The mayor of Como, Italy, Alessandro Rapinese, has banned both electric and pedal bicycles from 30 streets in the city center, a measure that will take effect next month. The decision follows a personal incident in July when Rapinese was struck by an electric bike while leaving work.
Rapinese, 50, described the e-bike as a "beast" that "mowed him down" as he was walking in the rain outside Palazzo Cernezzi, Como's city hall. He recounted experiencing a "360-degree somersault" upon impact, resulting in a bruised and cut arm. He stated that people make decisions based on their experiences and that he knows "what it's like to be run over."
The new ruling mandates that cyclists dismount and walk their bikes on the affected streets, many of which are frequented by delivery drivers. Rapinese acknowledged that his personal experience influenced the decision, telling the Italian news agency Ansa, "They accused me of adopting this measure because I was hit by an electric bike — and certainly, that was the case."
Critics of the ban, including the local civic association Nova Como, contend that it removes a low-cost, eco-friendly transportation option for residents and could negatively impact local businesses by hindering delivery drivers. They argue that the focus should instead be on addressing reckless cycling behavior rather than implementing a widespread ban.
Nova Como has organized a protest bike ride to city hall scheduled for September 12. Despite the criticism, Rapinese, an independent elected in 2022, maintains that the decision is correct. He drew a parallel to the city's 2022 ban on electric scooter rentals, noting that Como acted ahead of other European cities at that time. His current term as mayor is set to conclude next year.