The city of Louny has decided to adjust traffic patterns in its center to reduce transit traffic, aiming to prevent motor vehicles without a destination in the area from passing through. The municipal office claims the measure is intended to ensure safer and smoother traffic flow in the city center. However, this is only partially accurate, especially concerning cyclists’ access. The newly implemented plan makes it more challenging for cyclists to navigate the center, sparking criticism from local residents and prompting remarks from the Transportation Friends Association.
A key aspect of the new measure is the conversion of Hilbertova Street to one-way traffic, where parallel parking spaces with meters will be added. The municipal office explained its decision not to establish a contraflow bike lane here, citing that the road width (about 5 meters) doesn’t safely allow for bidirectional traffic for cyclists alongside parking: „Next to parked vehicles, there won’t be sufficient width for both vehicle passage and cyclists riding in the opposite direction.“
According to the office, allowing contraflow cycling could compromise cyclist safety. However, it hasn’t clarified how the new parking spaces align with the goal of “reducing transit traffic in the center.” It’s also unclear why the office opposes contraflow cycling in a residential zone with a maximum speed of 20 km/h, where this should be maintained even at minimal roadway widths.
As an alternative, the office recommends that cyclists use routes like the narrow shared path for pedestrians and cyclists along the Ohře River or ride via Osvoboditelů Street, though neither provides direct access to the city center. In its remarks, the Transportation Friends Association highlighted that these measures force cyclists into longer detours and busier areas with heavier traffic. This, it argues, worsens accessibility and makes cycling less appealing. The office dismissed this feedback, stating that “cyclists can use the existing shared paths for pedestrians and cyclists,” located outside the city center.
The municipal office argues that these measures aim to reduce the number of cars in the city center by discouraging drivers who previously used it for quicker passage. “We expect a partial decrease in vehicles in the city center,” the justification states. Critics, however, point out that the newly introduced one-way traffic rules could increase car speeds, which could paradoxically endanger both pedestrians and cyclists.
In response, the association submitted a formal objection, including a proposal to maintain two-way access for cyclists on all affected streets. According to the association, one-way traffic poses a hazard to cyclists and contradicts the general purpose of public roadways. The municipal office, however, rejected the objection, stating that “two-way traffic for cyclists would only be feasible on roads with lower traffic density.”
The association also noted that the office did not consult the Czech Tourist Club (KČT), responsible for marking hiking and cycling routes, when changing traffic signage. The office replied that the current signage does not require KČT approval and that alternative routes outside the city center remain available to cyclists.
While other cities in the Czech Republic are working to improve conditions for non-motorized transport in their centers, Louny is moving in the opposite direction. The conversion of access streets, Hilbertova and Žatecká, to one-way streets means significant detours for cyclists coming from the east or west of the city trying to reach the center. In contrast, Jihlava has enabled two-way cycling on all its one-way streets in recent years. This approach is also common in the centers of many cities in Moravia, České Budějovice, and certain districts in Prague.
On the other hand, Louny is introducing contraflow bike lanes—but mainly outside the center. There are around fifteen such lanes in the city.
You can find the full general policy measure here.
This article is supported by the Ministry of the Environment. The content may not reflect the views of the Ministry of the Environment. The project aims to raise awareness about conditions for cycling through regional reporting in the online „Městem na kole“ magazine.
This is an adjusted machine translation using Automat’s CycleLingo Translator (ChatGPT) of this article: https://mestemnakole.cz/2024/10/louny-zjednosmernuji-centrum-zhorsi-podminky-pro-jizdu-na-kole/
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