Como bike ban raises Alpine questions on shared streets

The mayor of Como has banned bicycles from the walled historical centre of the lakeside city after being hit by an electric bike, a decision that has sparked a public backlash and drawn attention to the challenges of shared urban spaces in Italy's Alpine foothills.

Alessandro Rapinese said the prohibition was for public safety, telling the BBC: "I know what it's like to be hit by one of these beasts." The ban comes into force as the city prepares for a new wave of autumn visitors, according to the Guardian's report on the controversy.

The mayor has denied that he is waging a personal vendetta against cyclists, the Guardian reported, even as critics question whether a blanket ban is the right response to a single incident.