Kayaks and canoes to be banned from the Grand Canal of Venice

Rubber dinghies and other inflatables however are entirely banned, even if owned by Venetians

The lagoon city of Venice has announced a crackdown on the use of recreational boats in its main waterways, with canoes, kayaks, pedalos and paddleboards banned from the Grand Canal under a new measure. Until now, canoes and similar boats have been prohibited from use on the city's main waterways during peak traffic hours, between 8am and 3pm on weekdays and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays, but as of August 1st the ban will apply permanently in the busiest areas.

Watercraft owned by residents of Venice's historic centre or by companies regulated by the local authority are exempt from the ban, including the city's iconic gondolas and other traditional Venetian boats, though these are subject to their own regulations. Rubber dinghies and other inflatables however are entirely banned, even if owned by Venetians. The affected waterways include the Grand Canal, the Cannaregio Canal, and other routes used by Venice's waterborne public transport.

Source: The Local