The sidewalk across the Havlíčkův Brod ring road will be retrospectively legalized

The city intended to build a cycle path connecting Havlíčkův Brod with the settlement of Herlify alongside the bypass. However, only a 1.5-meter-wide sidewalk was built across the bridge during the bypass construction. This sidewalk is significantly narrower than the planned path and even narrower than the existing connecting path along Mírová Street. Furthermore, cycling on the bridge has not been legalized.

In response to the article, the mayor of Havlíčkův Brod, Zbyněk Stejskal (ODS), stated that the city had indeed requested changes during the construction to facilitate cyclists crossing the bridge away from traffic, but the changes were not possible due to the advanced stage of the project. Unfortunately, this detail was overlooked at the project’s inception.

Now, Havlíčkův Brod is seeking a technical solution to retrospectively legalize cycling on the sidewalk across the bridge. According to the mayor, the problem is not the 1.5-meter width of the sidewalk, given the expected low pedestrian and cyclist traffic. The bigger obstacle is the insufficient height of the bridge railing, which does not meet the standards for cycling. Despite the city’s request, it was not possible to ensure a higher railing during the construction due to the project’s advanced stage, so the city is now seeking a solution for its retrospective replacement.

Mayor Stejskal further stated to Městem na kole that he hopes the passage will be legalized together with the new path all the way to the settlement of Herlify. The city has already obtained consent from all affected landowners and is currently looking for a construction contractor. The remaining 226-meter section of the cyclepath is gradually moving towards realization. The estimated cost of the path is approximately two million crowns.

The mayor also told Městem na kole that the city is currently preparing an update to its cycling master plan. According to the mayor, the new cycling master plan should, compared to the current one from 2011, better incorporate the transportation needs of residents and propose specific realistic measures, including possible changes to traffic regimes on individual streets, to make the city more accessible for people traveling by bike. The city will have more information about the new cycling master plan available around the beginning of next year.