Beleaguered Venetians are trying to outlaw travel bags with hard rubber wheels in an attempt to reduce the seemingly incessant noise they produce.
Shopkeepers, cafe owners, and residents have all complained about the noise coming from wheeled luggage along the narrow alleyway paving stones and bridges.
A ban would oblige the city’s 27 million visitors every year to use suitcases which have air-filled wheels instead.
Tourists are not along in creating the noise pollution. Goods for businesses also arrive on hard-wheeled trolleys.
The council is hoping to introduce the ban next May. Failure to comply could result in a fine of up to €500.
Venice is trying to deal with a lot of major problems, including rising waters, the risk of floods, giant cruise ships, and a diminishing number of residents who can’t afford the high property prices or rents.
But every day some 60,000 tourists arrive, often with bags whose wheels are made from hard resin or plastic. Pneumatic wheels exist on very few of the baggage models sold around the world.
The authorities hope that an entrepreneur or two will step in and find a solution. This would be of benefit to many tourist destinations in Italy and the world.
