Athens, Greece is notorious for its pro-motorist mentality and legislation. The city has the highest per-capita rate of car ownership in the European Union with about two million vehicles in the city and 450 cars registered for every 1,000 residents. Not coincidentally, Greece is also among the fattest countries in the EU.
The ratio of cars to people may not sound like a lot by American standards, but in a city like Athens, there’s simply nowhere to put all of these vehicles. Pedestrians suffer as a result. They must do battle with scooters that swarm the sidewalks and navigate around cars that oftentimes park smack dab in the middle of crosswalks or even entirely on sidewalks.
As we reported, when pedestrian Tassos Pouliasis encountered an illegally-parked vehicle blocking his path, he vaulted over it rather than seeking an unsafe route into traffic. Rather than ticketing the vehicle, local authorities jailed Pouliasis and charged him with vandalism. He faces a trial and potentially four years in prison.
Cool car-vaulting video after the jump.
… we decided that we waited long enough for the state, the local authorities and the police to wake up. It was time for action. Whoever doesn’t comply, pays the price on the spot.
Action #1 is stickers. We printed several thousands and handing them out. During a ride, a night-out, shopping, at school, at the movies, the Donkey sticker is always among us. A self-adhesive reminder for inconsiderate drivers to respect those who commit the unforgivable crime of walking.
As Greek pedestrian advocate group Pezee reports, Greece has consistently supported car usage at the expense of the population’s well being.
Greece has always been among the countries with the cheapest gasoline in Europe and now is also among those with the lowest car prices. In order to favour car use and make it cheaper, the public space had been allowed to be used for free parking. When this space proved insufficient, because Athens urban density is substantially high, the administration also allowed the illegal use of pedestrian spaces for the parking of motorised vehicles.
Public transport is left to deteriorate in relation to private means of transport, and traffic needs were designed to be satisfied by car use. Thus the share of public transport in total mobility declined from 65% in 1973 to 51% in 1983 and to 42% in 1996, while today it is even lower (estimated at about 34%). Bicycle use is discouraged or prohibited and today is almost non-existent.
For more anti-car civil disobedience, check out: Indians of the Concrete Jungle.
Photo via flickr by StefanosP.
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