Milan’s Ecopass Goes on Vacation

July 23, 2008 · Filed Under Milan · Comment

Milan's Ecopasses

Milan’s Ecopass anti-pollution traffic charge is going to be put on hold throughout August 2008, Milan’s Mayor Moratti has recently promised. Note that this promise has not yet been turned into an official change in Ecopass policy.

This means that those coming to Italy who wish to visit Milan by car will probably not have to worry about how and where to pay this charge.

Be wary, though, of camera controlled areas in the centre of Milan that may well still be restricted to traffic, Ecopass or not.

If you do decide to spend a couple of days in Milan, and you stay in a hotel in the central part of the city, do remember to ask the hotel staff to report the details of your car, rented or not, to the local traffic authorities. This should help you avoid receiving a nice little fine some time later after your vacation here.

This temporary suspension of the Ecopass is a good idea, seeing as Milan is generally deserted in August, so traffic pollution levels will be at a minimum anyway, and not having to worry about these passes may encourage a few tourists to drop in, and maybe check out the vibrant night life down in the Navigli - Canal - area, which is just south of Milan city centre.

Nice move Mrs Moratti!

Tags: driving, ecopass, Information, Italy, Milan, Moratti, traffic

A Close Shave - Scooting About Milan

April 24, 2008 · Filed Under Milan · Comment

Whilst on the way the Gaetano’s house on the back of Gaetano’s trusty scooter to take some photos for a little real estate experiment I’m cooking up, a twerp decided, at the last minute, that he needed petrol and pulled right across us. Gaetano pulled up rather sharply and we both ended up resting against the wing of said twerp’s black Merc.

It could have been worse, and certainly was not one of those ‘life flashing before your eyes’ incidents (…and I’ve had a few…), and luckily neither the scooter, Merc, nor us were any the worse for the experience.

Now, I’d love to tear around Milan on a (motor) bike, but I don’t think it would be a great idea. Many moons past I used to tear around in the civilised traffic back in the UK on a bike, and I had a few close shaves. However, if I got up to my old tricks here, I’d most probably end up eating the asphalt, or worse.

Much safer to throw money at camera gear, I suppose.

Tags: accident, bike, close shave, incident, lucky escape, merc, Milan, Milano, motorbike, scooter, traffic

Chaos in Part of Milan this Morning

February 29, 2008 · Filed Under Milan · 3 Comments

When I got to the business school in the Fiera area of Milan this morning, at around 9, I found just about all the classrooms deserted. Oops, I’ve arrived far too early, I thought. I checked the time, and it was indeed around 9, on both my trusty mobiles.

Very odd. I had noticed that the traffic was a little heavier than normal, but this happens from time to time, and whenever there is an accident somewhere or other in Milan.

In an effort to understand just what had happened I asked the two or so staff who had made it into work, and was told that the red underground line had been having some problems.

The knock-on effect was incredible, with many of the students, and I imagine many office workers, not managing to arrive much before 10, and other students continued to drift in throughout the morning, even if a few did give up the struggle and return home. A couple of people I met had had to walk a mile or so to get to work. Total chaos.

The disruption of this single line managed reverberate enough to bring just about the whole of this usually fast moving area of Milan to a virtual standstill for more or less a whole morning.

Very strange. A funny start to a Friday if ever there was one.

Tags: Business, business school, chaos, Milan, odd, People, problem, problems, strange, traffic, underground, Work