GB cycle tourist in Italy does a Mario Cipollini - by riding on road where bikes banned

Zermattjohn wrote:

Last summer I did similar. Italians drive like lunatics on small country lanes - on this road I strayed onto it was like a drag race. I have never been so scared, and there were no signs so cyclists were allowed on it. After about 200m I climbed a fence, carried the bike across a field full of sheep and 2 very scary looking guard dogs and over a gate. 2 hours later I found a way across this horrible road, back onto quieter lanes (though, as I say, still populated by lunatics behind Fiat 500's!). I'm yet to be convinced Italy is a cycling paradise!

“Italians drive like lunatics on small country lanes” this is a gross generalization and it is hilarious to read it form someone whom country has a 60 mph speed limits on country lanes, just 10 mph lower than a motorways!!!
I am Italian and I have been living in the UK for 15 years and cycled in many of the European countries.
To start with, it depends in which region you are cycling. In regions like Tuscany, Umbria and generally in the north are people are very used to cyclist on the road because every other person cycle and if they don’t do it personally it is very likely that they know some one who does (either family or friend). Fore instance, my dad who doesn’t cycle is super careful when there are cyclists on the road because he knows that me and few other of his friends go out cycling so he is naturally more caring.
The other point I’d like to make it is that people should really spend sometime selecting your itinerary and plan it carefully so you don’t get on the wrong road. It takes very little on Google map to work out where it is ok to cycle and where it is not, although we are all subject to mistakes.
One last point which is just from my personal experience. I go on holiday in Italy every year and go cycling during my holidays. I have never had to endure the sort of road abuses from motorists or pedestrians which I very often get in London and surrey (i.e. cars overtaking close by, Tailgating splitting, yelling, etc….) . Last weekend in Shere I was outside a shop eating an energy bar when a guy walking a dog told me: “do you realise that mist people hate you because you are B***y everywhere”. More spectacularly the wife claimed that the cars congestion in Shere was ultimately fault if the cyclists because none of them respect the rules of the road.

Well said Riccardo, been living in the Torino area for 7 years and never had a problem . even cycling through the city for work, cars even slow down for you on roundabouts if they se you have momentum. The cyclist is king. Piemonte is a fantastic area for cycling, we love it here.

Riccardo_M wrote:

Zermattjohn wrote:

Last summer I did similar. Italians drive like lunatics on small country lanes - on this road I strayed onto it was like a drag race. I have never been so scared, and there were no signs so cyclists were allowed on it. After about 200m I climbed a fence, carried the bike across a field full of sheep and 2 very scary looking guard dogs and over a gate. 2 hours later I found a way across this horrible road, back onto quieter lanes (though, as I say, still populated by lunatics behind Fiat 500's!). I'm yet to be convinced Italy is a cycling paradise!

“Italians drive like lunatics on small country lanes” this is a gross generalization and it is hilarious to read it form someone whom country has a 60 mph speed limits on country lanes, just 10 mph lower than a motorways!!!
I am Italian and I have been living in the UK for 15 years and cycled in many of the European countries.
To start with, it depends in which region you are cycling. In regions like Tuscany, Umbria and generally in the north are people are very used to cyclist on the road because every other person cycle and if they don’t do it personally it is very likely that they know some one who does (either family or friend). Fore instance, my dad who doesn’t cycle is super careful when there are cyclists on the road because he knows that me and few other of his friends go out cycling so he is naturally more caring.
The other point I’d like to make it is that people should really spend sometime selecting your itinerary and plan it carefully so you don’t get on the wrong road. It takes very little on Google map to work out where it is ok to cycle and where it is not, although we are all subject to mistakes.
One last point which is just from my personal experience. I go on holiday in Italy every year and go cycling during my holidays. I have never had to endure the sort of road abuses from motorists or pedestrians which I very often get in London and surrey (i.e. cars overtaking close by, Tailgating splitting, yelling, etc….) . Last weekend in Shere I was outside a shop eating an energy bar when a guy walking a dog told me: “do you realise that mist people hate you because you are B***y everywhere”. More spectacularly the wife claimed that the cars congestion in Shere was ultimately fault if the cyclists because none of them respect the rules of the road.