Monday also brought us the strange sight of a large boat apparently drifting around at our end o
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In the last lot of strong winds back in January when they were both still here, one of them slipped its moorings and bumped into the other. I wondered whether something similar had happened this time as the boat, accompanied by several tugs appeared to be drifting rather aimlessly. However, there has been nothing (or at least I could find nothing) in the news about it so I can only guess that they were testing something. At any rate, by yesterday morning there was no sign of it.
This leads me on to one or two traffic and transport related facts that I have been collecting recently. When they carry out improvements to the coast road between Vigo and A Ramallosa it will incorporate a new arcén-bici or cycle path. This will be about two metres wide, painted red to differentiate it from the rest of the road surface and will take two-way cycle traffic.
What interested me most of all was the fact that it is to be on the inland-side of the road so that it is completely separate from the pedestrian pavement on the coast side. Now, in my experience most cyclists here really prefer to ride on the pavement. Will they be able to resist? Will the cycle path be used?
To some extent I can sympathise with cyclists wanting to use the pavement. Motorists here and in the UK find it hard to see cyclists. They have enough trouble with motorcyclists but the pedalling fraternity are almost invisible. Surprisingly, however, not many car drivers get locked up for it. It would seem that there are just under 3000 people in prison in Spain for motoring offences.
Around one third are there for driving without a licence. Why do they drive without a licence? Well, some use the excuse of falta de formación escolar – maybe they can’t pass the theory test because they didn't complete their education! (Someone I know says that most of these are gypsies, known for giving little importance to education or to the rules and regulations of payo or non-gipsy society, for that matter!) Others claim language difficulties. And another group say they can’t afford the lessons. Strangely they can afford the car!
Just under one third are inside for dangerous driving. The term used in the newspaper article I read was conducción temeraria which sounds more like daring driving to my English ear. About 5% are imprisoned for what is described as suponer un grave riesgo para la circulación. Those are the REALLY dangerous drivers, I assume.
Another group of around one third have been put away for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs although there are 4.14% who are there for refusing to submit to the alcohol and drug tests. And finally there is a minuscule 2.72% who are there for driving too fast. How fast do you have to go to be put away for it? Or do you have to be a serial speeder?
Interestingly, out of the 2982 people in prison for motoring offences only 35 are women. I repeat, ONLY 35 women. Does this not perhaps say something about the merits of women drivers? Lower insurance premiums, fewer accidents, fewer convictions: I rest my case!
Finally, I come to underground train systems. A young man from Santiago de Compostela, 20 year old Francisco Dans, currently studying design in London, has “inv
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Francisco does say though that his project is just fantasy and not a very realistic one at that. The relatively small size of Santiago de Compostela makes it impossible to transfer the London Tube map directly. Some of the stations on his map are only 50 metres apart. Maybe it’s just as well it isn't going to be a reality. Imagine the chaos that could ensue if you started obras all over the pilgrim city!
Anthea, if my information is correct, the Balearia ferries that you have seen “drifting” around in the estuary were built in Vigo by the Spanish shipyard Astilleros Hijos de J Barreras. In the first place, I believe that they were to build two of them and later, they were awarded the third vessel, which had originally to have been built in Portugal. This last vessel is to be delivered in May of this year. Interestingly, the shipyard in Vigo has developed a good niche market and is one of the few remaining in not only Spain, but also in Europe.
ReplyDeleteThe drifting about was probably part of their trials and commissioning.