DESPAIR IN ROME

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32803, 31 December 1971, Page 13

DESPAIR IN ROME

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

ROME, Dec. 30. Rome’s public transport will be free for nine days from tomorrow, in a desperate attempt by the authorities to cut down the swarms of private cars which give the city some of the worst traffic jams in Europe. The free travel on buses and trams will apply only during the day, and is intended to persuade Romans to leave their cars at home during rush-hours. Traffic normally moves only slightly faster than walking pace for most of the day in central Rome; the jams are caused by the enormous number of cars in the narrow streets, and the anarchic parking habits of their owners, who drive with little regard for each other and tend to leave their cars wherever they like sometimes in the middle of the road.

The traffic situation is aggravated by the almost universally observed three or four-hour lunch break and siesta, which causes four traffic rush-hours a day.