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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.

CENTER Parcs is introducing new rules when it comes to bookings at their resorts.

The policy change means all guests will now have to pay £5 per person to reserve restaurant bookings, in a bid to to prevent no-shows.

The new rules are being introduced on all holidays from November 16.

The rule change has been praised by families who say they hope it opens up more bookings.

One customer said: “I’m glad they are bringing this back as it stops people making unnecessary reservations. 

“I’ve really struggled to book what I wanted this year whereas previous years with the deposit there has been plenty of choice.”

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Another added: “Too many people not showing up and leaving restaurants empty. This ties you in unless you can afford to lose it.”

A third former guest pointed out the policy had previously been in place at Center Parcs in recent years, and he had appreciated the chance to spread the cost of the meal.

He said: “Great news, I loved paying the deposit, once the bill came it had £25 off… felt like I was winning.”

If a guest cancels 48 hours before the time of the booking they can get their deposit back, although some people felt the notice period should be less than two days.

Center Parcs has a broad range of restaurants across its five UK villages, including Huck’s American Bar & Grill (all sites), Rajinda Pradesh (all sites), The Pancake House (all sites) and Foresters’ Inn, at Longleat and Elveden. 

It is also possible to just turn up and hope a table is available, although there are no guarantees.

Some have raised issues with the new charge, in that not all of the restaurant menus shown online have prices displayed on them.

Many are arguing they should know the cost of a meal if they were partly paying in advance. 

A commenter said: “Surely you can’t take a deposit which is non-refundable on the day/day before if you don’t publish the prices of the meals?”

Center Parcs announced on its website: “To help us provide the best possible experience for our guests and make sure our restaurants are available for as many guests as possible, all restaurant bookings now require a deposit at the time of booking. 

“This will come into effect for all breaks starting from 16th November 2026 onwards.  

“If your plans change, you can cancel more than 48 hours before your reservation, and we’ll refund your deposit in full. If you cancel within 48 hours of your reservation, the deposit is non-refundable.

“Please note that restaurant bookings have their own cancellation terms, which are different from those for activity bookings.”

Sun Travel has contacted Center Parcs for additional comment.

Other new rules have been rolled out in recent months, including the scrapping of its creche service earlier this year.

Last summer it also changed its pool opening hours from 9am to 10am, while closing at 8pm instead of 10pm.

Check in times also changed last summer, depending on your lodge time – here is everything you need to know.

SPAIN is set to implement stricter rules when it comes to smoking and vaping – and it will affect all holidaymakers.

The list of smoke-free places that already exists could be expanded to beaches and national parks under new law.

This week, Spain approved a draft law to extend the list of smoke-free places.

It will be forbidden to smoke or vape on the terraces of bars and restaurants as well as on beaches, riverside beaches, national parks and swimming pools.

Health Minister Mónica García said: “Anyone who wants to have a coffee or enjoy their leisure time freely on a terrace should be able to do so without the smoke from nearby tables becoming part of the menu.”

Also affected are outdoor performance spaces, university campuses and work vehicles such as delivery vans.

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It’s not just a ban directly in these areas – Spain is also hoping to introduce ‘enhanced protection zones’

This is where smoking and vaping will be banned within a 15-metre perimeter around them in certain places like museums and children’s parks and playgrounds.

The amount people can be fined could also change.

According to local media, those breaking these rules could be be fined between €200-€600 (£170-£511).

The law will also ban the use of tobacco-related products by those under the age of 18.

Until now, the law only prohibited the sale and supply to under 18s.

For minors who break the ban on consuming tobacco or vapes, fines for minor offences will start at €200 (£170).

Athough this could be replaced by community service.

These rules aren’t in effect yet as the changes will only be made if the bill is approved by Spanish parliament.

It’s not the only rule that could see you fined in Spain – some areas ban sunlounger hogging, with £216 fines.

So we’ve rounded up all of the Spain travel rules you need to know about.

And don’t try and drink at these French beaches either – that’s banned too.

MOLLY-MAE Hague and Tommy Fury have revealed a very strict parenting rule they have for their daughter Bambi, and it’s related to screen-time.

The couple, who recently welcomed son Midas, have laid down the law when it comes to technology – but do you agree?

Molly-Mae and Tommy have limited three-year-old Bambi to only using screens and technology during long car drives or when travelling abroad.

Boxer Tommy says this decision was made in a bid for the toddler to have a childhood like he did – spent in the outdoors.

He explained: “Speaking for myself and my own children, the only time Bambi sees a screen is during a long flight or a long car journey, when I might put something on for her.

“Other than that, she’s outside in the garden, playing in the sunshine, jumping in puddles and going to the park.

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“I try to keep things as normal as possible. I really want Bambi to have a childhood like I did, and my childhood didn’t consist of screens, apps and things like that. I really don’t want that for my children.”

It’s a far cry from Tommy and Molly-Mae’s lifestyles, with the latter boasting a whopping 8.7 million followers on Instagram and often sharing videos to YouTube.

But it’s not the first time they have shared their desire for Bambi, and now Midas, to have a “normal” upbringing.

In fact, Tommy previously declared that he was “banning” Bambi from 5-star hotels and lavish flights so that she got a taste of normal life, and even purchased a campervan for traditional family holidays in the UK.

Doubling down, Tommy assured that while they may have a flashy lifestyle, Bambi won’t be getting her hands on a mobile phone of her own any time soon.

“Having a phone is a massive responsibility.

