The Scooter:
an Italian phenomenon
The Italian police have declared war on the 10 million motor scooters of Italy.
The town of Naples is leading the anti-illegal-scooters campaign using 200 officers and 80 checkpoints all-over town. Targets: First to stop the Camorra - the local Mafia - that use the two-wheelers for bag-snatching and (even) killing; Second to ticket all two-wheeler riders who do not respect the road code; and finally to ensure that the amount of the exhaust gas emissions is under EU limits specified by the directive 97/24 - "Euro 1". (30% of the fumes produced by the two-stroke engine of the scooters contain carbon monoxide and carcinogenic substances). But in Italy the scooter is the only way to move through the narrow medieval streets. It's one of last symbols of freedom that the Italians have; the fastest and most democratic means of transportation - it's used by rich and poor to get to work on time and it is the last hope in the fight against traffic congestion. Italian riders are often considered a veritable army of insolent, arrogant drivers that with no helmet, mobile glued to their ears, failing to stop at red lights, use bus and pedestrian lanes indiscriminately and then park on the pavement. Moreover 80% of scooters are illegal because they are modified so they can reach speeds of 60mph (20mph over the limit). Yes! Because both the grey-haired businessman and the reckless teenager likes his two-wheeler fast and trendy.
felix petrelli
