Transport

MF Dnes brought an interesting insight to our attention; which place is the noisiest? Of course, it is around train stations and expressways, but that is not the whole truth.

The Prague city hall have published a noise map of the capital. The most outcrying is e.g. Smetanovo Nabrezi, Zitna Ulice or Evropska. Simply said, the new centre and wide streets. The main source is automobile traffic.

Together with the map, the city hall has published _The Action Plan of Noise Reducing _ that comprehends tens of streets. The plan deals with anti-noise moves like speed reduction, replacing the present surface of the streets with super smooth and so silent one.

The Czech Government has voted for direct sell of the package of 100% funds to a strategic partner, Topolanek stated. The strategic partner is supposed to pay more than 100 billion czk to the state. The government also set the minister of finance, Miroslav Kaluousek, to start the process of choosing the main advisor for the privatization. The office is needed for judging of the offers.

According to assumptions it will probably be a consortium of an entrepreneur of a big airport and a financial institution. The decision for direct sell was made on the basis of not very numerous privatizations on the market, and also relatively prosperous time for aviation.

A litre of sold diesel oil at Czech petrol stations has beaten all the records. The price has got as high as 34,03 (1,3 €) czk /l in average. Meantime, a litre of the most sold Natural 95 gasoline sells for 32,14 czk (1,24 €).

The fears of analytics, that the prices of fuel will rise into astral heights so became true. This fierce mark up is caused mainly by non-stop growing prices of oil at world markets. A barrel of American oil costs more than 135 dollars on Thursday.

The question remains – how it is possible diesel costs more than gasoline? Because there is higher demand.

The police investigation led to the conclusion: The mass accident was caused by inadequate speed of drivers. At that time in March, over two hundreds of vehicles crashed into each other, creating the biggest mass car accident in the CR history. The total damages were evaluated to 28 millions czk, which is over 1 million €.

It was speeding together with no respect for the state in which the road – partly covered in ice – was, which is blamed. There were 93 accidents, 231 was damaged, from which two buses, 98 trucks and 131 private cars. Three people were heavily wounded, no one was killed. Three accidents were probably caused by negligence, as the one where a truck driver crushed into a bus wounding three.

MF Dnes brougt this interesting finding to attention. The police talks about confiscation as a tool to get those who repeatedly drive drunk or without papers out of streets. But it has a flaw; only old cars worth few tens of thousands czk (about 1-3t €) end on police parking lots. The police do not confiscate more expensive cars.

“The value of a confiscated thing mustn’t be disproportional with seriousness of an act.” Jaromira Petrackova stated for MF Dnes. She added afterwards: “We would definitely confiscate more expensive cars, too. But this has not happened yet.” So only used cars can get confiscated? The Interior Minister Langer stated this needs and will be changed.

Skoda Cars are dominating the Czech Market, they don’t need to reduce their prices, there are buyers anyway. This is the reason why it is possible to save up to 100t Czech coronas (3,7t €) when buying a Czech car anywhere but in the Czech Republic.

Skoda Octavia Classic with 1,6 MPI Classic sells in the Czech Republic for 459 900 czk. In Germany in is 50 thousands cheaper, similar prices are in Poland or Slovakia.

If you go for your Octavia to Russia or Latvia, it can get even more cheaper. In Russia, Octavia in basic equip costs 386t czk, in Litvia even 350t czk.

Lesser differences are with Fabias or other models. There is also a little catch- the version ‘Classic’ means something different, as you get more equipment in the version sold in the CR. Anyway for Czechs it is a good reason for going shopping to the east.

Of course we mean the fair price! In Prague, as in all the metropolises in Europe, the taxi drivers try to make some extra money by overcharging. However, there were some positive changes. It seems, that the taxis are getting slightly better, as Prague City Hall informed. According to their information, in 2007, from 831 check rides, only 88 were overcharged. Which means, only every ten taxi ride is a rip-off.

Verified solution is of course trying some verified taxi companies, that guarantee fair price. This includes also not catching a cab, as many of customers are used to, but calling the cab by a phone.

Finally, if you want to find how much the price should be, try here . They have some nice program to count it.

