Como Mayor Bans E‑bikes in Historic Centre After Collision
Mayor Alessandro Rapinese announced that from September certain streets in Como’s old‑town will be closed to electric and conventional bicycles after he was struck by an e‑bike in July. The move is presented as a safety measure aimed at protecting pedestrians and residents from accidents involving motorised two‑wheelers.
The ban covers roughly 30 streets that are major arteries for local deliveries and tourists. It coincides with a package of new traffic rules that establish a Limited Traffic Zone (ZTL) to manage the growing flow of cars and vans throughout the city centre.
Rapinese, who shares his rulings on his online channel RapiNews24, explained that his decision was shaped by personal experience: “I was hit, and that shaped the measure.” He described the incident as a near‑miss that led him to gather evidence and push the policy change.
Local residents and cycling groups are questioning the ban, launching an online petition and a protest bike ride on 12 September. The Nova Como association and Civitas Como are among the organisations that challenge the measure as “questionable and erroneous.”
Italian cities are not alone in revising e‑bike rules. Palermo has already restricted bike use on its main streets in 2023, and Paris banned rental e‑scooters in 2023 after safety concerns rose.
Despite the ban’s protective intent, many locals worry that it imposes an unfair obstacle on a popular mode of transport. The conflict highlights how historic city centres are negotiating the balance between modern mobility and heritage preservation.
