Tyres offering relief to sleep-weary Venetians

Trolley case wheels are often nasty little castors that punish travellers with high rolling resistance and scrape noisily along the footpath. In one much-loved tourist destination, they’ve got on the authorities’ nerves so much that their use may soon attract a hefty fine. But never fear – the trusty tyre is here to save the day.

Vittorio Zappalorto, special commissioner of Venice, has announced a plan to bring peace to the city’s narrow streets at night by banning standard trolley cases. Should his measures be approved, tourists caught trundling the offending items will face fines of between €100 and €500. But cases fitted with pneumatic rubber tyres will be allowed. According to Italian publication Ansa.it, this new rule could be introduced in May 2015.