After trial by fire, and over a week immersed in Italian culture, I have learned a few things about pedestrian physics here in Italy.
1. Italians drive very well. They also drive very fast. Italians are very aware of their surroundings as they do not rely on/need/enjoy using traffic signage to regulate their vehicular movements. What more is lane demarcation other then a rough theoretical spacial allotment? Signage indicating ‘one way’ merely informs the driver that oncoming traffic may be more prevalent then on two way streets as they head up against the grain. With these thoughts in mind, crossing the street becomes a little more involved. When you cross a street in Italy, look both ways only to determine if on coming traffic has time to stop. Walk directly out and into the street. Do not look again, and do not hesitate. Traffic will negotiate its way around you; like water flowing around a boulder in stream. Hesitation makes this more difficult as each driver has already plotted a trajectory based on your current and, most importantly, consistent velocity.
2. Italians walk like they drive. Walking an Italian sidewalk is much akin to a pretty slow game of chicken. Each player walks as though they exist alone the sidewalk. The idea of sharing space does not apply in Italy. Thus, to walk unhindered and with out being pushed/bullied/bounced all over the sidewalk it is important to focus on a point far off in the distance, set off with stoic determination and never, ever waver from your course. Again, as Italian pedestrians are aware of their surroundings, when they encounter an immovable obstacle, they will move. But, like a dog sensing fear, you must commit whole heartedly lest they get a whiff of your vacillating resolve.
3. In Italy, endless hours of fun can be had watching tourists in local areas learn/not learn these two simple laws of pedestrian physics.
A Traffic Clip
Untitled from rob james on Vimeo.