How many cyclepaths will Prague gain in 2024?

According to the budget proposal, the capital will invest 120 million crowns into infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists this year. This is less than in the years 2020 (170) and 2022 (245), and is a similar sum to the one in 2021, when approximately 122 million was invested.

Projects explicitly focused on pedestrian traffic and overall safety (BESIP) will also fare worse. These projects will receive 136 million. This is an amount that, according to Prague 3’s councilor for transportation, Ondřej Rut (Greens), is insufficient even for the realization of projects with a construction permit.

The highest amount in the transportation budget, totaling nearly 10 billion crowns, will be consumed by metro line D, the construction of the Hloubětín depot, Dvorecký bridge, the reconstruction of Libeňský bridge, Florenc metro station, and the Opatov and Dědina parking garages.

New (cycle)paths

This year could see the completion of the following projects. It’s certain that not all will be built:

– Kačerov – Labuť path, Prague 4 (900 m), bike route A42/A7/A5
– Strakonická path (Nádražní–U královské louky, 1500 m), Prague 5, A1
– Holešovice – Bubenec path, Prague 7 (450 m), A16/A6
– Path in the park U Vody, Prague 7 (250 m), A1
– Historical cycle lanes Letňanská, Prague 9 (500 m), A7/A42
– Path U Záběhlického castle, Prague 10 (600 m), A41
– Path around Košíkovská reservoir, Prague 11 (350 m), A225
– Path U Kunratický forest, Prague 11 (500 m), A216/A225
– Path along Českobrodská, continuation, Prague 14, A8
– Path K Cementárně – Na Drážkách (500 m), Prague 16, A114
– Path Sychrovská–Zamašská (450 m), Prague 19, A28
– Letňany promenade–Ostravská street (50 m), Prague 19, A4

At the same time, construction of projects that will improve cycling conditions in the following years will continue throughout the year. New opportunities for cycling will be brought by the Dvorecký bridge with its expected opening in 2025, and new cycle lanes are planned as part of the reconstruction of the upper part of Wenceslas Square in 2026.

Reconstruction

In addition to entirely new sections, existing paths for pedestrians and cyclists will be repaired:

• Reconstruction of the Kbely–Novopacká path, Prague 19
• Reconstruction of the A2 path, Rowing Island–Jeremenkova, Prague 4

New bike lanes

As part of bigger reconstructions, cycling traffic will be integrated into the streets:

– Hartigova, Prague 3 – continuation of an advisory bike lane uphill (400 m), A240
– Peroutkova, Prague 5 – bike lane only in a short section, otherwise sharrow, A130
– Komořanská, Prague 12 – advisory bike lane uphill from Modřany, A402
– Dukelských hrdinů, Prague 7 – advisory bike lane, A30

In addition, the renewal of several traffic light intersections is planned, which can also bring minor improvements in the form of sorting bike lanes, crossings, or bike boxes for cyclists.

Missed opportunities

Thus, the year 2024 will not be groundbreaking in terms of cycling infrastructure development. As can be seen from the lists, many projects are ready for implementation. However, as every year, not all will be realized due to capacity reasons. This year, budget cuts are added to the mix, further disadvantaging both cycling and pedestrian traffic.