The parking situation in European city centres is quite similar. The locals cannot park in front of their house, supplies are hard to deliver and the traffic intensity is high.

You want to park? You have to pay.
Prague City Hall solves the packed city centre by installment of zones of paid parking, where those who doesn’t reside around, can put their vehicles. Since yesterday, parking machines (on the picture) are operational.

There are reserved parking zones for locals and local enterprisers in function since November. In Prague 3 paid parking zones start in spring.

Prague taxi drivers do not enjoy a good reputation. Their name is being spoiled by those who overcharge the fares.. There is usually no evidence and no claimant. What’s more, there is often no lever that would make them pay a fine, even when convicted.

The time for administrative procedure to be carried out is one year. According to the City Hall, it is not possible to render a decision in such a term; if somebody avoids notification deliverance and than appeals a lot, one year is not enough to solve the case.

As a result, Prague City hall wants to extend the time for execution of fines. Especially Prague taxi drivers, when the verdict announces them they are charged with fines, massively use the practice of appealing to the law for so long the charges expire.

Prices charged by some taxi drivers in Prague are notorious, Prague guides always give some advices, how to avoid being fooled.

The tramway clousure at Paladskeho namesti in Prague is going to take less time than planned originally. The managers of Prague Public Transport (MHD) Martin Dvorak and Ludek Dostal announced. The work is going to progress faster, it should be finished on 8th October.

The other step are construction works at the cross-overs of Karlovo namesti. But the traffic colaps, that came as an outcome of repairs at Paladskeho namesti, became a deterrent example of how not to handle our ever-growing metropolis traffic. The heads have learned their lesson and so nearby Karlovo namesti is going to be under construction only during weekends. If you plan to go in October through Karlovo namesti, involve a delay into your plan, then.

According to the print report the shortened therms were decided by the mayor of Prague Pavel Bem

Airport Prague and Czech Airlines are going to be sold next year. Our Minister of Finance Miroslav Kalousek stated that the state is not supposed to carry business, businessmen are. The Government has exact figures of how much is the price going to be, however they are not going to pronounce it publicly.

The same situation is with the case of Czech airlines (CSA). Money from the sale are going to be used for the necessary retirement reform and part of the profit is going to the Traffic fund. According to speculations, the exact price should vary between 60 – 70 billions CZK (2 – 2,3 bil. €). Other billions are coming from the Czech Airlines, however it’s economy is now in minus, and it’s possibilities for improvement are depend on a reform, as it’s flight ticket are four or more times expensive than those of the other Czech companies.

Do you know how to behave in metro? Do you know what’s the etiquette when using the public transport in Prague? We have picked a lovely article for you that might tell you more about the “right behaviour” in Prague.

I moved to Prague almost a year ago and I am proud to say I have not driven a car since I have been here. The “California Girl” in me is bitter, but the rest of me is quite pleased. There has been no reason to drive a car. The public transportation system here rocks – and rocks hard…like Bon Jovi. It’s really the best I’ve ever seen.

So, although I prefer to walk this lovely city, I shall now tell you how to avoid certain mistakes whilst using public transit. There is a system of etiquette here in Prague. If you don’t follow it I will glare at you from the Metro platform. You have been warned. (read the whole article).

The captains of steam boats and pleasure boats in Prague inform that they will sail on the Vltava river even in September. This year they have already transported more travellers than last year, thus more than 300 thousand people.

Boats to Slapy dam will leave Prague every weekend in September. Besides that very popular are also boats to the Prague Zoo and pleasure boats to Melnik and back. Many people also join party boats sailing at night.

Boats to the Zoo leave at 9:30, 12:30 and 15:30 and return back at 11:00, 14:00 and 17:00. One journey takes 75 minutes and cost 120 CZK for adults and 60 CZK for children. A boat to Slapy and back leaves Prague at 7:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. It takes the whole day and it costs 340 CZK for adults and 170 CZK for children. The boat journey Prague – Melnik – Prague is held twice a year in summer months. All boats leave from the quay near Palackeho bridge.

Drivers in the Czech Republic will have to pay more for using Czech highways. Road tax stickers that must be stuck on the front window, will be more expensive next year again.

