In 1973 there were around twelve million cars on the road in Italy. Their post-war growth has been exponential and uncontested. Historic cities are completely overrun and the pedestrian is now the weak link in the road system. He even struggles to cross the street. And seeing these images shot on 16mm film, one might think that he is an endangered species, whose specimens are now rarely encountered: an elderly lady seems to attempt a timid approach to crossing, then hesitates and the frame changes. But it is Saturday, 1 December 1973, and this is a special day. It is the last - so it is rumoured - of the unchallenged power of the private motor vehicle. In a country that is now motorised and constantly thirsty for petrol, there is a shortage of fuel, due to the oil crisis, and the government imposes restrictions: at least on Sundays we will have to stop for a while, Italians will have to give up their cars. The Bologna Transport Company decides to film these historic days, first of all documenting the traffic on the day before the stop. Today is Saturday, tomorrow is the first Sunday of 'austerity'. End of part one, continued on 2 December…