Wheelie Suitcases Ban
 

NPR reported this morning that officials in Venice are banning wheelie suitcases because of the noise they make. Tourists could be fined under the new regulations.

But they are suggesting inflatable wheels and they aren't even invented yet!

This may be the usual OTT reporting of the Daily Mail.

"usual OTT reporting of the Daily Mail."

Typical pseudo-liberal bigotry against a newspaper committing the arch sin of being popular. Or is it just the Mail's preparedness to confront issues (like the refusal to prosecute the killers of Stephen Lawrence) that pseudo-liberal papers run away from?

Whichever: the Venetians are absolutely right. It's their city and wheelie suitcases are a noisy and congesting abomination. Let's hope London bans them from the Tube and its streets next.

It really is about time Italy's historic cities stopped letting tourists ruin them. Tourists have carried their own bags for centuries: are today's tourists really such wimps they can't carry a few days' clothes in a shoulder bag?

Or are they just too selfish to think of others?

Italy might turn its mind next to the infinite number of horrible ways its businesses are destroying its countryside.

It's a good idea that will probably have unforeseen consequences, not all of them positive.

Will the long-disappeared porters be back?

I wonder how they will enforce this, considering the number of tourists and their rolling bags v. number of enforcers. I also read that the ban is just for tourists- locals will be allowed to use their noisy roller bags and not be fined.

Inflatable wheels? Hmmmm... Maybe I should invent and sell a slip cover for bag wheels made of fleece or some other noise buffering fabric.

It would be more to the point if they banned cruise ships.

So they would prefer more cruise ship travelers? Their wheely bags still have to be transported on and off the ships if departing/ending in Venice, and the daytrippers hardly spend any $$ while there. Not a very well thought out plan IMO.

Rolling bags are one of the great inventions of the 20th century !! Right on, thursdaysd. They must get rid of the ghastly cruise ships and that goes for everywhere !

Wow. I can't believe an idea like this ever saw the light of day. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.

Let's hope London bans them from the Tube and its streets next.>

Ah you have little sympathy for all those little ole ladies I see on London streets with their wheelies shopping carts in town - don't you have any empathy for these types? Oh well these should just carry all their heavy shopping on their little ole backs.

The Venice thing is silly - the city has much more to worry about then that - how about looking out for tourists too - like at the restaurants that endemically charge for just getting a seat in their places and treat tourists often like one-time tourist trash.

No wonder locals continue to flee to Mestre (besides the escalating cost of real estate) and things like not having a car nearby.

Venice is sinking - under the weight of tourism - the number of tour buses has been restricted I believe at times so why now cruise ships that also foul the water and air with their bilge and smoke fumes and often nearby knock over small skiffs when they are sailing in or out.

What about all those two-wheeled carts Venetians use to take stuff to stores, etc. don't they make any noise? Delivery carts for places non-accessible by water.

I guess Venice only wants the well-heeled crowd to stay here - or make folks take water taxis to their hotels. The upsacling of Venice continues... soon they will be charging admission.

Didn't you see the part, Pal, where the locals would be exempt from the rule if it passes?

The Commissioner Zappalorto (unbelievable surname which means "hoe the garden") has denied having every thought of banning tourist wheelie suitcases (called "trolley" in Italian).

https://www.agi.it/cronaca/notizie/v...56-cro-rt10156

Actually none of the Italian news sources said they had been banned. They said that a law was being prepared to address the issue of delivery carts and "trolleys" that were annoying residents in the middle of the night and ruining the new Calatrava bridge, with its glass surfaces.

All of the Italian news sources mentioned delivery carts, which deliver in the wee hours, as being the prime offenders.

I hope you're right, bvl. All the major news spots I'm seeing (all in English, mind you) say it's about wheeled suitcases.

It's amazing that with so few people left living in Venice these days, that there are enough to even complain about this whether it's suitcases or delivery trolleys.

All of the Italian sources I saw mentioned both suitcases and delivery carts. All said that rubber wheels or inflated tires would be allowed. The inflated tires, mentioned above, should have been a clue that not just suitcases were the objects of the ban. But English-language news sources only care about what affects tourists.

The BBC at least made it clear that the ban hadn't been approved yet.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30151781

In a tourist town such as Venice, one would think the sound of rolling suitcases would be music to their ears. What is wrong with these people? Have they been drinking the canal water?

probably not the kind of music you want to hear at 3 a.m.

interesting article, bvl. Even the headline says that it is not a law against the rolling suitcase, which seems to have escaped the notice of the Daily Mail et al, and even the BBC.

I have to say that i'm relieved that that is not their intention, as we are due to go to Venice in February and i don't fancy carrying my luggage very far.

Very hefty fine. The Red Oxx "Sky Train" is probably the best non wheelie bag but not sure how much I can carry.