Cyclists are planning a protest. The Italian city will introduce a strict ban
From September, the city center of Como will be closed to cyclists. This is the result of the mayor being hit by an electric vehicle.
Electric bikes have become a nightmare for pedestrians in many cities. They are often used by food deliverers who are in a hurry to place orders and accelerate the vehicle up to several dozen kilometers per hour.
Alessandro Rapinese, mayor of the city of Como located on the lake of the same name, was recently hit by a bicycle rider near the city hall. Although it ended with bruises, the situation resulted in the introduction of a strict ban in the tourist town.
Bicycle ban in Como. There will be a protest
ANSA reports that a ban on entering the center of Como on bicycles will come into force in September. The mayor made it clear that it would also cover non-electric bicycles, because the Highway Code prohibits discrimination in this respect.
The Nova Como organization has announced a bicycle rally against the ban for the middle of the month.
“The authorities are turning individual problems into collective problems,” said Vincenzo Falanga, president of the Nova Como association, in the “La Stampa” newspaper. The mayor did not change his mind. “I was accused of taking this measure because I was hit by an electric bike: of course. People learn from their experiences, and I myself have experienced what it’s like to be hit by these beasts. What if a child or an old lady were in my position?” – he admitted.
Scooters will not be used in Como either
“We are convinced that this is the right decision, just like in 2022, when we overtook other European cities by introducing a ban on the rental of electric scooters,” the mayor told ANSA. “I think it’s crazy that it’s mandatory for scooter owners to insure their vehicle and fit it with a license plate, but this hasn’t been done for e-bikes, which are perhaps even more dangerous,” he added.
The city of Como lies at the southern end and shore of Lake Como, the third largest in Italy. Due to the popularity of this destination, the city authorities have considered introducing a fee for one-day tourists, similar to the one in Venice, but have not yet decided on this solution.
