CNN: Venice to ban wheeled suitcases
Nov 24, 2014, 1:22 pm
#1
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CNN: Venice to ban wheeled suitcases
http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/21/travel...html?hpt=hp_c3
For years Venice has battled the effects of rising waters on its historic architecture, but now it's facing a new threat -- wheeled suitcases.
City officials have become so tired with the cacophony of rumbling luggage they're introducing fines of up to 500 euros ($620) for anyone caught using one.
The move, due to come into effect in May 2015, is likely to create a headache for many of 22 million who annually visit the city and need to cart bags to hotels in car-free streets.
For locals, long tired of plastic or hard rubber wheels rattling past their windows as they try to sleep, it will come as a welcome relief.
The new rules, which will require luggage to be transported on quieter air-filled tires, are the idea of City Commissioner Victor Zapparlorto, according to the Il Messaggero newspaper.
City officials have become so tired with the cacophony of rumbling luggage they're introducing fines of up to 500 euros ($620) for anyone caught using one.
The move, due to come into effect in May 2015, is likely to create a headache for many of 22 million who annually visit the city and need to cart bags to hotels in car-free streets.
For locals, long tired of plastic or hard rubber wheels rattling past their windows as they try to sleep, it will come as a welcome relief.
The new rules, which will require luggage to be transported on quieter air-filled tires, are the idea of City Commissioner Victor Zapparlorto, according to the Il Messaggero newspaper.
Nov 24, 2014, 5:30 pm
#3
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Read this this morning. While I've got mixed feelings about the way they are trying to solve the problem and the fine is crazy, I do sympathize with the locals. I hate the noise from wheeled luggage over bumpy surfaces.
Click the blue text. Think it's called a link. I did and a cool story popped right up.
Click the blue text. Think it's called a link. I did and a cool story popped right up.
Nov 24, 2014, 6:11 pm
#5
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I don't think they can stem the tide of wheelies. Too many of us use them and no one wants to buy luggage specific to one city in the world. I found this quote in a 2011 article about the declining use of carts in airports.
“All of our luggage has wheels on them, except the small carry-on bags,” said Stephanie Goldman, a spokeswoman for Samsonite, one of the world’s largest luggage manufacturers."
Turning your back on wheeled luggage means turning your back on tourists. That's not in Venice' interest.
“All of our luggage has wheels on them, except the small carry-on bags,” said Stephanie Goldman, a spokeswoman for Samsonite, one of the world’s largest luggage manufacturers."
Turning your back on wheeled luggage means turning your back on tourists. That's not in Venice' interest.
Nov 25, 2014, 1:10 pm
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http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/...s-9880369.html
Update: Commissioner of the city of Venice, Vittorio Zappalorto has confirmed that rubber-wheeled suitcases have not been banned. However, discussions are underway regarding handcarts and transpallets which are used to transport goods on the pedestrian paths, whose wheels severely erode the delicate Venetian paving and cause noise pollution.
Venice’s commissioner Vittorio Zappalorto introduced the rule which does not apply to Venetians, Il Gazzettino reported according to Mail Online.
Last edited by gobluetwo; Nov 25, 2014 at 2:30 pm
Nov 26, 2014, 10:15 am
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Some local entrepreneur can surely come up with a modified dolly that would be suitable for holding suitcases. These could be rented out from automated kiosks via a credit-card (to ensure their return). Charge a nominal sum and people will use them. And you know what, a rubber-tire dolly is probably an easier way to pull your luggage on a stone pathway anyhow.
Nov 26, 2014, 4:16 pm
#10
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After its stay in Travel News, and per http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...-how-post.html I will send this to the appropriate destination forum for continued discussion (while leaving a permanent re-direct in Travel News)
cblaisd
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cblaisd
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Nov 26, 2014, 6:49 pm
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Translation from Italian sources has already been done. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/italy...suitcases.html
Nov 27, 2014, 9:20 am
#12
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Interesting update from the Gazzetino, the Venice newspaper today.
VENEZIA - Un trolley? No. Un porta-trolley, allora? Sì, ecco. Un porta-trolley sponsorizzato che non metta in croce i turisti, costretti ad arrivare a Venezia con una valigia che non sia spacca-timpani e spacca-masegni. Il Commissario straordinario Vittorio Zappalorto, non potendo più smentire la storia, cerca di trasformarla in una opportunità di incassi per il Comune. Tant’è che una grossa azienda come la Roncato sta progettando proprio una valigia rispettosa delle città d’arte. Basterebbe autorizzare la ditta a chiamarla "Venezia" per farsi pagare le royalties, no?
Translation:
Wheeled luggage? No. But now, a porta-trolley (something that can transport the wheeled luggage)? Yes, there you go. A sponsored porta-trolley that doesn't place the tourists in the crosshairs, restricted to come to Venice with a suitcase that doesn't split eardrums and split cobblestones. The Extraordinary Commissioner Vittorio Zappalorto, no longer able to refute the story, is searching for a way for venetians to cash in on it. It is such that a large company like Roncato luggage is already planning to make a suitcase that respects this city of art. It would be sufficient if they call it "the Venezia" and pay us royalties, no?
VENEZIA - Un trolley? No. Un porta-trolley, allora? Sì, ecco. Un porta-trolley sponsorizzato che non metta in croce i turisti, costretti ad arrivare a Venezia con una valigia che non sia spacca-timpani e spacca-masegni. Il Commissario straordinario Vittorio Zappalorto, non potendo più smentire la storia, cerca di trasformarla in una opportunità di incassi per il Comune. Tant’è che una grossa azienda come la Roncato sta progettando proprio una valigia rispettosa delle città d’arte. Basterebbe autorizzare la ditta a chiamarla "Venezia" per farsi pagare le royalties, no?
Translation:
Wheeled luggage? No. But now, a porta-trolley (something that can transport the wheeled luggage)? Yes, there you go. A sponsored porta-trolley that doesn't place the tourists in the crosshairs, restricted to come to Venice with a suitcase that doesn't split eardrums and split cobblestones. The Extraordinary Commissioner Vittorio Zappalorto, no longer able to refute the story, is searching for a way for venetians to cash in on it. It is such that a large company like Roncato luggage is already planning to make a suitcase that respects this city of art. It would be sufficient if they call it "the Venezia" and pay us royalties, no?
