In September 2023, an inconspicuous change to the law came into force, the explosive effect of which the legislators were probably unaware of. From then on, the load on a rear carrier should no longer protrude laterally beyond the vehicle to which it is attached. This applies to pretty much any combination of bike and car. Even standard vans are narrower than modern mountain bikes are long. The side mirrors do not count towards the width of the vehicle - which is a shame, because that could have made for some fun tuning parts. Giant ears, so to speak, so that the bike is legally positioned at the rear.

But it didn't come to that. Fortunately for those who prefer to transport their bike to Italian bike territory at the rear of their car, various groups have campaigned intensively against the new rule. An environmental and cycling organization, for example, has shown what consequences the article in the law would have: "Thousands would have been turned into lawbreakers", writes the Federazione Italiana Ambiente e Bicicletta. Ultimately, according to media reports, it was the manufacturers of bike carriers who secured the repeal of the standard. 

Because that's also part of Italy: a new article of law creates more problems than it solves? No problem, let's just repeal it! This is what happened a few years ago when a paragraph was worded in such a way that it could be interpreted as a complete ban on mountain bikes. And so the rear carrier article was only effective for a short time. Although it is only suspended. It is not officially off the table for good.