Alessandro Rapinese, the mayor of Como, has issued a blanket ban on bicycles in certain areas of the historic Italian city after being hit by an electric bike. The ban, which will take effect from September, applies to both electric and push bikes and affects around 30 streets in the old town. Mayor Rapinese cited public safety as the reason for the ban, saying he knows what it's like to be hit by an e-bike after a collision occurred in July. The new traffic regulations also impose stricter rules on cars and vans in the city centre, including requiring permits for entry and limiting deliveries to specific hours.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Alessandro Rapinese, the mayor of Como, Italy, has banned bicycles from certain areas of the historic city after being hit by an electric bike. The ban, which will go into effect in September, prohibits cyclists from riding through a area of around 30 streets in the old town. Mayor Rapinese explained that he made this decision to improve public safety, saying "People act based on their own experiences and I know what it's like to be hit by one of these beasts." The ban applies to both electric and push bikes, as the Italian highway code does not distinguish between models. This measure is part of a larger package of traffic regulations aimed at managing tourist growth in the city center, which also includes stricter rules for cars and vans. Many of the affected roads are popular with delivery drivers and are among the widest in the old town.
Written for “Italian City Bans E-Bikes” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
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People act based on their own experiences and I know what it's like to be hit by one of these beasts.
right the mayor frames the issue as a personal experience, implying that his reaction is justified
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I was hit by a bike. I gathered information, and that's where the measure came from.
right the mayor presents himself as a victim of an e-bike accident, which he uses to justify his decision
Leaning score +0.35 for article 1876 (medium confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-08-28
- Published
The mayor of Como has banned riding bicycles in certain areas of the historic Italian city after he was hit by an electric one.
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he → publish → one
Alessandro Rapinese said the ban was necessary to improve public safety.
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ban → say → safety
It means from September, cyclists will have to dismount through an area of around 30 streets.
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cyclists → mean → streets
He told 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."
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it → tell → beasts
Several other local authorities around Europe, including in the UK, have restricted where and how e-bikes and other single-person vehicles can be used.
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bikes → include → UK
The measure put forward by Rapinese is part of a package of new traffic regulations, establishing a Limited Traffic Zone (ZTL) to manage tourist growth, and which impose stricter rules on cars and vans in the city centre.
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which → put → centre
Many of the roads covered by the ban are the widest in the old town and are popular with delivery drivers.
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Many → cover → drivers
The measure applies to both electric and push bikes, as the Italian highway code does not distinguish between models.
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code → apply → models
Rapinese explained his decision in a video as part of a series of online videos he produces himself, known as RapiNews24.
He recounted an incident in which he had been leaving city hall in July and collided with an e-bike shortly after his administration had discussed traffic restrictions in the city centre.
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administration → explain → centre
The cyclist involved in the collision has not been identified.
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cyclist → involve → collision
"In this case, I didn't even end up in the hospital," Rapinese said.
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Rapinese → end → hospital
"I was hit by a bike.
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I → hit → bike
I gathered information, and that's where the measure came from."
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measure → gather → where
Como's Roman-walled centre is already covered by a limited-traffic zone, and bicycles have become a go-to method of transport for locals.
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bicycles → cover → locals
The new traffic regulations for the ZTL mean some vehicles will require an annual permit and, for each day of entry, a €3 (£2.60) permit.
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vehicles → mean → entry
Deliveries to shops and restaurants will only be allowed between 06:00 and 23:00, while tourists staying in hotels will only be able to drive into the centre if their accommodation has parking.
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accommodation → allow → parking
The ban has faced a backlash from locals and an online petition has been launched to block the resolution.
Civitas Como, a local citizens group, has challenged the legitimacy of ban, describing it as "questionable and erroneous".
The Nova Como association has organised a protest bike ride for 12 September.
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association → face → September
Como is not the first Italian city to restrict bicycles in historic or busy parts.
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Como → restrict → parts
In Palermo, bikes have been restricted in some sections of the main streets since 2023.
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bikes → restrict → 2023
Meanwhile, Paris recently clamped down on safety requirements for e-scooter users, having banned rental e-scooters outright in 2023.
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Paris → clamp → 2023
