Brno’s Údolní Street gets a Makeover: A Bike Bypass at the Tram Stop and Red-Colored Lanes

An advisory bike lane has been added along almost the entire length of the street heading towards the city center. In some sections, it runs alongside parked cars, while in others, it opens up into the main roadway. Furthermore, this advisory lane features a striking new red-colored surface, which enhances its visibility and visually emphasizes the space designated for cyclists.

A bike bypass at the tram stop

The most innovative solution can be found at the tram stop. While cyclists in many Czech cities are forced to wait behind stationary trams or cross the tracks, Údolní Street now features a so-called „bike bypass.“ A bike path runs along the sidewalk here, designated as a „C10“ route—a divided path for pedestrians and cyclists.

The path routes behind the tram platform, allowing cyclists to safely bypass the stop without conflicting with passengers or trams. This remains a relatively unusual solution in the Czech Republic, though it is commonplace in Western European cities.

In the opposite direction (heading away from the city center), cyclists share the road with motor vehicles. Due to narrow street widths, a dedicated bike lane could not be accommodated here; however, the reconstruction did introduce a raised roadway along the tram stop to improve safety.

Red-colored advisory bike lanes

The Údolní Street project also highlights the differing approaches among Czech cities when it comes to visually highlighting cycling infrastructure. While authorities in Prague repeatedly reject coloring bike lanes red—as seen on the recently reconstructed Na Florenci or Dukelských hrdinů streets—this approach is becoming the standard in Brno. Colored bike lanes can also be found on Lidická Street, and Brno uses a similar method to highlight select bus lanes.

While the colored surfacing does not change the legal status of the bike lane, it increases visibility for both drivers and cyclists. It also serves as a visual reminder that the space is primarily intended for bicycle traffic. A similar approach is commonly used in Bratislava and numerous other European cities.

The Czech technical standards for cycling infrastructure (TP 179) do not automatically mandate colored surfacing for „advisory“ (non-exclusive) bike lanes. However, they do explicitly state that coloring them is permitted.