Rome Transportation

Getting around Rome can be very time consuming and exhausting.  It is not as simple as Paris or Venice.  Below are the transportation options.

  • Scooters – You only have to be 16 and don’t have to take a test.  They are everywhere and driven as if running from the Hounds of Hell
  • Cars –  A continual game of chicken.  Brakes are not an option.  (Larry and Jerry stood transfixed for 10 minutes at one traffic circle staring at the mass confusion).
  • Buses –  As far as we can tell, the tourists support the bus system in Rome.  We have never seen a local use a bus ticket.  It is only the Americans and good Germans that use tickets.  The driver takes no personal interest in any of his passengers or is concerned if they have paid. (Debbie is sorry that she has ever said anything negative about Venice’s vaporettas.  They would help you get up if you fell).  Once the bus driver closes the door, the driver takes off as fast as he can sending all passengers reeling to the back.  Stopping is slamming on the brakes, sending all passengers forward.  Debbie can’t seem to brace herself without planting both feet and holding on with both hands.  We have  never seen a passenger unable to get on a bus because it was too full.  The new passengers just fight their way on regardless of the number of passengers.  Boarding a bus is like going into battle.  (Our bus route 64 is called the PickPocket Route).  On a side note, we have made many close personal friends on the bus.
  • Pedestrians – They have the right away and pedestrian crossing are everywhere.  Occasionally, there will be a  walk/don’t walk light.  There seems to be no actual logic to when the walk light is assigned to a light.  If you are a tourist clutching a guidebook looking nervously down the street, anything on wheels (AOW – cars, scooter, or buses – ) will speed up to race through the pedestrian crosswalk.  The first strategy is to walk with the locals as they know the rules of chicken.  But alas, there will come a time when you are with  standing sadly on the side of the street waiting and waiting.  At that time, you must take a stand.  Stride into the street and bravely cross followed by other tourists taking advantage of your bravery.  We have developed different techniques.  Joyce will hold up her hand like a traffic cop and then trot across with the other 3 trailing behind.  Debbie has taken a more militant technique.  She turns, shouts ‘ Let’s Do it!”, makes eye contact with the driver, steps off and gives them the stink eye all the way across the road. ( She has found herself on the other side of the street alone while the other 3 stood stunned with mouths open.  Debbie has also been scolded by Larry on her crossing technique and asked “What happened to safety first?”  Debbie will tell you what happened, she came to Rome!)


We know that you could take a taxi but we are Les Cheap Girls.

4 thoughts on “Rome Transportation”

  1. I have seen Debbie deliver “the stink eye”. I believe it is an effective street crossing technique. I have been on the receiving end of the eye. I stopped too.

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