Crazy Marseille Streets

I wouldn’t want to drive in the city of Marseille. In fact I wouldn’t know how. On the other hand, if I ever wanted a fearless driver, I would pick a Marseillian.

The streets are narrow, are often one-way (but who cares right?), and the lanes change ever so randomly some with dead-ends. There appears to be no differentiation between pavement and road. Seriously, people chit chat on the road, stop and kiss friends they just happened upon right there on the road despite the fact they see you coming. Cars park on the pavement. They drive on the pavement. Drivers have the nerve to honk at pedestrians to get out of their way when driving on the pavement.

I wish I were making this up.

The tiny cars enable people to park anywhere and anyhow. Since the streets are so narrow, there is no good place for delivery vehicles to park to pick up or drop off merchandise. So what happens is that you are going along your merry way and all of a sudden screeching STOP!!! Traffic light? No. People kissing in the street? No. It’s a delivery van and now you are at their mercy. I guess the Marseillians are used to this though. The other cars just sit there and wait for the delivery to be done. Now that is patience.

Held up for 10 minutes by the truck ahead picking up packages

Bike weaving through traffic: passenger has to balance self against bus

Another delivery hold-up and street walkers

Man “cutting” in front of our vehicle at an intersection

Van clearly on the pavement where there are LOTS of people

Vespas & cars vie for dominance on street and pavement alike