Rickshaws gone: Florence’s historic centre adapts, drivers protest

Two weeks after the new city regulation banning rickshaws and golf carts from Florence’s UNESCO area came into effect, the city centre is slowly adapting — but protests from drivers show no sign of easing.

On Monday, dozens of operators gathered again in Piazza della Signoria to protest the restrictions introduced by Palazzo Vecchio. Only 24 special permits were granted through an online “click day” held on October 15, leaving most drivers unable to work.

Around the square, banners accused the city of unfair treatment, claiming that taxis are allowed to circulate freely while hundreds of families risk losing their livelihoods. Protesters have asked to meet Mayor Sara Funaro, warning that without a response they plan a more dramatic demonstration.

Mayor Funaro defended the new rules, saying they represent “the response Florence needed.” She argued that residents had long been asking for “free and walkable squares” and that the measure helps restore liveable public spaces for both locals and visitors.

The regulation establishes two limited routes where authorized vehicles may operate, while banning all others within the UNESCO core zone. “We will monitor how these routes work, but we have no intention of reviewing the regulation,” Funaro said.

Deputy Mayor for Mobility Andrea Giorgio also met the protesters, explaining that the administration “has a responsibility to manage the city and balance the impact of tourism flows. We simply enforce the rules.”

The measure, in force since early October, is part of a wider strategy to reduce congestion and protect the pedestrian areas of Florence’s historic center, a World Heritage Site since 1982.

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