Naples: Stories of everyday incivility-cycle
The place is a pedestrian crossing, to pass from one side of the road (and the path, that is protected seat).
As often happens (Fuorigrotta, where two homeless people harassing, THE FOREVER, occupy a piece of cycling, ed), you fire è parked with a scientific precision in front of the gate path, manner in da tale prevent to any bike (the Pedone) to cross the street, seen that the rest of the path is protected by a high concrete curb.
“At the traffic police do not care and in any case there are no, the Neapolitans on two wheels only go by motorbike, so who cares?“, will rightly thought the Lord.
Eager to observe the features of this character, to see if the theories of Lombroso were busted, appearance a few minutes, waiting for him to come back, And deliver the transition, for me to finally cross.
After a few minutes, comes a middle-aged man from rotten teeth, and begins to tinker with the bike, to turn off the alarm.
I'm a bike, and fixed continuous. He realizes it, know why I'm staring, but remains unmoved while doing a quick glance, continuing to prepare to leave.
When you turn on the engine and starts to leave, I say:
– “Thank you for giving me permission to cross, eh”
It's, without making eye:
– “Ah, because, were waiting for me?”
And runs away at full throttle.
I suddenly remembered why, for some time, I avoided using the bike to go on those two kilometers of cycling cross Neapolitan, and why many prefer, even in the presence of path, ride on track with car traffic.
Always remaining in Fuorigrotta, it is possible to cite the stretch of “track” used by scooters and, at times, machines, as preferential, the stretch between the exit of the Gallery IV days and the intersection with Via Consalvo. Emblematic case of a woman, weeks ago, after careful thought about using this “Bus Lane” scapular for traffic Via Caio Duilio, found itself in front of the stake that prevents access of the machines (rusted and dented, due to other animals as her, which have repeatedly hit). La subumana, after thinking a few seconds, considered it appropriate to accelerate, cross the marciapiaede with the machine, then turn right, Via its Consalvo. In short, a scene from the third world.
Yet, over the smog and the many impediments (cars parked on pedestrian crossings, or scientifically placed at gates for entering the path, without any multi Watchful), one might think that, One, there is a part of the path where you can go without any problem, as the road is pedestrian: but certainly, and the “Waterfront released“.
And do not: also here, there is a rather annoying problem: people, cuffioni of an ordinance in the head (not to hear screams, horn, and the curses cast by others) con musica sparata a mille, go jogging on the bike path.
Never mind that there is a very wide sidewalk (often totally free) on the right, does not matter that the most “appetizing” by these characters, near the sea, is on a pedestrianized street, and then, parallel to the path, there is a large Stradona a dozen yards.
not, their oozing grease on a narrow path, possibly running against hand. Maybe they're drunk, they are afraid of losing your way, and therefore prefer to follow the stripes painted on the ground, or what?
The reactions to bell are multiple:
- to pretend nothing, because of the headphones with the music blasting to a thousand
- to pretend nothing, as if the cyclist does not exist
- respond in a threatening tone to the rider, often with a “ma ch're, from?!“, or a very soft-spoken and edcuatissimo ” 'Or SCE!“
And yes we do not speak of a path promiscuous, but “bicycle lane adjacent to the curb“.
Yet, though, by contradiction, we talk about the “pedestrian and bicycle path” promiscuous, when you ten-meter pedestrian street on the left of the path, ed one marciapiede LONG sulla destra that, except at peak hours on weekends, are totally free, use the cycle path (possibly in the wrong) for jogging would seem to me something to the limits of idiocy.
Try putting one foot (for error, Ca sans dire) proceeds in a cycle path on the sidewalk in Paris, to the Frankfurt. Se va bene, 'll knock vehemently within the next half a second. Se than male, you take a few curse-.
wanting, we could talk about those who use it to bring the stroller to a crawl, or you stop to talk to friends and acquaintances. Likewise, even they pretend nothing, or respond poorly when it knocks.
and, then, why not make a nod to the path is present in the Gallery Four Days, that connects Fuorigrotta and Mergellina:
- Once you are off the exhaust fans, causing the smell of smog is unbearable (It is no coincidence that, the original project, envisage a more isolate the track from the rest of the gallery),
- Another time (Rather, always) the entire track is a carpet of bottles, because i find it fun subnormal throw the bottles from the machines to the path, to see the effect it does.
