Burbia Blogs

- added on 11/10/2009

  

Parking In Rome. a/k/a You Think YOU Have Parking Problems

I'd forgotten what a sport parking is in Rome.

In New York, there are people who map out all the spots in their neighborhood and know exactly what time is perfect to go claim that spot. Others will drive around for half an hour or more looking for on-street parking just for the principle of not paying for a garage.


Amy Vernon grew up on Long Island and has lived in the Chicago, Miami, Phoenix and New York metropol...read more

Wusses.

No one in Rome would be caught dead paying that much attention to where and when there might be available parking or driving more than half a block or so past their destination to find a good spot.

Sunday, I saw cars parked on sidewalks, in crosswalks, diagonally (in parallel parking spots), head-in to curb. I saw double-parking and, yes, triple-parking. I saw cars parked so close together, I'm not sure how anyone's getting a key into the door lock. When my friend Carolyn and I walked down the street to where she'd parked her car this morning, I had to take a picture, because her reaction when I started laughing was, "What? It's a good parking job. It's only sticking out a little bit!" (She got the car out of the garage early, because on Sundays, the garages just open for a couple hours in the morning and then are shut for the rest of the day.)

Of course, she did have a point. Double- and triple-parked cars are the norm. We passed by some motor scooters -- two or three cars were parked on the road next to them -- one of the better vehicles to double-park next to, as your car doesn't stick out into traffic quite as much. Garbage dumpsters (they have huge bins for garbage or recycling all over the streets instead of small garbage cans) in front of your favorite restaurant? Pshaw -- just park next to them.

Saturday night, we went out for drinks with a friend. Couldn't find any legal parking right out on the street, so he pulled up tightly behind another car and parked at the curve of a corner, halfway into a crosswalk.

He did put on his hazard blinkers, though. After all, that decreases the chance of getting a ticket. And we did sit at a table where he could lean over and look out the window to make sure no one had scratched the car. A ticket? You can always contest that.

All was well, though, and we had a bite to eat and a cocktail before departing and leaving the precious (sort-of-curbside) space available for another enterprising driver parker....read more blogs

 
markbecker ??Tue, 11/10/2009 ?? 10:05
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Same in Manila

- submitted by Anonymous on 11/12/2009

And I don't ever recall anyone getting a ticket.


When in Milan...

- submitted by greg on 11/12/2009

It's similar in central Milan. Except they do give out tickets now and then. Part of it is just the necessity of parking without enough spaces to do it.


Basically...Athens (Greece)

- submitted by alex on 11/12/2009

Basically...Athens (Greece) is worse...


well i think u have to come

- submitted by kavik on 11/12/2009

well i think u have to come to lebanon to see by urself,its worse


At least they're creative...

- submitted by Anonymous on 11/12/2009

I don't think parking in Rome or other major Italian cities is a nightmare at all. The fact that you can get creative with your parking there really helps the parking situation. LA is much worse than Rome in my opinion. There is always a meter maid within view in LA


Well come and see Istanbul

- submitted by coup on 11/12/2009

Istanbul is probably worse..


good news

- submitted by Mike on 11/12/2009

Honestly, in Rome what percentage of the population drives a car regularly (as opposed to scooter, bicycle, or public transportation). Less parking means less public space dedicated to something that I'd generally like to discourage. More car sharing, more public transportation, less single-person-cars, less parking!


Fun in Parking

- submitted by eleaone.Com on 11/12/2009

I lived in Valencia and Alicante, Spain for a couple of years. On fridays and saturdays the bar streets are so packed that people leave their cars without the brake on so that others can push / move your car out of their way ( to get in or out ). Never seen a dent made in any car I owned or moved :)

Fun ( unless u live on those streets )


Cairo is way worse

- submitted by Trev on 11/12/2009

If you think parking in Rome is bad you should take a walk down any street in Cairo, Egypt.


parking in rome

- submitted by Anonymous on 11/12/2009

my favorite part about living in rome was seeing the Smart cars drive up the sidewalk on a one way street going the other way!


OMG

- submitted by Anonymous on 11/12/2009

Ok..Ok.. people I get it. it is a nightmare to park in cities where there are more cars....reading these post seem that this is a universal problem.


London

- submitted by Anonymous on 11/13/2009

Parking in some parts of London is no picnic either!


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