VENICE, Italy, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Gondoliers in Venice upset over a ban on boating at night, went on strike Monday and threatened to stay on strike until the ban is lifted.
Gondolas have been banned from the canals at night when deliveries of goods are made by larger boats because of fears that the additional traffic increases the waves causing erosion problems to Venice's buildings, the BBC reported Monday.
Hundreds of gondoliers staged a protest Monday in front of the town hall building, disappointing couples wanting a Valentine's Day boat trip.
"The waves cause well known problems to Venice's buildings, and the new regulations were meant to preserve their stability and fight erosion," a spokeswoman for the mayor told the BBC.
"The canals are incredibly busy these days. There are cargo boats, public waterbuses, water taxis, fire brigade boats."
