The mayor of Como, Italy, banned bicycles from 30 streets in the historic city centre after being knocked down by an e bike.
The mayor of the popular lakeside Italian city of Como, Alessandro Rapinese, has officially signed a new city order banning all bicycles and electric bikes from over thirty streets inside the historic city centre.
The sweeping new traffic rule was publicly announced on Thursday, August 20, 2026, and is set to take effect starting in September.
Under the strict new regulations, anyone traveling through the historic town square or surrounding walled streets on two wheels must get off their bicycle and push it by hand, rather than riding through the crowded pedestrian areas.
The drastic decision was triggered by a personal accident involving the mayor outside city hall back in June. While stepping out of a government meeting held to discuss local traffic control, Mayor Rapinese was unexpectedly knocked down by a fast moving electric bicycle.
Pointing to the growing safety risks caused by heavy tourist crowds mixing with fast digital transport apps, city leaders decided to apply a blanket ban on both standard push bikes and e-bikes, as Italian national road laws do not separate motor-assisted bicycles from traditional ones.
Defending his decision against heavy public criticism from local political groups, Mayor Rapinese openly admitted that his personal experience led directly to the street ban.
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Explaining why he took immediate action to clear the narrow streets, Alessandro Rapinese stated, “People act based on their own experiences and I know what it’s like to be hit by one of these beasts”.
He further rejected claims that he was taking personal revenge on cyclists, adding, “In other cities, a child ends up in hospital and then the politicians take action. Here, I didn’t even end up in hospital. I was hit by a bike, I gathered information and that’s where this measure came from”.
Reports from major international outlets show that the ban has sparked massive anger among local residents, delivery drivers, and green energy activists.
Opponents argue that forcing people to walk their bicycles penalizes low-income workers and destroys clean, environmentally friendly transport across the city. Local groups have already launched a public petition to cancel the order. They are organizing a massive protest ride through the affected streets in mid September to force the city council to back down.
In simple terms, the mayor of an Italian town got hit by an electric bike outside his office and got angry. Now, he has made a law forcing everyone to get off their bicycles and walk them by hand through thirty streets in the city centre starting in September.
