Como Mayor Bans Electric Bikes in Historic Center After Collision

Sun Sep 06 2026 01:43:53 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Como's mayor introduces a ban on e‑bikes in key streets after a collision, prioritising safety amid growing pedal‑powered traffic.

In Como, a small Italian city celebrated for its scenic charm, the mayor Alessandro Rapinese has enacted a ban on electric and push‑bikes through 30 historic streets following a collision that left him wounded. The move, effective September, aims to curb the growing risk of accidents in narrow, tourist‑dense arteries and forms part of a broader package of traffic restrictions, including a Limited Traffic Zone for cars and vans. While local businesses and cyclists have raised concerns, the decision reflects a wider trend across Europe that seeks to balance mobility with safety in heritage areas.

Mayor Bans Electric Bikes in Como After Collision

Sunny yellow buildings and greenery sit in front of green mountains overlooking Lake Como. — Como sits alongside several historic towns overlooking the famous lake.

The mayor of Como, Alessandro Rapinese, announced a new ban on electric and push‑bikes in 30 key streets of the city’s historic centre. The decision follows a personal collision in which the mayor was struck by an e‑bike while exiting city hall in July. He said the ban was necessary to enhance public safety.

Effective from September, cyclists will have to dismount throughout the banned area. The measure is part of a wider package of traffic regulations, including a Limited Traffic Zone that also imposes stricter rules on cars and vans in the centre.

The ban applies to both electric and push‑bikes, reflecting Italian highway code’s lack of distinction between the models. Many of the affected roads are broad, popular with delivery drivers and tourists, which has stirred backlash. A local citizens group, Civitas Como, has called the ban “questionable and erroneous”.

An online petition has been launched to reverse the decision, and the Nova Como association plans a protest bike ride on 12 September. Como is not alone: cities such as Palermo and Paris have introduced similar restrictions on e‑bikes and scooter use in recent years.

Even the mayor himself has reflected on the incident in a video shared on his personal channel, RapiNews24. “In this case, I didn’t even end up in the hospital,” he said, recounting how the collision sparked the new traffic measures.