Rome infrastructure

We left two years ago (after 5years living in the city) but even then we would no longer ride the Metro. Too chaotic and getting on or off at Termini a nightmare. Not sure I would ride a bus there these days.

Taxis are cheap so you might take those when foot power will not do.

I hope Dario will weigh in with the perspective of a current resident.

We were there in November. Saw some litter, but no more than any other big city. The Repubblica station is still closed. We rode the Metro a couple of times and didn't have any trouble. Didn't take any buses because we walked nearly everywhere.

Rome is one of those cities where you can almost walk yourself to death. Just walking from a train into Termini and down to the Metro tubes is a very long walk.
We prefer to use buses to get around the city. They're very quick and somewhat efficient. We didn't find the taxi cabs to be at all cheap.
We do usually stay in a neighborhood close to the Vatican Museum and there is a Metro station within 2 blocks.

If Rome was such a problem for tourists, far fewer of them would go there. :O)
They don't seem to be having any issues attracting them.

Have taken the metro a couple of times (not in the last year or so) but never taken a bus. Never had to. It's a great city to walk, and on foot is the best way to experience it, IMHO.

I was there for a week this fall and took Metro and buses multiple times without issues, except that using the busses requires close attention to schedules, routes, and where you are -- like any unfamiliar bus system. Didn't notice any excess of trash, given that it's a big ancient city. The Repubblica station was closed when I was there, the accident had happened a few days earlier.

You can make things easier by staying somewhere central so you can walk a lot of places, by using taxis for longer trips or with luggage, and by being especially careful as a pedestrian. The biggest risk I ran in Rome was crossing streets. Lots of uncontrolled intersections and drivers are more aggressive than most Americans are used to.

why is this laid at the feet of the current mayor?

Hi Carl,

On Friday, I just returned from a two-week stay in Rome. I was there the same time last year and took note in the increase of travelers and the like. The weather was at least 15-20 degrees warmer during the day than last year. Some other variables probably factored into the visitor increase too. Even the desk managers and restaurant agreed.

I would walk to most places, but I did take the autobus on occasion (1,50 €) per 100 minute (validated) ride. I noticed the buses were not as frequent, or they were very full. But I had no real issues or fear riding them in the early/late evening. I usually would catch one to return to the area of Termini where my hotel was. You can purchase BIT tickets for (autobus and metro) at Tabacchi or some gift shops.) It may be good to keep one or two extra in your money belt. They don't expire until you validate the first ride - either bus or metro. I think the ticket is good for one metro ride. I may be wrong. But, the autobus, once you validate your ticket, the ride is good for 100 minutes including a transfer.

This year, I saw an increase of the Inspectors getting on the buses at random and inspecting tickets/passes They can/will fine you on the spot if your ticket is not validated or expired. One bus I got on had an "invalid" (non valido) machine to stamp ticket. Other riders had the same issues. In that case, you write the time you got on the bus, the stop you got on, day and bus number - #64 - Bus "3657" for example. You can locate the number of the bus on the outside (back) of the bus if you don't see it near the driver.

The Inspector told me this is okay because some machines are not working all the time. Also, take a picture of the invalid stamp machine to further protect yourself. Oh, and, if one stamp machine is not working, try another in the bus - there are two. That is, if you can get to it. The information on how to proceed (from the Inspector) should suffice.

This year, I took the metro (one time.) I was further out of the city centre. Last year, I did not take the metro. So, I have nothing to compare it too with this year's experience.

The metro car was not too full at the stop I got on. But, the people traffic did increase as we moved on to other stops (going toward Termini.) The metro station is like most big city train stations - be prepared for craziness, "underground" scents that are not pleasant, maybe a person or two asking for money, and people running this way and that way. There are police there at the turnstyles. Getting off and walking out is a bit of a walk; but not that bad.

Keep nothing in your pockets - not even in zippered pockets - jackets or pants. Put all valuables in a money belt under a tight shirt. If you are using some type of security bag, keep that directly in front of you - with a hand on it just for good measure.

If you practice common sense and an awareness/sense of security, you will be fine. If a person has a pre-planned mindset to steal, and an opportunity arises, they could act on it.

The train ride is not scary really. I'm used to people jamming onto buses and onto trains. But, if you choose to not get on one that is already crowded, just wait - another one will be on its way within minutes. The buses were fine as I stated above.

Be prepared. Keep calm. Keep your wits/awareness. You should be fine if you need/want to ride the buses or metro. Many drivers, Inspectors and Police speak English if your Italian is not at "conversation level." They know travelers can be nervous. Side note: Bus #40 at Termini is an express bus - fewer stops, fewer people. Keep the route in mind for certain attractions.

