The Italian Cycling Federation has sent all Parliamentary Groups a series of legislative intervention proposals regarding road safety. These proposals are the result of work by a specific federal Commission that, in recent months, has developed new regulations to improve safety in competitions - operational from 2027 - alongside suggestions to strengthen protection for all bicycle users.

In the accompanying letter, President Cordiano Dagnoni specified that these indications are not alternative to the currently discussed Highway Code modifications, but intend to integrate and expand their scope. According to the Federation, it is necessary to extend the range of interventions.

«We believe – Dagnoni explained – that, if accepted, these proposals can make our country safer and even more attractive for bicycle tourism, generating economic returns significantly higher than implementation costs. Our priority – concluded the federal president – is to drastically reduce accidents involving cyclists. It is a battle of civilization».

PROPOSED HIGHWAY CODE AND LEGISLATIVE MODIFICATIONS

BICYCLE
- Bicycles can travel on roads provided they are equipped with front and rear lights. During the day, lights must always be blinking. From half an hour before sunset until half an hour before sunrise, lighting must be constant.
- Mandatory helmet for all those traveling on roads open to traffic; helmet mandatory up to 14 years old even on bicycle paths.

TRAFFIC REGULATIONS
- Express prohibition of overtaking when it is impossible to maintain a 1.5-meter distance
- Overtaking prohibited in 30 km/h zones
- Overtaking prohibited when cyclists are traveling on the opposite lane
- Overtaking prohibited at a speed more than 20-30 km/h slower than the road's speed, except on roads with a 50 km/h limit where this limit is considered valid
- During bicycle overtaking, the vehicle must maintain a safety distance
- Bicycles are allowed to travel side by side in pairs to increase visibility
- Bicycle road travel allows support vehicles with assistance functions fully respecting Highway Code regulations

ROAD REGULATIONS
- Mandatory road signage to respect travel obligations while respecting cyclists and their obligations

HIGHWAY CODE MODIFICATIONS AND NEW LAW INTRODUCTION
- Mandatory creation of bicycle lanes marked by stripes when roads are renovated or new roads are constructed
- Bicycle spaces created within roads can be built outside standard bicycle lane dimensions if adequate space exists
- Travel space cannot be less than 80cm-1 meter
- Introduction of a specific additional paragraph in Article 12 of the Highway Code for road race management, named "3-ter"
- Technical escorts authorized for road events, whose functions can be performed between start and end of the race, are also authorized to operate within their permitted space during the race for strictly functional and additional safety needs

MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT
- Mandatory lateral, rear, and blind spot detection systems for trucks, articulated vehicles, buses, vans, and all vehicles longer than 5.5 meters for bicycles and pedestrians
- Vehicles mentioned above must adopt protective measures for edges and corners to prevent specific injuries
- Starting from 2028, all new three or four-wheeled motor vehicles must be equipped with pedestrian and bicycle detection systems and include automatic braking or driving correction systems, which must be approved by the Ministry.