Como Mayor Bans City Centre Bikes After Being Hit By One

The mayor of Como has banned riding bicycles through approximately 30 streets in the historic Italian city’s center following a collision with an electric bicycle, according to reports from the BBC and The Guardian.

Alessandro Rapinese announced the new traffic regulation to improve public safety, requiring cyclists to dismount across the designated zone starting in September. According to the BBC, the restriction applies to both traditional push bikes and electric models because the Italian highway code does not distinguish between the two vehicle types.

Como Mayor Details Collision and New Traffic Zone Regulations

Rapinese explained the decision in an online video series titled RapiNews24, noting that he was struck by an e-bike while leaving city hall in July. The incident occurred shortly after his administration discussed traffic restrictions within the city center.

People act based on their own experiences and I know what it’s like to be hit by one of these beasts, Rapinese told the Italian news agency Ansa, as reported by the BBC. I was hit by a bike. I gathered information, and that’s where the measure came from. He added that he did not end up in the hospital following the collision.

The cycling ban forms part of a broader package of new traffic regulations establishing a Limited Traffic Zone, known by its Italian acronym ZTL. According to the BBC, the framework aims to manage tourist growth while imposing stricter rules on vans and cars in the city centre. Many of the roads covered by the ban are the widest in the old town and are popular with delivery drivers.

Broader European Restrictions on Single-Person Vehicles

According to BBC reporting, several local authorities in the United Kingdom and other European nations have restricted where and how e-bikes and other single-person vehicles can be used.