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...Keep walking!!
Athens Pedestrian organization PEZH (www.pezh.gr) stop traffic on Dionyssiou Aeropagitou St and generate debates with drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and coppers. Apparently (according to witnesses) there was some out-of-order man-handling, with a motorbike driver and his girlfriend being literally hauled off the bike by enraged pedestrians, which only goes to show the levels of rage that prevail amongst Athens' walkers. Being one of them, I have to say I too have regularly flown off the handle upon being faced by drivers who literally speed along PEDESTRIAN walkways, and it has happened a few times that I was about to be RUN OVER by various vehicles. Luckily for me I am not a child, an elderly person or a disabled individual, so I can at least try to leap out of the way when midst leisurely walk a moving vehicle comes roaring towards me because no copper has bothered to stop him/her. And while walking my dog in Thisseio park (aka local parking ground on any weekend night) I once witnessed at least 100 motorbikes zapping through it because there was some strike going on in Syntagma Sq that caused a traffic diversion. I walked up to a ROW of policemen in their kinky leather trousers, sipping frappe coffees and smoking their fags and enquired why they were letting this happen, RIGHT BEFORE THEIR EYES; Answer 1. "We are not here to monitor traffic",
Answer 2. If we were to stop these guys it would not prevent another 300 people doing the same thing later on (? To this I asked whether there's any point in arresting rapists, thieves and murderers as there will still be others in future) and Answer 3. "Why doesn't you dog have a muzzle on? That's the law!". So you might just get the picture...
There are many abused pedestrian stories to be told, and I hope to receive some from you! All I can say is that the picture is VERY ugly for walkers in Athens. The government & municipality want the image of having pedestrian walks but clearly does not take the responsibility & committment that goes with creating that. Ugh!
PHOTOS: Thank you to James Corsi
2 comments:
Hi there. My name is Iñigo, from Barcelona. I lived in Athens for two years and I´m really in love with the place (Ok, it´s more like a Love&Hate relationship, but it´s for sure a very passionate one!). I really enjoyed reading your blog and having a look at the pictures... I very much share your idea of intense beauty in the hidden neighborhoods of Athens (and that's why I feel the need to walk around Pangrati every now and then!). Take care. I.
Hi, my name is Sean Brander. I'm a writer for the Athens News. I'm doing a story on street art for the paper, and aside from trying to meet as many artists as possible, I'm trying to determine the legal status of the artwork, if it's considered illegal or merely ignored or somewhere between. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Email me at sean.brander@gmail.com or call on 6949 355 323. Thanks!
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