Rome’s Bid to Curb Cars Creates Chaos
A bid to grapple with Christmas traffic by closing off most of Rome’s center brought vehicles outside the exclusion zone to a standstill Monday.
On the first full working day of the plan, many people abandoned their cars in mid-journey in frustration, and tow trucks had to clear hundreds of double and triple-parked vehicles.
The chaos was compounded when several sets of traffic lights stayed red for over an hour at the height of the morning rush.
The City Council decided last week to extend by one-third the area of the center closed to unauthorized vehicles, hoping Romans would be encouraged to leave their cars at home.
Some of Rome’s busiest roads, including Via Nazionale and part of Via Veneto, are covered by the extension, which will be in force until Jan. 15.
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