Pedaleros

Santiago Stories

The crosswalks in certain parts of Santiago are sacred ground. If there is no traffic light, and there is a crosswalk, the pedestrian gets the right of way. A Suburban is driving down the road, and the driver spots a man with a dog. He slows his car to allow the man and dog to walk across the road, but he does not notice the UberEats man on the motorcycle behind him. The motorcycle slams into the Suburban. His motorcycle careens across the road. The man has hurt his knee. A few passersby rush to help him. He brushes them off kindly and hobbles to his UberEats container. He puts it upright. His knee can wait. The food inside cannot. The driver of the Suburban offers to help the pedalero, but there is nothing to be done. It was the fault of the motorcyclist, and he know that. But really, he must drive like that. There is only one compulsion that pushes him: survival.

You don’t need to speak Chilean to know the name of the demon: El capitalismo.

A bystander persists: do you need any help.

He shrugs: get me another job.