What's Mine is Yours...

It seems that here in Italy, cars only have slightly more rights to the roads than people. Jay walking is not just allowed, it's its own sport. People will walk in the road if it suits them as well as cross when and where they like. What I would consider pedestrian "rules" of the road are certainly more like guidelines.

Similarly, the reciprocal is also true; sidewalks are only slightly more inhabited by foot traffic than vehicles. It is not uncommon to see bikes and vespas cutting the corners off intersections via the sidewalk. Cars use the entire sidewalk as their own personal parking lot (which often forces pedestrians into the street to get around them...) particularly at crosswalks and on curbs.

But somehow, this chaotic intermingling of auto and foot traffic all has a smooth, choreographed feel to it. Drivers will stop for pedestrians even though they have the right of way. Pedestrians do their best to stay out of drivers' way - even if that driver is on the sidewalk. Pedestrians cut-off cars; cars cut-off pedestrians...everyone seems to be anticipating one another, so they're all pretty self-aware at any given time. Perhaps because the roads are so narrow, uneven, and windy, users have had this evolution of sharing forced upon them - I don't really know. What I can tell you is that like finely tuned cogs in a complex machine, they all work together in a harmony and balance I don't fully understand but can certainly appreciate.

Waiting my turn for the crosswalk at home is going to require so much more discipline after this. I've come to enjoy being an aggressive pedestrian; it gets you where you want to go.