Driving in Italy

OK, your piece on driving in Naples was cute, but it didn't match my experience. Last year my wife & I went to Italy for two weeks. The first week we went from Milan to Venice and Florence by train. On our return to Milan we rented a motorcycle, rode the autostrada to Genoa where we hopped the overnight ferry to Sardinia.

We stayed in a mini-villa on the Costa Smeralda and rode the main and back roads of northern Sardinia. Aside from the four dollar a gallon gas, riding in Italy was easier than in the US. Despite your correspondent's comments, the Italians have a greater awareness of two wheeled traffic than American drivers. I think it stems from their licensing laws. Almost everyone rides a moped or scooter during their teenage years, so the drivers know what they are and how they'll perform.

Italian drivers will aggressively jockey for position in urban traffic, but they don't startle just because a two-wheeler is splitting lanes. Likewise, four-wheel rolling roadblocks are unknown. When we pulled behind a Fiat Uno or Panda, the driver would slide to the right of the lane and let us by. Of course, we did the same for Porsches and Alfa Romeos. Urban traffic seemed a bit more intense than stateside, but there was a weird Italian discipline to it. Once we caught on to the rhythms and patterns of Italian driving, riding that BMW 850R was a pure joy!

Who knows, maybe next trip will be a bicycle tour of Tuscany! Say, does The Savvy Traveler want a first-hand report on cycling Tuscany? Just look for the couple with the sign "Will report on travel for expenses!"

Harvey

 

 

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