Italian mayor bans bikes after personal collision

Alessandro Rapinese, the mayor of Como, Italy, has implemented a ban on bicycles, including electric models, in roughly 30 streets within the city's historic center. The decision, which takes effect in September, stems from a personal experience where the mayor himself was hit by an electric bike. He stated that the ban is a necessary measure to improve public safety.

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People act based on their own experiences and I know what it's like to be hit by one of these beasts.

Under the new regulations, cyclists will be required to dismount and walk their bicycles through the affected areas. Rapinese explained his reasoning in a self-produced video series, "RapiNews24," recounting an incident in July where he collided with an e-bike shortly after his administration had discussed traffic restrictions. "People act based on their own experiences and I know what it's like to be hit by one of these beasts," he said.

The ban is part of a broader package of traffic regulations aimed at managing tourist growth and imposing stricter rules on cars and vans in the city center. Many of the streets included in the ban are wide thoroughfares in the old town, frequently used by delivery drivers. The Italian highway code does not differentiate between electric and non-electric bikes, so the measure applies to both.

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In this case, I didn't even end up in the hospital. I was hit by a bike. I gathered information, and that's where the measure came from.

However, the decision has faced significant opposition from locals. An online petition has been launched to challenge the resolution, with a citizens' group, Civitas Como, describing the ban as "questionable and erroneous." The Nova Como association has organized a protest bike ride scheduled for September 12. This move by Como follows similar restrictions in other Italian cities, such as Palermo, which has limited bicycle access in certain main street sections since 2023.

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questionable and erroneous