By bicycle in Prague

The Paneuropean bikeline, runs through Norimberg and a number of other touristically attractive areas in Germany, France and the Czech Republic. There are hundreds of interesting spots in its on the 1537 km long track. The new bikeline will be inaugurated 12th April 2008 on the Pan-European festival in Nuremberg.

The European highway E 50, named Via Carolina, connects the CR with France. But the famous predecessor was the Middle-age ‘Golden Route’ on which basis the Paneuropean bikeline is founded.

Paneuropean bikeline runs on existing routes or bikelines. Somewhere it was needed to added pieces, for which purpose were used mostly closed railway sections. Paneuropean bikeline covers under one logo three European countries and two world metropolises, demonstrating connection between the East and the West and contributing to the idea of international understatement.

If you need any more information, visit the Paneuropean bikeline web : www.paneuropa-radweg.de

After many years of protests, there are going to be some changes. After demonstrations and crazy events that were attempts to change the sad state of things in Prague, which is: you can ride a bike, but only at your own risk. The city representatives forget about the bicycles quite often, but yesterday was different.

Yesterday, the metropolis representatives withdrew under pressure from the site of many activists. Ludek Dostal, the leader of Prague Ways and Roads, announced the construction workers will come back to all the promised and forgotten areas, and set everything right.

The good news is, 40 millions CZK (1,4 mil. €) were promised to be invested to bike roads development in Prague. Maybe there is a chance for improvement after all.

All the new Bikelines in Prague are going to be red. The color was chosen according to the starting position, where our bike transport is – drivers have to get used to it.

The capital starts to work on re-paving of Vltava riverside in center, so cyclists could use it. The present historic paving with pebbles is for mountain bicycles only. Construction works and material cost more than 13 millions CZK, (464 000€). The problem is, the long and expensive reconstruction of Vltava riverside, that cost 40 millions € and ended in 2006, didn’t take a bikeline into account. So now in 2007 some pebbles have to be plucked up and replaced with the smooth line.

The unsatisfactory state was produced mostly by bad communication among The National Heritage institute and the Cyclist Traffic commission : “To build the bikeline there is a good idea, but 13 millions is quite a lot, especially at the time money is the main argument, why not to build new bikelines.” It is the same situation as this spring, when at reconstruction of Stefanik bridge the City Hall forgot about cyclists, even when they pledged the opposite.

Prague opens new bikelines – one heading from Modrany to Zbraslav and the second one (in the final stage of construction) from Liben to Horni Pocernice. The new sector to Zbraslav runs by Vltava, has two kilometers, three quarters are for pedestrians and bikers.

The new bikeline in Prague 9 goes from Freyova street to Horejsi rybnik (Upper pond) and the bikers will ride on a deserted rail. Another three kilometers are to be ready in 2008. The metropolis heads have promised 80 km of marked bikelines in Prague countryside, and 150 km in the city.

The question remains, how much of those bikelines will be useful for those who want to travel by bicycle instead of a car. The poor situation of bike roads in the center of Prague calls more people to demonstrate every year, but it seems to left a little impact on the face of inside Prague. The author knows, how dangerous it is to travel by bike in Prague. Compared to other cities of Europe there is a lot to gain. The bikelines grow in numbers only on the suburbs, and no one had the guts to enforce construction to the inside of the metropolis yet. We will see, what the future development brings.

More than 2500 cyclists went on a protest route from Old times Square and by the expressway to Jana Palacha Square yesterday. This annual action attracts more people every year, as they are driven to participy by the unchanging conditions for cycling in Prague. Compared to other cities of the EU, Prague cyclo-ways still evokes early stages of the development. The reasons for this situatin are for example hilly location of Prague and narrow streets often unchanged in their dimensions from the medieval times.

“It is not supposed to be an action of pressure. We don’t have anything against cars.” Was emphasized by the organizators from Auto*mat initiative. “What we want is a possibility to drive a bicycle. Here in Prague we don’t have enough cyclo-ways.”

At the end, we give you 2 of the basic principles, on which basic Auto*Mat initiative stands; Auto*Mat is a project aimed at making our city safer, healthier and more lively. Auto*Mat wants to transform Prague from a city that today mainly accommodates car through-traffic into a city more favorably inclined toward life.