“There’s a whole new world behind a phone screen, and I think children should fully understand what they’re doing before they get involved with things like that,” he said.

Tommy was talking in a Q&A for his new podcast series, What The Fury?!.

The ten-part video podcast will see the boxer with his dad, John Fury, as they discuss modern life and their differing opinions.

Watch What the Fury?! is on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport YouTube or available to listen on BBC Sounds from Tuesday 14th July.

A POPULAR airline is introducing new rules for economy passengers on long-haul flights.

From November 1, TUI Airways has confirmed that it will scrap free alcoholic drinks for all economy passengers on long-haul flights.

Currently, economy passengers are allowed up to three free alcoholic drinks across their long-haul flight with TUI.

However, the new policy reduces this to just one alcoholic drink – beer or wine – which will be served with their main meal.

If travellers then want an additional alcoholic drink, they will need to purchase it.

Passengers will still be able to get complimentary water, soft drinks and juices.

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For those travelling in Premium Economy, there will be no changes.

The rules will apply for both inbound and outbound flights.

A TUI spokesperson told Sun Travel: “From 1 November 2026, we are making some changes to the food and drink service included for customers travelling in Economy on our long-haul flights.

“Customers will continue to receive complimentary soft drinks throughout their flight and a complimentary beer or wine served with their main meal.

“Additional alcoholic beverages will be available to purchase onboard.”

Adults with pre-existing bookings affected by the change will be given a £12.50 refund per flight, each way, as a gesture of goodwill.

A POPULAR destination in Europe is cracking down on tourists – with fines dished out to rule-breakers.

The small village of Varenna, near Lake Como, is banning anyone from walking around its historic streets either bare-chested or wearing swimwear.

The new rules come as the village, which is home to only 650 people, is experiencing high levels of tourism each summer.

Tourists heading to the town will still be able to have a bare chest or wear their swimwear if they are at one of the lake’s beaches or if they are enjoying a boat trip on the lake itself.

However, if they are caught in the wrong place in the swimwear or with no shirt on, they could be fined between €50 (£42.74) and €200 (£170).

Varenna isn’t the only Italian spot to ban being shirtless and wearing swimwear in the town centre.

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It is also banned to walk shirtless, barefoot or in a bikini in the town centres of Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, with fines ranging from €25 (£21.37) to €500 (£427.48).

Varenna has also introduced a number of other rules impacting tourists.

There’s also a clampdown on crowds, as tour groups are now capped at 25 people.

The aim of this is so that the village’s lanes will not be blocked.

Guides have been banned from using speakers as well.

According to The Guardian, Mauro Manzoni, Varenna’s mayor, said: “Varenna is a wonderful village, and we are proud to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world every year.

“However, our residents’ quality of life cannot be sacrificed on the altar of mass tourism.”

This method of transport is a cheap and easy way to get around the city, but it has caused hundreds of accidents in the past year. Now there are calls for a ban across the European Union

A European city has banned a mode of transport that’s popular with tourists on day trips, after a huge number of accidents were reported in the past year alone.

Brussels will rid its streets of shared e-scooters as of January 2027, with authorities in the Brussels-Capital Region announcing the move last week. Currently, the Belgian capital has two remaining scooter operators offering shared e-scooters, Bolt and Dott, and once their licences expire at the end of 2026, they will not be renewed, according to the Brussels Times.

Authorities voiced their safety concerns around the use of e-scooters and the nuisance they can cause to local residents. The move means Brussels follows other European cities who’ve removed shared e-scooters, including Paris, Madrid, and Prague.

Brussels mobility minister Elke Van den Brandt and minister-president Boris Dilliès made a shared statement about the ban, calling shared e-scooters a “growing nuisance to other road users”, and pointing out that 666 accidents involved e-scooters in 2025, a year on year increase of 26%.

They also highlighted that rental scooters were often used for criminal purposes, and were involved in the cases of 25 shootings in Brussels last year.

Boris Dilliès said: “The decision to exclude self-service scooters from the Brussels urban landscape is part of a clear and consistent policy. Often synonymous with disorder, self-service scooters are a source of nuisance, cause serious injuries, clutter the streets and are, unfortunately, increasingly being used by organised criminals. Self-service bicycles, on the other hand, remain for us an essential part of a mobility policy.”

However, in a statement, e-scooter rental firm Bolt argued: “When scooters are the subject of public debate, whether regarding road safety or parking, private and shared scooters are almost always lumped together, even though they are fundamentally different.

“Banning [shared scooters] will not stop people from getting around. It will drive users towards private, unregulated, untraceable and genuinely dangerous scooters, or towards more polluting modes of transport. Neither of these scenarios serves Brussels’ objectives regarding safety, congestion or the climate.”

Since the ban was announced in Brussels, the Benelux Union, a partnership between Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, has called for the European Commission to create a single framework for all EU countries, which could make it easier for other countries to make their own regulations.

Benelux pointed out there are inconsistent safety standards among member states, and not all vehicles on the market were safe and suitable to be used on public roads. The lack of guidelines also make it difficult to prevent unsafe vehicles from being put out for hire.

The UK has banned privately owned e-scooters from public roads and pavements, meaning the only legal place to ride your own e-scooter is on private land. There are a handful of legal rental schemes in some areas of London, Birmingham, and other cities, with strict criteria such as limiting the e-scooters to 12.5mph, banning riders under 18, and requiring a provisional licence to hire one.

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Al Jazeera’s Marthe van der Wolf explains what’s new.