Como mayor bans 'beasts' in city centre after being hit by bike

What the report says

The mayor of Como, Alessandro Rapinese, has ordered cyclists to dismount in part of the historic Italian city centre after saying he was knocked over by an electric bike last month. According to BBC World News, the restriction will apply from September across around 30 streets and covers both e-bikes and push bikes, because Italy’s highway code does not separate them.

Rapinese said the change is intended to improve public safety and is part of a wider set of traffic rules for Como’s limited traffic zone. The package also tightens access for cars and vans, introduces permits for some vehicles, and sets time limits on deliveries to shops and restaurants. The city is also trying to manage tourist traffic in its Roman-walled centre, which remains popular with residents, visitors and delivery drivers.

The mayor linked the measure to a collision he described in a video series he produces online, saying the decision came after his own encounter with a cyclist near city hall in July. The cyclist was not identified. He reportedly said he was not hospitalized.

The move has drawn criticism locally. An online petition has been launched, and a citizens’ group has questioned the legality of the ban. BBC World News noted that other European cities have also introduced restrictions on bikes, e-bikes and similar vehicles in busy or historic areas.