New tax road stickers for 2008 valid from December 2007 will rise in price for each vehicle group. The tax road sticker for one year will cost 1,000 CZK (instead of present 900 CZK) for cars under 3.5 tons and 8,000 CZK (instead of present 7,000 CZK) for small vans under 12 tons. Small goods van will use stickers for the last year in 2008. From 1st January 2009 they should pay electronic road-toll like trucks and buses nowadays.

More expensive will be also stickers with shorter validity. Stickers for 7 days will cost 220 CZK (from 200 CZK) and for 1 month 330 CZK (from 300 CZK). According to the Ministry of Transportation, the revenues from the road tax should reach 2.3 billion CZK. The money will be used for building new highways or new cycle-ways.

The city of Prague finished the reconstruction of Stefanikuv bridge over the river Vltava and finally opened it to the large public. First cars could be seen there yesterday, first trams crossed the bridge today.

Stefanikuv bridge was in a very bad condition. In 2002 it was damaged by floods and it wasn’t so safe any more. The bridge and nearby riverside Edvarda Benese was closed from the beginning of February.

The reconstruction cost 380 million CZK, more than it had been planned. There is no line for cyclist on the bridge and the pavement is not suitable for people on wheelchair as the pavement end with steps near the Letensky tunnel.

Prague Public Transport Company plans to equip many tram and bus stops with electronic information boards giving information about up-to-date connections. Travellers will know when exactly their tram or bus comes and therefore they can plan their time better, for example they will know they have time to buy a newspaper. Such information boards are already in Barrandov and in Malostranska stop.

All trams and buses in Prague are equipped with GPS navigation and the control system knows about current tram service disruption and situation on Prague’s roads. Travellers waiting at stops without the information board can send an SMS to ask about the best connection. They will get a message back immediately with the answer.

These information boards should also appear at the entrance to Prague underground. They will also help blind people as they will say aloud which tram will arrive and to which direction. Prague Public Transport Company wants to change the orientation system in Prague metro as well.

Prague inhabitants and visitors should expect higher prices for the public transport services. According to Prague councilman for transport Radovan Steiner, the rise in price is inevitable.

More expensive tickets could be sold from the beginning of the year 2008 or from the second half of 2008. The price of the tickets shouldn’t jump too much, it should be just increased by the inflation.

The profits of the tickets cover now about one third of the costs of the Prague public transport. The rest is subsidized by the city of Prague, which is according to auditors who examined the business and financial record of Prague Public Transport Co., very uneconomical.

Prague representatives plan to reduce the number of cycle taxis or at least the routes of these “rickshas” in the centre of Prague. According to them, the cycle taxis hold back car transportation in the city centre and make chaos.

The regulation shouldn’t apply to horse carriages that have a long tradition in the city and create a special atmospere. As the cycle taxis are owned by private companies, there is no way how to regulate them now.

Cycle taxis drive mostly between the Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square, Namesti Republiky, Lesser Town and Andel. For 45 minutes you’ll pay 600 CZK, for 15 minutes 200 CZK.

The system of Prague public transport is evaluated positively by many people. It’s one of the cheapest public transportation and it’s largely used by Prague inhabitants and tourists in comparison with the transportation systems in other European cities.

Six out of 10 Prague inhabitants prefer taking metro, trams or buses on their way to work instead of using their own car. Another positive feature of Prague public transport is its high density and coverage of the city.

According to the audit of the Prague Public Transport Company made by BNV Consulting, the travel tickets should get much more expensive to meet the costs of the company. Right now Prague public transport is subsidized from the budget of the city of Prague.

An opening ceremony started new ferry services that will take people from Smichov to Podoli and back. The ferry is included in the Prague public transport, therefore anyone can get on board with a valid 20 CZK ticket or a long-term ticket.

Children under 6 years old, bikes, prams and dogs are transported for free. Children under 15 years old can buy the 10 CZK ticket. The ferry transports people every hour from 6:00 (at the weekends from 7:00) till 22:00. If the demand is bigger, the ferry will go more often. In case of flood danger, the ferry will be out of service.

Another ferry can be found near the Charles Bridge. It’s more expensive and it’s run mainly for tourists as it is more like a guided sightseeing tour than a ferry.