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Cyclists in Bologna to be fined for riding in the snow

Blogger says banning bikes didn't work under Nazi occupation and won't work now - city should look to Finland for inspiration...

Cyclists in one of Italy’s major cities face being fined for taking to the streets on their bikes in the snow under a new law introduced in Bologna, home to nearly half a million people. Even on a day when some parts of Britain ground to a halt after some overnight flurries of the white stuff, the measures seem Draconian, and a leading Italian cycling blogger has said the council would be better off learning how to cope with the weather from cities elsewhere.

From 1 December to 15 March, cyclists and scooter riders in the capital of Emiglia Romagna – the region that counts Marco Pantani among its most famous sons  – risk a fine of €39 for riding when there has been even a light snowfall, reports the Corriere di Bologna.

The ban forbids the circulation of “all vehicles on two wheels on the whole of the road network of within the council’s territory,” with the fine the same for drivers of cars who don’t fit snow chains or thermal tyres to their vehicles, reports the newspaper, which adds that the measures have met with consternation from opposition politicians.

The city’s councillor in charge of public works, Riccardo Malagoli, however, is unrepentant at the introduction of the new regulations.

“Last year I saw things that made no sense whatsoever,” he insisted, citing “old people on bicycles who put their own safety and that of others at risk,” adding that the regulations had been revised specifically as a result of incidents involving cyclists and scooter riders last winter.

“We must adjust ourselves psychologically to the fact that the climate has changed,” he added.

Blogger Paolo Pinzuti, one of the leading members of the Salva i Ciclisti (Save the Cyclists) movement, points out that the council would be better off studying how cities with harsher climates deal with the issue – Oulu in Finland, he says, is under snow for six months of the year yet 12 per cent of journeys there (compared to 7 per cent in Bologna) are made by bicycle.

In February, he continues, Oulu will host the two day Winter Cycling Congress, which “offers delegates from around the world a chance to share best practices for creating and sustaining cycling-friendly cities though out the year, even in challenging winter conditions.

The measures implemented in Bologna, however, will result in more people turning away from bikes towards cars, insists Pinzuti as well as placing the public transport system under severe stress.

He adds that there is a sinister precedent for bicycles being banned in Bologna – the previous time it happened was in the final days of the Nazi Occupation. “At that time the regulations turned out to be ineffectual,” he writes, “and on this occasion too everything points to the fact that they will serve little purpose.”

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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8 comments

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OldRidgeback | 12 years ago
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What a stupid rule.

Bologna is also the home of Ducati. You'd think the city's authorities would have more understanding of the advantage of commuting on two wheels.

I go to Bologna for work sometimes and I know how long the traffic jams can get. You'd think more people on 2 wheels, not less, would be the way forward.

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WolfieSmith | 12 years ago
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Bring back Mussolini. At least he got the bikes to run on time.. : )

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Kim | 12 years ago
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Not sure why they need to look to Finland for examples, when Austria and Switzerland are closer to hand and have city with high cycling rates through the winter. In Austria it is not able that highest cycling rates are in the western provenances which are also the ones with the highest snow fall.

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Simon_MacMichael replied to Kim | 12 years ago
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Kim wrote:

Not sure why they need to look to Finland for examples

I assume Oulu specifically was cited because it's where the Winter Cycling Congress will be held. It probably provides a more extreme example for contrast too.

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arowland | 12 years ago
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Abuse of office, if you ask me.

But let's give the guy a chance. He can come and stay with me for free and I'll show him how Cheshire grits and salts the roads. He'll soon see the light.

Failing that, doesn't Italy still have lampposts for unpopular leaders?¹

¹only joking, of course.

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northstar | 12 years ago
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forget it.

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bikecellar | 12 years ago
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When I left home this morning the sun was shining
15mins later a mini blizzard struck What then get off and walk, even though I was having no problems. Malagoli is indeed a modern day fascist.

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Ghedebrav | 12 years ago
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To be fair, Italians can in general go a bit dolally when then temperature drops below 15C, as anyone who's visited Milan or Turin in the springtime will see (hats and scarves etc. at temperatures where our brave White Van Men would be considering the fully-topless option).

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