Mayor of Como bans cycling in parts of historic centre after being struck by e‑bike
The restriction, effective from September, will force cyclists to dismount and walk their bikes across roughly 30 streets as part of wider traffic measures.
The mayor of Como, Alessandro Rapinese, has introduced a ban on cycling in parts of the city's historic centre after he was hit by an electric bicycle earlier this year.
Under the new rule, which takes effect in September, cyclists will be required to dismount and walk their bicycles through a strip covering roughly 30 streets in the old town. The prohibition applies to both electric and conventional bicycles because national traffic law does not distinguish between them.
Local authorities say the move aims to improve safety
Rapinese described the change as necessary to increase public safety, saying he knows from personal experience “what it feels like to be struck by such a vehicle.” The measure is part of a broader package of traffic regulations intended to manage rising tourist numbers and to introduce stricter controls for cars and vans in the city centre.
Many of the streets included in the ban are among the wider lanes in the historic core and are commonly used by delivery riders, which officials say complicates enforcement and mixing of different road users.
City officials have framed the dismount-and-walk requirement as a targeted way to reduce conflicts between pedestrians and cycles in the busiest sections of the old town while the rest of the traffic package regulates vehicular access and loading times for commercial vehicles.
Photo: Peksels)
