by Cathy Nolte
A young girl clutches her backpack firmly as she perches in
the seat on the back of her mother’s bicycle.
The girl chatters away, I assume talking about her day, as her mother
pedals and navigates the city streets of Pesaro. This girl is experiencing her daily routine
ride home from school. Although I have
seen many bikes in the small town of Cagli, and throughout Italy, Pesaro has a
unique and favorable attitude for this method of transportation.
The people
using bicycles in Pesaro are as diverse as the population. Businessmen talking on cell phones as they
pedal, navigate the streets with high efficiency. Women balance groceries and packages in small
baskets mounted to the front of their bikes.
Children ride their bikes with innovative pouches that carry numerous
water toys and towels. I observed an
elderly couple, each on their own bike, sandwich a very small child between
them for a leisurely evening ride. And,
of course, there were several sportsmen out exercising with their colorful
shirts sporting logos from a variety of sponsors.
It only
takes a short time in Pesaro to notice the value this beach town places on the
immense population of cyclists. Rows and
rows of bike racks are strategically placed throughout the city. Large blue lanes are painted on the walkway
or streets giving priority space to those traveling by bicycle. Cars yield to the bikers as they cross major
intersections. There is an unwritten
code this city embraces, the rules are known and readily accepted.
During my short stay in Pesaro, I saw several
bicyclers dart out into traffic, weave through pedestrians, and disobey street
signs and red lights. Not once did I see
a pedestrian or driver get heated or angry from the actions of a cyclist. This observation in Pesaro demonstrated a
regional difference that was not present in other Italian cities. If one is considering relocating to Pesaro, I
would suggest trading your four-wheeled transportation for the two-wheeled
variety, embrace the cyclist, and get some exercise. It is the culture of Pesaro, adapt. 
No comments:
Post a Comment