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

The mayor of Como, Alessandro Rapinese, has prohibited cycling in certain parts of the city’s historic centre after he was struck by an electric bicycle. Beginning in September, cyclists will be required to dismount along roughly 30 streets within the designated zone. Rapinese told the Italian news agency Ansa, “People act based on their own experiences and I know what it’s like to be hit by one of these beasts.” He added that the ban is necessary to improve public safety. The restriction forms part of a broader package of new traffic regulations that creates a Limited Traffic Zone (ZTL) aimed at managing tourism growth and imposing tighter rules on cars and vans in the city centre. Many of the affected roads are the widest in the old municipality and are frequently used by transport operators. The measure covers both electric and pedal‑powered bicycles because the Italian road code does not differentiate between the two types. Rapinese explained his decision in a video released as part of his self‑produced online series, RapiNews24. He recalled leaving city hall in July and colliding with an e‑bike shortly after his administration had discussed traffic‑restriction proposals for the centre. The cyclist involved in the incident has not been identified. “In this case, I didn’t even end up in the hospital,” Rapinese said. “I was hit by a bike. I gathered information, and that’s where the measure came from.”