Badeniho Street after reconstruction

As part of the reconstruction, the dedicated bike lane was extended, starting in Chotková Street. It now continues uphill along Badeního Street and ends on its flat section. Here, cyclists have the option to continue on the newly paved bike lane or ride on the newly legalized cobblestone sidewalk.

In the direction from Dejvice, there have been no significant new traffic measures for cycling. There is no bike lane in the flat section, just as there is none in the direction from the city center. The advantage is once again the new smooth surface and the relocation of the tram stop from the roadway to a separate island. While going downhill, one can pick up speed, which makes coexistence with automobile traffic more tolerable even without a bike lane.

According to observations by the Městem na kole editor on-site, about half of the drivers are encroaching into the new bike lane, even though they are not allowed to do so by law – the car lane is wide enough. This issue could be addressed by constructing a physical separation for the bike lane, perhaps with a slight elevation. Such a measure would also improve comfort when facing a challenging uphill ride on Chotková Street.

In the main part of the street, in the direction from the city center, there is a classic Prague „dual solution“: you can either ride on the road without special protection, or on the sidewalk, which includes rougher pavement and occasional maneuvering around pedestrians. Any integration measure in the roadway, however, would mean „pushing“ cars onto the tram tracks due to the narrow road and tree-lined areas. Conversely, a bike lane on the sidewalk would narrow the space for pedestrians. As a compromise solution, at least a narrow smooth lane could be created on the sidewalk, making the passage more pleasant and not encroaching on pedestrian space. After all, the tree-lined area cannot be moved.

The reconstruction of Badeního Street has increased the comfort for almost all types of transportation. Cyclists will particularly appreciate the smoother surface and the extended bike lane. However, it could have been even better. What do you think?