Italy: Calls for urban redesign and road safety following cyclist fatalities

Following recent fatal accidents involving young cyclists, calls for systemic changes to urban mobility and road safety are growing across Italy.

In Turin, academics from the University of Turin have issued an open letter to Mayor Stefano Lo Russo. Prompted by the death of seven-year-old Nicolò, who was struck while cycling to school, the university group is advocating for a radical redesign of public spaces. They propose adopting models similar to the Netherlands, where children can move autonomously and safely. The signatories argue that a city safe for children is inherently safer for all citizens and urge the administration to move beyond isolated interventions toward a systemic cultural and structural shift.

In Rome, a march involving pedestrians and cyclists is scheduled to honor Mattia Nicholas Liguori, who was killed while cycling on Corso Francia. Organized by Martina Liguori, the demonstration aims to demand concrete prevention strategies, speed controls, and better protection for vulnerable road users. The event will feature flash mobs and life-sized silhouettes of road accident victims to highlight the dangers of excessive speed and driver distraction.