Florence rickshaw and golf cart ban sparks protests

Published on Oct 21, 2025, 9:57 am CDT

3 min read

Key points

Ban took effect October 15 in UNESCO center
Protests cluster near Signoria, Duomo, Uffizi
Police enforce rolling diversions and spot closures
Use Oltrarno and Lungarni routes to bypass crowds
Check AT bus alerts for temporary line detours

Impact

Who Is Affected: Travelers moving through Florence's historic center, especially around the Duomo, Uffizi, and Piazza della Signoria.
How Long It Lasts: Protests are ongoing; expect intermittent actions and short-notice diversions through late October.
Primary Travel Risk: Last-minute pedestrian pinch points and temporary bus detours that lengthen transfers and tours.
What To Do: Avoid protest hubs, route via the Lungarni and Oltrarno, and monitor Autolinee Toscane service alerts.

Protests by rickshaw and golf cart operators are continuing in Florence after the city's new ban on "atypical" tourist vehicles took effect on October 15 within the UNESCO-listed historic center. Demonstrations have focused on Piazza della Signoria, approaches to the Duomo, and the Uffizi, with the Polizia Municipale managing rolling traffic diversions and enforcing the new rules. The city says the regulation protects heritage areas and replaces free-roaming vehicles with limited, fixed-route electric shuttles outside the busiest streets, so travelers should plan alternate walking routes and expect occasional bus detours.

Florence's historic center transport rules

Florence approved a bylaw banning rickshaws, golf carts, tuk-tuks, and similar vehicles inside the UNESCO core earlier this summer, with enforcement beginning on October 15, 2025. Officials say Florence is the first Italian city to adopt such a measure, intended to reduce congestion and improve safety in the most fragile streets. The ordinance allows a small fleet of authorized electric shuttles on two fixed itineraries along the Lungarni and toward Piazzale Michelangelo, keeping them away from the tightest tourist corridors.

Analysis

If your plans include the Duomo, Uffizi, or Palazzo Vecchio, budget extra time and approach from the edges of the pedestrian zone to avoid protest knots. From Santa Maria Novella station to the Uffizi, skirt the center via Via della Scala and Via della Vigna Nuova, then cross Ponte Santa Trinita into the Oltrarno and walk the riverside Lungarno back to Ponte Vecchio or Ponte alle Grazie. This route keeps you clear of Piazza della Signoria until the final approach. For the Duomo, favor Via dei Servi from Piazza Santissima Annunziata or Via dell'Oriuolo from Santa Croce to bypass the densest foot traffic on Via dei Calzaiuoli.

Expect ad-hoc closures or police-managed holds near Piazza della Signoria and the cathedral square during peak protest hours. For buses, Autolinee Toscane routinely shifts lines off the historic core during demonstrations, sometimes routing services to the viali ring roads. Check the AT website or app for active alerts and line-by-line variations before you depart; similar protest days this fall triggered diversions for core lines including C-routes and center-bound services.

Final thoughts

Florence's rickshaw and golf cart ban is now in force, and protests are likely to continue near headline landmarks. Use outer approaches, rely on the Lungarni and Oltrarno to thread around hot spots, and recheck bus detours close to departure. With a little route planning, you can still move efficiently through the historic core despite the Florence rickshaw and golf cart ban.