Tourists holding their hands over their noses to avoid the smoke from a bike.
Trying to eat with bike noise and fumes.Not only is it a danger from the accidents that do occur - but the noise and smell is a real nuisance.
And now.... there are cars. We could hardly believe it when we saw the car ( pictured below) attempting to drive from Batha to the Bab Boujeloud... on the streets of the Medina.
A car in the Medina -
Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb newsAs we have poiu
4 comments:
I really hope this is brought under control. In Marrakech recently a walk through the souks wasn't just unpleasant - because of fumes and noise - it was dangerous!
For some years I have been trying to convince local authorities in meetings and by letter (to the pacha, wali, prefecture etc) that the introduction of motorbikes, three-wheelers and 'hondas' will soon destroy the ambience and charm of the médina. None of these people have taken the slightest notice. Now, as tourism in Fes returns and wages rise and the bikes become cheaper, the médina in parts is crawling with motorbikes/mopeds.
It appears that those involved in tourism and therefore with most vested interest are those least aware of the problem: they never venture out of the VN and also have absolutely no idea of the current situation in Marrakech, where bikers have become so aggressive that both vistors and locals are starting to shun the médina entirely.
In February this year a higly-placed member of the CRT, during a private meeting with me, called the Chief of Police and asked him about the notices banning motorised vehicles that were supposedly being prepared, to be installed on each main gate of the médina. The response, in front of me, was that these notices had already been placed at Bab Boujloud and Bab el Guissa. Has anyone seen them yet? Was this police official being economic with the actuality? And,if so,why?
The fact is that there are no laws regarding the illegality of motorised vehicles in the médina and if there were, there could be no control other than the occasional acceptance of a note or two, once in a while. No Law & No Control. What to do? Perhaps finding a way to the King is now the only answer. If not somebody's child will be run over and the politicians will make a fuss & do nothing. If there are other forums they should be found, as it is ultimately Morocco which must take responsibilty for the desecration of this extraordinary city.
If another Merc gets into the streets I suggest someone takes the keys and throws them in the tannery vats.
It would very good if Fés learns from the mistakes in Marrakech. Here the noise, pollution and danger of mopeds and bikes is a very big problem and our guests most common complaint is about nearly being run over. It would be so easy to ban them here, but nobody seems to understand what a problem it is. Fes should act now while the number of bikes is still small.
Confiscate the bikes
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