I've lived in Cyprus for 7 months now. This brief residency qualifies me for nothing really. At best I could be described as a happily-long-term tourist. Before we moved to Larnaca, Cypriot friends in Australia had warned me of the perils of driving and parking here.
And as a weekday pedestrian and a weekend driver, I can definitely confirm that my most incredulous moments in Cyprus have involved cars.....
- Never trust a traffic light, either as a pedestrian or a driver.
- Should you see a pedestrian waiting for the traffic lights to change, just stop the traffic and let them through, regardless of what the lights are doing. Once the (brave) pedestrian has passed your side of the road you are free to continue driving, even if the lights are red. What drivers approaching from the opposite direction do is entirely up to them (again, BRAVE pedestrian).
- When crossing one way streets, do not assume traffic will only be coming from one direction.
- Why indicate when you are changing lanes or turning corners? Make eye contact with your fellow drivers or put your arm out the window to show your intentions - it's just as effective...
- Mobile phones provide the perfect form of entertainment when driving becomes boring.
- On freeways, you will often encounter police who appear at first glance to be just standing on the hard shoulder watching the traffic – they are in fact doing just that.
- Speed limits tend to be more guidelines than rules. Feel free to increase your speed by at least 20% before you risk attracting the attention of the law.
- You will discover well-maintained, free, but underused public car parks. By some unwritten decree, these are purely for tourist use. Cypriots will park on a narrow street, blocking traffic.
- If stuck for somewhere to park, look for double yellow lines – these appear to be most popular. Corners in particular are highly sought after, as are the above mentioned narrow streets, particularly during school runs.
- And finally - a footpath is an entirely occasional and indeed, personal, concept and NOT something on which you should rely.
And as a weekday pedestrian and a weekend driver, I can definitely confirm that my most incredulous moments in Cyprus have involved cars.....
- In Cyprus, anything longer than a 5 minute walk is considered driving distance.
- Never trust a traffic light, either as a pedestrian or a driver.
- You WILL receive grief from other drivers if you DON'T run a red light.
- Should you see a pedestrian waiting for the traffic lights to change, just stop the traffic and let them through, regardless of what the lights are doing. Once the (brave) pedestrian has passed your side of the road you are free to continue driving, even if the lights are red. What drivers approaching from the opposite direction do is entirely up to them (again, BRAVE pedestrian).
- When crossing one way streets, do not assume traffic will only be coming from one direction.
- Why indicate when you are changing lanes or turning corners? Make eye contact with your fellow drivers or put your arm out the window to show your intentions - it's just as effective...
- Mobile phones provide the perfect form of entertainment when driving becomes boring.
- On freeways, you will often encounter police who appear at first glance to be just standing on the hard shoulder watching the traffic – they are in fact doing just that.
- Speed limits tend to be more guidelines than rules. Feel free to increase your speed by at least 20% before you risk attracting the attention of the law.
- You will discover well-maintained, free, but underused public car parks. By some unwritten decree, these are purely for tourist use. Cypriots will park on a narrow street, blocking traffic.
- If stuck for somewhere to park, look for double yellow lines – these appear to be most popular. Corners in particular are highly sought after, as are the above mentioned narrow streets, particularly during school runs.
- And finally - a footpath is an entirely occasional and indeed, personal, concept and NOT something on which you should rely.
Sara Harrington is an Australian living in Larnaca with her Irish husband and young daughter. When not enjoying a year's leave on a Mediterranean island, she can be found in the Radio Marketing Department of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in Sydney.
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