On 20 August 2026, Como’s mayor Alessandro Rapinese said he was forced to introduce a new traffic rule that bans bicycles – both electric and traditional – on about 30 streets of the historic centre, citing a personal incident in which he was hit by an e‑bike near city hall.
Rapinese explained the ban to Italian news agency Ansa: “People act on their own experience and I know what it’s like to be struck by one of these beasts.” He said the measure will take effect in September and is intended to improve public safety, creating a sense of urgency after the crash.
The city’s rollout is part of a package of traffic reforms that establish a Limited‑Traffic‑Zone (ZTL) to manage tourist flow and impose stricter limits on cars and vans. The new rules also set delivery hours from 06:00 to 23:00, only allow tourists’ cars if their accommodation has parking, and require an annual permit for each vehicle entering the ZTL. Bicycle riders are no longer allowed to use the 30 streets, and the ban applies to electric and push bikes alike because the Italian highway code does not differentiate the two.
The decision has sparked criticism and a backlash from locals. A citizen group called Civitas Como has described the ban as “questionable and erroneous,” while the Nova Como association has organised a protest bike ride scheduled for 12 September. An online petition has gathered support to block the resolution.
Como is not the first Italian city to introduce such bans. Palermo restricted bicycles on its main streets in 2023, and Paris removed rental e‑scooters that same year. Several other European municipalities, including some in the UK, have also tightened regulations on e‑bikes and other one‑person vehicles.
For more on cycling policy changes across Italy and Europe, the BBC’s classic style link – Europe news – offers continued coverage.
