Has Prague broken the curse? First red separated bike lane to be built on Strahov

The tram line, which will replace the existing bus routes, will run from Malovanka to Strahov Stadium. According to current plans, construction is expected to begin in 2026 and be completed by autumn 2027. The estimated cost is around one billion Czech crowns.

The first red-asphalt bike lane

On an approximately 470-meter uphill section toward Strahov, a 1.75-meter-wide dedicated bike lane will be built. It will be elevated and separated from the road, and separated from the sidewalk by a curb. The surface will consist of fine-grained asphalt concrete, colored red with a rolled-in pigment layer — marking the first time Prague will use a solution that meets Western European standards.

This section will replace the current painted bike lane marking: at present, Vaníčkova Street already has a designated lane for cyclists on the uphill stretch. The new construction, however, will bring a significantly higher level of safety and comfort. On the downhill side, cyclists will be able to ride either on the road or on a designated, legalized sidewalk with minimal pedestrian traffic (maximum speed 20 km/h).

In the rest of the street, a dual solution will be implemented. The roadway will include bike lanes, similar to the current setup, while the new sidewalks will be legalized for cycling. This will give people a choice — either to ride faster with cars on the road, or to use the paved sidewalks, riding at speeds of up to 20 km/h and with respect for pedestrians.

Bělohorská Street with pictocorridors

The project also partially involves Bělohorská Street, where a new Malovanka tram stop will be created. In the section alongside the stop, bicycle traffic will be organized through “pictocorridors” — shared lanes marked with bicycle symbols in the center of the traffic lane. Going downhill, this should not pose a problem, but uphill it will mean that cyclists will act as a traffic-calming element for cars. A similar solution was proposed in a 2017 study by the Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR Praha).

At the Vaníčkova × Bělohorská intersection new pedestrian crossings will be added on all three arms of the junction, and the existing crossings will be adapted to also serve as bicycle crossings. Thanks to these, cyclists coming from Malovanka will be able to reach Vaníčkova Street without having to ride along Bělohorská. In the opposite direction, cyclists will be able to make an indirect left turn, facilitated by a short bike lane on the sidewalk and two bicycle crossings. The adjacent sidewalks will also be legalized for cycling.

Part of the future A142 cycle route

Once completed, Vaníčkova Street will form part of the A142 cycle route, connecting Malovanka, Strahov, and Prague 5. This route has not yet been marked, but it is expected to be included in the road reconstruction and tram line construction. The new layout will thus create a high-quality connection across Strahov hill, improving cycling accessibility and continuity in this part of Prague.

A glimmer of hope?

Up to now, Prague’s tram projects have generally worsened conditions for cycling. Examples include the disrupted bike lane along the tram track in Libuš, the cycling arrangements in Dědina, the lack of infrastructure on Bělehradská and Nuselská streets, and the tram line projects from Prague to Sedlec and in Malešice, where instead of a separated bike path, only the existing on-road bike lanes will be preserved.

So — is the Strahov tram line a turning point, or just a small “island of positive deviation” in the development of Prague’s cycling infrastructure? Time will tell.