Fri, Feb 10 2012

Made in Bulgaria – picture gallery

Thu, Jul 09 2009 13:46 CET 5715 Views 19 Comments
Made in Bulgaria – picture gallery

Photo: Nick Iliev

Made in Bulgaria – picture gallery

Photo: Nick Iliev

Made in Bulgaria – picture gallery

Photo: Nick Iliev

Made in Bulgaria – picture gallery

Photo: Nick Iliev

Made in Bulgaria – picture gallery

Photo: Nick Iliev

Made in Bulgaria – picture gallery

Photo: Nick Iliev

This is a short glimpse of what some of the new generation of bicycle alleys in Sofia actually look like. The photographs are taken along two of Sofia's main arteries, General Mihail Skobelev Boulevard and Patriarch Eftimii Boulevard, spanning from the Russian Cenotaph until the National Palace of Culture, NDK.

The ingenious 'marking' of the alleys would suggest that the designer was perhaps under the influence of perception-altering substances.

In some instances, the markings are applied in such bizarre fashion that they leave no room for pedestrians to actually walk on the pavement.

But the main problem, of course, are the vehicles parked all over the pavements, thus obstructing pedestrians, mothers with prams and cyclists alike, forcing them, in some cases, to literarlly walk on top of each other, or even worse, stepping on the street, in order to negotiate the pavement (obstacle course) from one city block to another.

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Comments

Anonymous MA Fri, Apr 02 2010 09:15 CET

Seen worse - in Spain

Anonymous rainer Sun, Jul 12 2009 18:59 CET

I am living here since 3 years, and each and every day, I get more convinced that this country is not ready for the EU - and will not be ready in 100 years!

Anonymous kibora Sun, Jul 12 2009 11:13 CET

welcome to bulgayria

http://kibora.mondozoo.com

Anonymous keep them coming nick Sun, Jul 12 2009 10:47 CET

outrageous. quality.

Anonymous Sam Sun, Jul 12 2009 02:20 CET

My hopes are with this country.

Anonymous Jordan Sun, Jul 12 2009 02:19 CET

When I was there that is a very common practice. There is a law, but no one seem to obide by it, not even the local parking authority, if in fact such does exist.

Toronto

Anonymous BP Sat, Jul 11 2009 03:50 CET

that picture is pure reality!! but if you tell this to a bulgarian they get insulted and mad. they are so used to living like this way that they cant see better and accepted that their country is way behind and instead of drinking coffee and smoking cigarrettes in the cafes with their new iphones or mobile phones they just start thinking and working for a better BG...

AnonymousBPSat, Jul 11 2009 03:50 CET

This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained

Anonymous YEU Fri, Jul 10 2009 17:29 CET

And this country is in the eu?

Anonymous violin Fri, Jul 10 2009 12:43 CET

this really made my day - had the first good laugh for today..

Anonymous Adam Fri, Jul 10 2009 11:24 CET

When I heard Sofia was installing bike routes I was very pleased as it is a step towards progress as has been seen in the west of this contenent. But once again, the job has been done half-assed (pet-za-chetri) and now it looks rediculas and emarrasing.

Anonymous more like this Fri, Jul 10 2009 08:28 CET

made my day, thanks for posting

Anonymous Jonathan Mills Fri, Jul 10 2009 08:27 CET

So now its official; vehicles of all types (including cycles) are to use the pavements, and pedestrians are to use the roads.

Time for the new government to bring in zero tolerance for selected traffic offences with large fines (over 1000 leva minimum) and cancelling of vehicle registration for persistent offenders.
Jumping or creeping at red traffic lights; parking in bus lanes and on pavements. Gradually add more items until traffic discipline is achieved.

Anonymous Barny Fri, Jul 10 2009 00:04 CET

Simply simple and idiotic,who's in charge ?I really think Bulgarians have no logic sometimes,as for the cars parking on the pavements,pick them up take them into the country somewhere and charge for the recovery.

Anonymous jojo Thu, Jul 09 2009 23:31 CET

I was recently in Sofia and took similar photos; cars parked right on the sidewalk so that pedestrians had no choice but to walk on the road. The strange thing is no one does anything about it. If I lived there I would have slashed all their tires! The police really need to start hauling these cars away. It would be the same in any country if the police did nothing to punish to guilty.

Anonymous Ali Baba Thu, Jul 09 2009 22:39 CET

The Sofia is one big village full with villagers.

Anonymous hahah Thu, Jul 09 2009 21:26 CET

this is simply priceless

Anonymous Kamen Thu, Jul 09 2009 20:13 CET

An interesting campaign - stickers with the slogan 'You've parked like an idi*t":
http://www.kato-idiot.com/solution.html
Just the right for the car above.

Anonymous n00b_with_skillz Thu, Jul 09 2009 20:00 CET

"only in bulgaria"

//this

Anonymous david Thu, Jul 09 2009 17:19 CET

lol.. only in bulgaria.. ive seen beter roads, pavements , and gen road safty in deepest afria ..lol


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