Como's bike ban echoes across Italy's transit-strained Alpine towns

The mayor of Como has banned bicycles from the city's walled historical centre after he was hit by an electric bike, a decision that has set off a public backlash and drawn attention to a conflict familiar across Italy's mountain and lake communities. Alessandro Rapinese announced the prohibition, which comes into force shortly, saying it was for public safety and that he knew "what it's like to be hit by one of these beasts", according to the BBC and the Guardian.

Rapinese has denied that he is waging a personal vendetta against cyclists, the Guardian reported, as critics accused him of overreach. The ban applies to the compact, pedestrian-heavy core of the lakeside city, where narrow medieval streets and dense tourist footfall make cycling a contentious issue.

The episode is the latest in a series of transport and mobility disputes across northern Italy, where towns that combine heritage centres with heavy tourism are struggling to balance access, safety and the needs of residents and commuters.