Como mayor bans bikes in city centre after being hit 'by one of these beasts'

The mayor of Como has set the wheels of controversy in motion for banning bikes in the walled historical centre of the lakeside city after being hit by one, the Guardian reports. Alessandro Rapinese's ban, which comes into force this week, prohibits cycling in the pedestrianised heart of the city, a decision he says is for public safety.

Rapinese, who told the BBC that he was struck by an electric bike and that he knows 'what it's like to be hit by one of these beasts', denies he is waging a personal vendetta against cyclists. The ban has sparked a public backlash, with cycling advocates and some residents arguing it penalises a sustainable mode of transport for the actions of a few.

The Guardian's coverage details how the ban targets the narrow, crowded streets of Como's historical centre, where tourists and commuters alike have long mixed with bikes, often at high speed. The mayor's justification — that he has personal experience of being hit — lends a visceral edge to a policy that might otherwise be seen as routine urban management.

The BBC's report adds that Rapinese framed the prohibition as a necessary measure for public safety, describing the bikes as 'beasts'. The language has inflamed the debate, drawing national attention to a city that is already a flashpoint for overtourism, with its lakeside promenades and funicular railway drawing crowds from across the world.

For the wider region, the Como case touches on a familiar tension between the needs of residents and the pressures of tourism. In Emilia-Romagna, cities like Bologna and Modena face similar challenges in their historic centres, where cobblestones and arcades are ill-suited to fast-moving traffic, yet where cycling is championed as a green alternative to cars.

The Guardian notes that the ban is unlikely to be the last word, with cycling groups vowing to challenge the decision and local politicians calling for a more nuanced approach, such as speed limits or designated bike lanes. How Como resolves the standoff may offer a template — or a warning — for other Italian cities grappling with the same collision of mobility, heritage and public safety.