“It’s obvious that we’re creating two systems of cycling solutions for two big groups of cyclists – one consisting of people that consider their bikes a mode of transportation (this one is beginning to dominate) and the other one that uses cycling as a healthy form of recreation, which is and will keep getting bigger and bigger,” said the Councillor Petr Štěpánek.
A cyclist is an equal to a car driver
Both of these groups differ greatly in not only the equipment they use, but also their knowledge of traffic rules and a certain mental maturity – because especially those that use their bikes as a mode of transportation to and from work consider themselves, and quite correctly so, to be regular road traffic participants. “While we will be creating traffic solutions for the cycle traffic, the recreational bike riders will be glad to enjoy our new cycling paths,” explained Pavel Polák, who can easily be considered the father of Prague cycling. For this reason new cycling lanes were added to Vinohradská Street and from the Želivského crossroads to Flora metro station, which is a small gift to the cyclists to the occasion of the European week of mobility. “The cyclists will become better recognized, though sadly they are not quite yet full-fledged road traffic participants due to their lesser numbers, as there are now lanes designated for them,” commented Pavek Polák. “Obviously our goal is to create such conditions, so that five to eight, maybe even ten percent people in Prague would use a bicycle without any fear to get to and from work or indeed any other business they may have,” said P.Polák.
Safety first even during the reconstruction works
The cycling lanes on Vinohradská Street are 800m long and 1,5m wide marked not only by a dashed line but colour and bike signs also and cost almost 2.7 million Crowns. It’s not all only about the marking, but adjustments to the road and sewer lids as well, so that they are not dangerous when someone rides over them. “There are numerous cycling lanes already – on Korunní, Vršovická or Pobřežní streets, at Černý Most or in the vicinity of Letňany metro station,” noted P. Štěpánek. Pictographs made their appearance on some Prague roads lately too, reminding drivers of the cyclists’ presence. “They function similar to the speed signs before radar cameras. That makes the drivers slow down automatically and take better notice of the cyclists,” said P. Štěpánek. These pictographs mark parts of Koněvova Street and Vršovická Street at places where width of the road is lacking and doesn’t permit the creation of separate cycling lanes.
Cyclists have the right of way
This year’s novelty is lanes designated only for cyclists, buses and taxis. Among other places these can be found between metro stations Želivského and Háje following the bus line 213, around Kačerov metro station and following the bus line 167 between Kotlářka and Klamovka, as well as at Jarov.