Rome scooter rental - recommended? | GTAMotorcycle.com

Rome scooter rental - recommended?

H

HorizonXP

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Hey guys,

So I'm heading to Rome in about 2 weeks for a very short trip (24 hours). I have a very tight timeline.

I'm arriving in Rome FCO airport at 9:45am, then taking the express train to the main station. From there, I need to get to my hotel, then get to somewhere else, as fast as possible. I was thinking of either just walking, or taking a taxi.

That said, there's a scooter rental place very close to the train station. I'm thinking, it might not be a bad idea to grab a scooter for a few hours, or for the day.

Is Rome traffic that bad? I ride in downtown Toronto all the time with my bike, but I'm willing to bet that it's not the same.

Thanks!

Edit: Just thought about this. I'm planning to carry a backpack with clothes, a shoulder camera bag, and maybe a tripod. I won't have much to carry, since I'm there for such a short period. But still, a consideration.

Edit: Hmm... not sooooo bad actually.

[video=youtube;Cp26BqSoJ4c]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp26BqSoJ4c&feature=plcp[/video]
 
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What kind of traveller are you? Personally whenever I go to Europe the flight alone wipes me out and I wouldn't have my full concentration on the task. Also you're in a rush so that's not going to help either. Your call but I'd do a rental when I'm in no rush so I can enjoy it.
 
No. Don't do it, walk. Rome is the China of Europe for insane drivers.
 
Yea I'd say don't do it. I thought about getting a bike/scooter before I got there too. And then I took a taxi from the airport to hotel and completely dismissed the idea. Rome is crazy. Look around all the cars have scraps and dings, they drive like maniacs. See for yourself when you get there and then decide.
 
I don't get it though. We take the risk of riding motorcycles here, hell, some of us even race on the track (I have a few times).

But somehow, riding a scooter in Rome, where 1000s of people do it daily, that's crazy?

Am I just being delusional, and there really is a difference?
 
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I did it with the wife pillion. Everyone over states how bad Roman traffic is. I found it to be a delight on the scooter, zipping between gridlock was so liberating. You can park it anywhere too, just not too close to historical tourist hot spots. I got a ticket for leaving it right at the bottom of the Spanish steps. 125cc gives you everything you need and more for 2 up riding and beating every car off the line, and maximizing the sites you can cram into a day. Any more capacity is over kill; you'll be hard pressed to see a motorcycle 600cc and up.

I rented from this spot. Forgot how much per day though. I think 120 Euros for 4 days?....I forget.

I'll try and dig up the address for ya. found it! They are still in business 7 years later on from when I was there so they gotta be doing something right.

http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=rome&h...noid=cXb0Yzl721ihSdVH5q6JnA&cbp=12,132.9,,0,0
 
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Deimos said:
No. Don't do it, walk. Rome is the China of Europe for insane drivers.
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^^ absolutely what he said. Also, if you are not familiar with where you are going, its not such a good idea.
 
I was in rome last month..I wouldnt recommend riding there. It's chaotic..people do it there regularly because they are use to it. Coming from toronto, I wouldnt risk it.
 
I've ridden in Rome many times. No issues with safety. Like elsewhere in Europe there is a driving culture and respect for riders. Drivers are aware that riders exist and make an effort to look for them unlike downtown Toronto. If you can ride in Toronto then you'll survive in Rome. Go for it you'll regret it if you don't. Also, there are organized group rides on scooters for tourists to see the sites so that tells you how safe it is.
 
Seriously, don't listen to people who visited Rome and just observed traffic. Trust me, the traffic flow is never over 60kph. Often gridlock is so severe you will be wizzing past people at 30 to 40kph. Traffic is aware of scooters and you will pick it up pretty quick.

Don't navigate by street names, instead navigate by landmarks, it is much easier. Take a paper map with you, or phone I guess, and head in general directions. When you think you are near a land mark pull over and check your map. It isn't nearly as bad as people say.

I did it to prove a point to myself and to be honest London is more difficult. Paris is Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeasy! Zurich was tricky, and Cairo was my most difficult experience.

I would put Rome in this order on my list of hardest to easiest:

Cairo
London
Rome
Zurich
Paris
Montreal
Toronto
Brussels

Buddy, they say once you can drive in Rome you can drive anywhere.....I had to put it to the test, I had too! Like the guy above said, you will kick yourself for not doing it. Hell I always regret not springing for the cheesy gondola in Venice, despite the insane price and total cheese factor.

In the end, Rome is NOT the litmus test of world wide driving. As difficult as Cairo is, I wouldn't even put that at the top.

I would say some place like Mumbai or Taipei or Dhaka or Lagos is probably the new bench mark!

Trust, me with 15hp, automated - twist and go acceleration, the ability to whip your head around with no real blind spots, before your second day is finished you will feel like you grew up in Rome! It comes very naturally. Your mind will be free from the mechanics of riding (scooters are dead easy), free from paranoia of rules, tickets, fines (lax as hell), free from road rage fears (totally laid back)....you can actually leave your mind (no chitting you here) to actually enjoy the sites while ON THE GO! On the main roads (if you can call them that) you will need to concentrate to flow with traffic, but the side roads are sooooooooo quite and tame, you catch your breath, regroup and any and everywhere you stop is a cultural gem. Even if you get lost, you'll enjoy where you end up!

PS look out for the giant black cockroaches on the fountain(s), especially out side of the pantheon at night!

Most people on this site either pop a vein or crap their pants at the notion of filtering and splitting and have never ridden outside of Toronto. They actually think driving here is difficult. Go broaden your horizons man, that is what travel and adventure are about!
 
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awyala said:
I would say some place like Mumbai or Taipei or Dhaka or Lagos is probably the new bench mark!
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I haven't driven in Lagos, but Accra (Ghana) can't be far behind. Gridlock for hours in parts of the city, super-aggressive taxis, poor road system.
 
Congrats! Glad you had fun. Looking forward to the vids!

+1 awyala! I've been in a bus & taxi in Cairo & I've seen how they drive. The right of way goes to the guy who takes it first. Riding would definitely be interesting. On a side note, its amazing to see the the Muslim women riding pillion side saddle. I guess modesty takes priority over safety. but somehow they manage to survive.
 
Was in Rome several times now... never needed a scooter or other transportation.
Once you're downtown, *ALL* of the major tourist attractions aside from the soccer stadiums are within a couple hour walk. In that 2 hours, you will come across other major attractions, which slow you down. You could probably do a B-line from the Vatican to the Castle and the Fountains quite readly in just over an hour if you don't stop to gawk.
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