- At the end of the tunnel, side Mergellina, there is a dangerous crossing, regulated by a traffic light or a call that does not work, or triggers the green for cyclists after more than 5 minutes, and it is still respected by all drivers / beasts in various maxi scooter without a helmet. Not the case, several avoid just wait for the traffic light, and cross at your own risk.
- A few meters further, From January 2013, in this exact position, There are uprooted stakes that protrude dangerously on the pavement where the pedestrian passes, and there have been those that have stumbled because of these bollards (including an American friend who was staying at the hostel Mergellina). Needless to say, numerous reports to the City and the Municipality of Mergellina fallen on deaf ears, without even an acknowledgment of receipt to the e-mail.
Easy to see why, good part of cyclists, often prefer to cross the far more dangerous Lazio gallery, and not elapse in the situations just described.
A part of the (A few!) cyclists present in Naples, some, does not fail to be as uncivilized and most of pedestrians and motorists:
- Pedaling nonsense
- Form “wall” of 2/3 people instead of ride in single file, even if the path is narrow
- They do not look the way, preferring to concentrate to play with Tuitter, Feisbucc, Uozzappp, Istagramme sull'Aifonn. There is little to give him a wake up with bell: not, they continue to play with the Aifonncinqueesse.
Some time ago, one of these specimens was pedaling against traffic, I came upon, and it was so busy with his mobile phone that has neither heard the bell, nor my voice calls. In addition to having made me sick and twisted the spokes of the front wheel, had “the rest below”, In short, I have spoken to him of all the colors.
Well, he also wanted to be right: “calm down, I have not seen“.
I know you did not see me, my dear fool, is already so that does not make you pay the centering of the front rim.
Anyone who denies that certain stories are routine in a city like Naples (but, a well-read on mtb-forum.it, in other cities the situation is far from paradise), will give an alarm, open your eyes, and it makes one revolution in Germany, in Francia, in Ireland, in the, in Belgio, In Gran Bretagna, in Canada, in some cities of the United States (NY lock, is a phenomenon of recent introduction), and learn what it means respect for others, that both two-wheel, four wheels, or walk.
Maybe, that already is located, also give a look at the bike sharing in other cities, that, to date, Naples continues to be a chimera loves to fill her mouth with politicians and politicians, with rhetoric about how cool, figa, and 2.0 the bicycle.
Mi spiace, but not enough to inaugurate, in 2012, 8km scarsi (actual measurement) of cycle, in the third city in Italy, and then promise “Now we continue to expand the network to the east and main arteries that will be redone” and “now part of the bike-sharing“, knowing full well that, in both cases, lack the money to go. For a year away, Define “NOW“, please.
Unfortunately, when cyclists are so few as to Naples, and when only a small part of these protest, the only result is to take poison to each output (and risk of arguing also heavily). Many prefer to avoid, knowing that time is useless, following the philosophy of “who makes you do?“.
I do not know if they are right and I do not doubt that things will change in the coming years, but, after a long time, I no longer want to make a fuss, and I prefer to go elsewhere (obviously in the middle of traffic, since there are no other paths). I guarantee that, net smog, if gains in health, and appreciate what is the underlying purpose for which many go by bike: fun.
Update 6 February 2014: Meanwhile, Police and blue car is fun to use it as a fast track. At the bottom are good: not being used by anyone, do not run the risk of hitting cyclists.
Also, this video of Roberto De Pascale well illustrates some of the problems that, as set out in Article, are standard (and do not talk about when the scooter, during the matches of Naples, use the Fuorigrotta is as fast track):
Update 22 February 2014: Another friend experiences “jungle path Fuorigrotta”. A Via Caio Duilio, Already a perpetually chaotic way and in which the steering wheel is compared to zero, car park on pedestrian crossings, preventing the crossing (both pedestrian and bicycle). At the wheel, perhaps waiting for his wife, a middle-aged man.
The friend looks at him, and says,: “I know that is parked on pedestrian crossings?”
It's: “Ah, not!“.
Needless to say that, after pretending not to have noticed, has not moved.
