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Alessandro Rapinese bans bicycles in Como's historic center following personal collision with an e-bike

Alessandro Rapinese, the mayor of Como, has ordered a ban on bicycles across approximately 30 streets in the city's fortified historic center starting in September. The measure requires cyclists to dismount and walk their bikes through the area, a decision prompted by an incident in June where Rapinese was struck by an electric bike while leaving city hall. While the administration announced the ban as a necessary step to improve public safety in a tourist-heavy lakeside city, critics argue the move is a personal vendetta. Residents and politicians have accused Rapinese of turning an individual experience into a collective rule, noting that the ban affects low-cost, environmentally friendly transport and essential commercial deliveries. Rapinese defended the public safety benefits, noting that while he was not hospitalized, he gathered information to justify the measure. He refused to back-pedal, stating that in other cities, politicians often wait for a child to be hospitalized before acting, whereas he took proactive steps based on his own experience.

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