A PRETTY Italian city has banned riding bikes in certain areas – after the mayor was hit by one.
Como is known for its historic city centre with a Gothic-Renaissance cathedral and alpine backdrop.
But many use bikes to get around the city and now the Mayor of Como, Alessandro Rapinese, is introducing a bike ban in parts of the city after he was hit by an electric bike.
From September, bikes will be banned across around 30 streets.
The bike ban applies to both electric and push bikes.
According to Italian media Ansa, the Mayor said: “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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He added: “In this case, I didn’t even end up in the hospital.
“I was hit by a bike. I gathered information, and that’s where the measure came from.”
The new bike rules are part of a wider traffic plan which will create a Limited Traffic Zone (ZTL) to manage tourists better as well as implement stricter rules on vehicles in the city.
Other rules introduced include some vehicles requiring an annual permit and a €3 (£2.60) permit for daily entry to the city.
And tourists staying in hotels can only drive in the city centre if their accommodation has parking.
Deliveries can also only occur between 6am and 11pm.
Locals are outraged with the decision and have pledged to organise a protest on September 12.
Como isn’t the only Italian spot to place restrictions on bikes – Palermo has also restricted bikes in some areas since 2023.