Cyclists take matters into their own hands in Rome tunnel

Rome cyclists have painted their own bicycle track in a dangerous tunnel between the districts of Esquilino and S. Lorenzo after getting fed up waiting for the city to intervene, according to a report in Italian daily newspaper La Repubblica.

On 30 November, the cyclists painted the DIY track in the S. Bibiana tunnel, following numerous unheeded appeals and fruitless meetings with city councillors in recent years.

The cyclists say the job took about 45 minutes, involved around a dozen people and cost €140 in materials. The tunnel, which connects Via Giovanni Giolitti with Piazzale Tiburtino, lies under the train tracks at Termini station and saves commuters a lenghty detour between S. Lorenzo and the Esquilino.

Citing safety concerns, the cyclists released an open letter to Rome mayor and keen cyclist Ignazio Marino, stating they were forced to take matters into their own hands and hoping he will be sympathetic to their illegally-painted track.

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