Screams, applause, insults. The classroom of town Council it looks like a building with two factions divided on the project of the bicipolitana in via 29 maggio in Legnano. Among the audience about fifty people, mainly residents and traders of the artery that leads to Castellanza enraged against the passage of the cycle lane, as in their opinion it would take away parking spaces (the loss of 8 parking spaces is estimated, which would however be recovered in the immediate vicinity, ed.) and worsen safety and traffic.
What was supposed to be a frank political confrontation this evening, May 7th, also turned into, as often happens, a brawl. The municipal administration remained on its own ideas, confirming its desire to continue with the path started, with a possible opening on the proposal put forward by councilor Franco Brumana: evaluate the cycle road at 30 km/h, at least in the stretch between via Mazzini and via Cavour, instead of the cycle lane. In this way the much disputed fishbone car parks with reverse entrance would not be built. But this hypothesis could also be taken into consideration in other sections: «We asked the technicians to make some evaluations» said the councilor for public works, Marco Bianchi, amid heated protests from the public. He also assured that the entire project complies with the highway code and that no parking spaces will be removed.
The debate then degenerated: «What you do in front of 50 citizens is an insult to their intelligence. Persisting with this idea goes against every democratic way of acting”, said the League councilor, Daniela Laffusasupported by list colleagues Toia and Fratelli d’Italia, Forza Italia and already ready to collect signatures for the referendum on the cycle path in Via 29 Maggio. A project which, according to the opposition, does not have the numbers and dimensions to be implemented. “Nothing will change, it’s a simple warning for those who cycle: you’re just pulling the wool over people’s eyes,” replied the councilor delegate to the bicipolitana, Paolo Garavaglia. «We traders have collected over a thousand signatures we note a discontent that is also spreading outside the neighborhood», is the comment of a shopkeeper in the audience.
The mayor: “The voting against is not a preconceived closure”
As per the script the motion presented by the municipal councilor of Fratelli d’Italia, which asked to «suspend the project schedule to sit at the table with the operators to reach an agreement that can satisfy everyone”, it didn’t pass for the majority votes against. However, all the centre-right minorities and councilors Franco Brumana and Federico Amadei are in favour: «Doing politics also means remaining consistent in one’s ideas», said PD municipal councilor Giacomo Pigni. «Practising good politics means being able to change your mind», responded the opposition whose hope is that the openness shown by councilor Bianchi on the cycle path can at least encourage discussion. The entire street will certainly be asphalted on May 29th. In the end a partial opening came from the mayor Lorenzo Radice: «I don’t see this vote against as a preconceived closure – said the mayor – We will evaluate the cycle road, at least in some sections, we will asphalt the road and review the parking spaces. The process continues but by listening we will bring improvements.”
