PARKING MY SCOOTER WHERE I CAN

This is from 2005, reformatted here.


A reader wrote in to Quattro Passi, the local monteverde magazine, complaining that they had been fined for parking their scooter on the sidewalk. "I've always parked it there and never before got a fine" they say.
Here's my response:
Admitting to being a repeat offender is not a great way to provoke sympathy; "officer, I've always stolen but i only got caught today".
I also received a fine that day, and with great difficulty paid it. Unlike the other reader I hadn't always parked there. In fact, I had conscientiously searched for parking elsewhere to keep the sidewalk free for pedestrians. Having to weave around motor-vehicles on the sidewalk is annoying and absurd. I've seen children almost run over by scooters speeding along the sidewalk. The masonry benches, though not so attractive, certainly will never serve their public role if scooters block access to them as they do now. In short, an attractive pedestrian refuge has become an extension of the street.
These are some of the reasons that on 14 February I filed a denuncia with the Vigili Urbani complaining about this unacceptable situation. Nothing happened for a month. Finally, I interpreted this to mean that despite what is stated in the codice della strada, parking a scooter on the sidewalk is considered okay. Why should I continue to search for non-existent scooter parking spots when everyone else just leaves theirs on the sidewalk. If I didn't park mine there (condotto a mano, at the edge of the sidewalk where when there isn't a scooter there is usually a car taking up even more pedestrian space)
That was the day the Vigili decided to pay a visit. Who knows, perhaps they waited to be able to fine the person that had the gall to ask them to do their job. Well, I will keep doing so. I've decided that until the "codice della strada" is enforced, I won't be the only fool to respect it--though I will be as civic as possible in my violations--, but as a citizen I will work to see that the law be enforced sooner or later, convinced that the city will be a better place as a result.