come back from lunch break to the iPOD assembly line.
I think it is unbelievable that NO ONE stopped to protect the child!!
Betty Gordon: Ever been to New York City? I would pass out cold if anyone there stopped for the 3-year old!
That's too close for comfort, but all's well that ends well. At least the Chinese are smart enough to not charge the grandfather with abuse or neglect.
That does it, No more watching epasodes of danger mouse for a week, O,,, allright give that little three month prospect his rockers if he rides Harley. That little bugger.
3 year old kindergartner? Interesting.
3 years old and in Kindergarten. Yet another reason why China is kicking our @sses in school.
Glad he's OK!
thinking exactly same thing!
That was my first thought too! Our little slackers aren't in kindergarten until 5....bunch of slackers mooching off their parents... ;-)
It's called preschool here...too bad the budget cutters knife this type of funding so they can maintain programs for grandma and grandpa who have already had their shot at life...
I don't mind grandma and grandpa mootching off the system, they deserve it. Its the others I wont mention that needs to be cut.
Rick-546746, you dolt. Grandma and Grandpa paid into those programs their entire working life so STFU!
I think "kindergarten" is a universal term for pre-school aged education, many countries begin some sort of structured setting for children starting at age 3. It sets the foundation.
Hey Mikeo76, I've paid into that system for my entire working life (25+ years) and learned recently that its going to be insolvent when I'm 63. So I'll respectfully ask you to STFU yourself. Those of us that don't get to live off the fat of others efforts and have only had to pay into the system don't see your little entitlement as such a great thing. Leech.
I'd be happy if people like my grandfather and late grandmother who didn't need the safety net had been willing to take a cut to their benefits for my parents' sake. But "I don't need it, I don't use it, but I'll raise H-E- double hockey sticks if they miss a payment" applies.
How do you cite a toddler for traffic violations? They don't have any way to pay. Sheesh.
or a license to suspend.
Sarcasm eludes you.... (or is eluding me now if you are being sarcastic, lol)
give the kid a buick so he's got an even chance;-)
Great editing, as usual, MSNBC. Searching for an MSNBC article without errors is like Diogenes searching for an honest man.
It was almost hard to read! lol
But you knew what it meant, didn't you? I think it's being a little too nit-picky to complain about mistakes that don't change the meaning of the article in any way. If you read these articles really fast, the average brain will see those words anyway. I know mine does. The only mistakes that really bother me are incorrect use of apostrophes, improper possessive/contraction use, and downright improper word use. Leaving out a two-letter word like of or at is not a major transgression, IMO.
Welcome to the next installment of GTA - Grand Theft Auto - Streets of China.
Hey, Flanagan. When did you start writing articles in ebonics?
In Standard American Dialect, which I'm assuming your news organization prefers, we would properly end the sentence with "out OF the bike."
You do outsource your proofreading and editing to China, don't you? Or do you just gamble that your audience can't read anyway, so they won't notice? Or, is it that you can't write in your native language?
I think they are targeting a different population.
In China to care and to protect another is not a valued activity. Just keep driving and don't help, don't smile and don't care. This is one very sad culture.
Guess you've never been to LA or NY city. They'll just give you a warm finger and some wholesome words. I prefer the don't smile don't care approach.
William, you obviously have never been to China. I have been there multiple times on extended trips. They are some of the nicest people you would ever want to meet.
I can also understand why the grandfather did not take the child into the restroom. They basically have holes in the floor (no toilets), so the rest rooms are very filthy. And good luck finding toilet paper while out in public either.
Their lifestyle is very different. The grandparents often live with one of their children and expect to watch the grandchild while both parents work. Novel idea -- people working and not bleeding the taxpayers dry.
He appears to be a better driver than most Chinese that I know.
telling you it's on fxxked up country ... no passersby would help !!!
if you get struck by a car in china - believe me no stranger would come and help - you're done!!!!!
....Those god damn china cavemen and women are coming this way by the thousands everyday !!!
I guess you better start decorating your cave with bamboo sticks then. chop chop get to it, and don't forget to feed that fat lard tina.
Yeah, and they're going to own your place of employment soon.
Awww, thepunisher-2054749! I haven't heard a "Napoleon Dynamite" reference in, like, FOREVER!!! You just made my day.
My mother was 3 when she started school in England. Children are so intelligent. It is so silly to make them wait to go to school. On another note...I cannot believe that not one single vehicle stopped for this kid....amazing
That sounds like something my son would do. He's never lost.. HE always knows where he is, even if nobody else does, lol! Kids are crafty like that. Thank goodness he didn't get hurt!
This child survived (luckily). Not like the other child who was ran over by the Van twice and various other vehicles. This is what happens with a billion and half people.
This wouldn't surprise me if the child was a girl, but I can't believe an adult took their eyes off a precious boy in China!
Wow! The future of China!
That kid has pluck... And whole lot of good luck.