Dave Godin picked this up:
The newly elected mayor of Rome is planning on pedestrianizing the Via dei Fori Imperiali; Rome’s famous chaotic arterial roadway that snakes by the Colosseum and cuts it off from Piazza Venezia. Benito Mussolini built the road shortly after becoming the dictator so that his victorious
fascist troops could return from their campaigns and march into history with the Legionaries.
Opponents to the Mayor’s pedestrianization plan have seized on questions of displaced vehicle traffic and the Mayor being seen to act unilaterally – though the New York Times reports that the pedestrianization was a centrepiece of his election campaign.
“Mr. Marino cheerfully acknowledged that he would be “crucified” by citizens in the short term, but said it was worth fighting for his “vision of what I want this city to be in 30 years.” He added, “No one will remember who the mayor was in 2013, but everyone will appreciate the pedestrian area.”
Finalmente!
That sounds very good, but what sort of pedestrian street it willl be?
“Mr. Marino’s plan to ban private traffic on the roadway” says the NYT.
The keyword is private traffic:
Does that means in Roma, at the differnece of Vancouver, the council differentiates private traffic from public traffic?
That calls for clarification. Mr Marino plan, can be seen here:
http://www.listacivicamarino.it/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Progetto-ampliamentoZTL-Fori-Imperiali-A3_MOD-2.pdf
One can read that “solo transporto pubblico” on Via dei Fori Imperiali
I am impatient to get the translation of “solo transporto pubblico”: I am sure Richard Campbell, will help us to understand that.
could it be that the pedestrinaization plan is in fact aiming at improving mobility in Roma (by improving transit)?
It looks some locals think so…in the meantimes in Vancouver, our own local pedestrian activists will reinsure us, that a good pedestrianization plan should primarily impede bus traffic.
Oh no a pedestrian street in front of the Coliseum (or is it VPL?).
I haven’t been to Rome since I was a kid: that was a couple of years after Musso-da-Wop did his thing!
I remember ogling the pretty girls side saddle on their boy friends’ Vespas struggling to keep their skirts from blowing away.
Love the commentary by the Mayor. And it’s a great idea, I remember thinking at the time I was there that it was an awful spot for a busy road.
Here’s another article about the plan, which took effect today: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/04/rome-bans-cars-colosseum-road