Edited. Guess I'm still on Roma time ;)

It’s not that bad for tourists. For locals it may be a different matter.

I’ve been there 3 times for 2 weeks total and have never ridden the metro. I don’t have a problem with it, and I ride subways in most other cities. It’s just the one in Rome is not all that comprehensive so it’s never been useful to me. I do ride busses with no trouble. However, it’s a great walking city so that is usually my preference.

It’s unpopular on this forum but I say avoid Termini station area except as a necessary transit point. I find it ugly and unpleasant (not unsafe, though, don’t worry), but the rest of Rome you will see as a tourist is not that way. Get a cab from the station to a hotel more towards the center, and then walk or bus everywhere. Or take cabs.

I saw many city/garbage collectors picking up trash and the like. I did not see overflowing dumpsters or garbage-filled streets or store fronts. The increase of debris was from December 8 feast.

With regard to the Termini escalators or metro escalators - I saw them as "all working fine with no issues."

Like any machine, things can break down. Riding on an escalator, it's good to keep your footing steady and straight. If you have luggage, etc., maybe put them on the step to your side. If the escalator is not functioning, there are steps and maybe an elevator? to accommodate people with mobility issues. Look up Termini Station to see its features.

Been a year and a half (February 2017) since we spent a week at an apartment on the perimeter of Campo de' Fiori. Rode the bus and Metro almost exclusively to get around. It's a labyrinthine system, but I did enough homework in advance to kind of understand it. Most important concept to grasp is that almost everything funnels through Termini station. We bought weekly passes for 24 Euro apiece at a local tabacchi shop (kept the receipt), and used them a lot, well worth it, also from the standpoint that we only needed to validate our pass the first time, then we could enter a bus from front or back without concern.

Yes, Girasoli--our Chicago friends who spend their winters in Rome--ah, wouldn't that be nice!--said that starting in about April/May of last year there was a decided increase of inspectors on buses to check passes. During our maybe 20 trips on a bus during that week in February, we saw none and to me it looked on the surface every bit like a free bus!

In late winter, neither buses nor the Metro were consistently crowded. Certainly the buses on the main drag Vittorio Emanuele (#60? #64?) were full during rush hour, but not sardine-like. And yes, I took all the precautions--chest pouch, nothing in pockets, etc., but I found the mostly locals that were riding the buses helpful & cordial. Many riders spoke English at least a little and we could converse freely.

Unless the infrastructure you speak of has totally disintegrated over the last 18 months, I don't see a big problem.

And Mira, I somewhat agree with your opinion on the area around Termini. It's absolutely necessary to go in & out of there to get around, but it's not close to being pretty--it's just very busy with a lot of interesting characters. Some of the best weird people-watching in Europe. And because of that, I wouldn't stay around Termini--there are simply so many better areas to base. One thing--just a stone's throw from Termini are the Baths of Diocletian and an accompanying historical museum from the 3rd Century, amazingly kept up and beautiful. Simply awe-inspiring, one of the best hidden (in plain view) attractions in Rome.

Enjoy your time in the Eternal City!

Yes, Jay, Agree. Last year, I did not encounter any inspectors boarding buses. Hmm. But, I was always prepared.

This year, I witnessed a young man, around 18-20 years "get caught." I could not hear what transpired between him and the inspector, but, he was issued a document to sign.

Rome, like any large city, has had its problems that occasionally make the news.

But a couple of years ago, a populist party called 5 Star Movement (a sort of Occupy Wall Street/Bernie Sanders type movement) took power in the city (and now in the country, along with the League) and the traditional establishment politicians aren’t happy to be out of power.

The result of this political situation is the mainstream media doesn’t miss the opportunity to attack the current Mayor Virginia Raggi (of the 5 Star Movement) for anything that happens in Rome, including the weather.

But my question is: if the situation in Rome was so great before Ms. Raggi became Mayor, why did the Romans vote overwhelmingly to kick out the traditional mainstream parties and put in power a movement of inexperienced bunch of young populist protesters?

Now, I’m not saying that Rome couldn’t be administered better and that it doesn’t have problems, but to blame everything on the current Mayor as if before Rome was governed like Zürich?

Also, the sheer number of bus fires (over 20 in a year) makes me wonder how many of these are accidental. Let’s not forget that the previous administration was kicked out after the “Mafia Capitale” scandal, that found the entire City administration in cahoots with the Mafia. Now the mafiosi are being kicked out and all of a sudden buses explode every month. What a coincidence?