June update 2014: Yes Aprile, walking and Viale Augusto Via Caio Duilio, you can see two semi-stakes uprooted on the two sections of path, whose ends rusty and sharp, dented by any beast that will be gone in smashing with your scooterone, just pointing to a potential cyclist. Needless to say that, Despite reports to the City, the stakes remain in this state. at the bottom, tending to zero as the number of cyclists, have thought that the risk of a fall in these two places, is minimal.
update of August 2014: obviously, the various problems of the above, pulled up stakes included, have not been resolved despite repeated warnings. However, I noticed that the traffic lights at the entrance of the Gallery Four Days, necessary to allow, to those few fools who insist on using the bike, to cross the street, is blown for weeks. Rightly, in the City have thought that, at the bottom, the bike does not use any, then to pro hurry to fix it?
Also, the new jersey that protect the bike path in Via Caracciolo, are partially missing, or have been moved, to allow hominids who flock to the Neapolitan nights to cross the street, with the result that many new jersey are mounted “a zigzag”, and protrude dangerously on the road used by cars.
for the consumption of those living outside the city and do not know certain dynamics, here is the typical situation of those poor 2km of cycle, that run in degraded Fuorigrotta neighborhood: the subhuman shift park the car in front or, as in this case, over the cycle, it'll play games and chat with her aifonncinqueesse as it does normally in the rest of the day, and will not move in any way, as shown in this photo sent to me by a friend:
Subhuman parked on Bike Trail in Naples – click to enlarge
If it is not human's that park your car, will be the hominid that parking the scooter T-Max in front of the bicycle, or use it as a fast track, to avoid the traffic of Via Caio Duilio. the, In alternative, there will be vaiasselle obese and lampadate, who will occupy the “bicycle” for walking, chat with the aifonncinqueesse, and gossiping with their friends. Needless to say, no one will move, the sound of the bell of the bike and, Rather, will look at you with a blank stare, a po’ because they do not understand, a po’ why not give anything.
As I wrote above, you have to be really crazy, for wanting to ride your bike in a place like this, between fat men who are jogging, strollers, walks with the girlfriend on the bike path, scooters and cars that block access, use it as a preferential, or you park over.
and, in fact, it is not surprising that, Two years after the opening of the jogging track, also called “bicycle path”, of cyclists, non is not science l'ombra, excluding sporadic and unnecessary “Critical Mass”, good only for four photos to share on social networks. It is not clear what happens to all those who participate in Critical Mass, once finished the event, seen that around, normally, there are cyclists…
The cultural level of the Neapolitan average is so low (is a finding relevant, which is supported by the facts STATE the qualification, they see Campania behind the already depleted media of the South, especially as regards women), to make impossible the use of a means such as the bicycle, species in lanes. While wanting to, people is absolutely not able to understand what a bike path, to which preserves, and who has the right to use. From this springs the insult to those who do notice that they are at fault, and should move.
Anyone who tells you, is clearly in bad faith, or is part of a certain bourgeoisie partneopea, who prefer to put their heads in the sand, deny everything, and say that, so much, “it happens everywhere”. not. Even in the big cities of the Centre-North, you can experiment with some of these issues, but not at these levels, and not all of these issues together.
Enough, then, travel to North (obvious), out by national borders (o andare in Trentino, which, in fact, means expatriate), to see with their own eyes what is the proper use of bike lanes and.
But “Napoli bike sharing”… I guess the line of sponsors, who want to invest in this project, to ensure that it is self-sufficient. Best wishes! 🙂
update of September 2014: Meanwhile, even the Judiciary wants to see clearly, about this odd track jogging / walking. Asked the indictments for 4 people: the alleged crimes are against the security of transport, fraudulent misrepresentation and fraud.
As far as I'm concerned (and I say this cyclist), seen that the Neapolitans, in over two years, have not been able to figure out what it's for, and to whom is reserved by a “bicycle path”, and the only time he got on the bike is one / twice a year, events in which the spot “Critical Mass” and the like, This track can also be closed, or covered with asphalt.
via, I'd do a nice preference for T-Max, of those who run and trumpet, because they are in a hurry to go to produce and boost GDP southern. A similar preferential, would certainly be more appreciated, by much of the citizenship.
http://www.ilmattino.it/NAPOLI/CRONACA/pista-ciclabile/notizie/919407.shtml
June update 2017: after 3 age, it seems that someone is starting to wake up from numbness, and realize what the situation is.