Bubenské nábřeží has a new look: you can choose to ride on the sidewalk or in the cycle lane

A significant change in the street is the reduction of the car lanes from the city center. It has been replaced with a broader promenade-style sidewalk that allows two-way cycling. Cyclists are also permitted to ride on a short section of the sidewalk right at the entrance to the Holešovice Market, where a potential passage in the A312 corridor is planned for the future.

The street accommodates the superior A1 cycle route, but its markings on the ground have not yet been completed.

Measures for the less experienced and experienced

Former councilor for transportation, Adam Scheinherr (Praha sobě), stated on his Twitter that the sidewalk is intended for weaker and slower cyclists. In contrast, the cycling lane, which runs alongside the tram tracks, serves the more experienced and faster cyclists. Originally, according to the city’s design, the lane was supposed to be only 1.25 meters wide. After suggestions from the AutoMat association (MNK is an independent project of the association (red.)), which requested a safer solution, the city expanded the cycling lane to 1.5 meters.

At the Holešovice Market stop, the cycling lanes are interrupted in both directions. While heading from the city center, cyclists have the option to pass the stop using the legalized sidewalk (with an entrance and exit before and after the stop) or choose to ride between the tram tracks. On the way to the city center, people can overcome the stop using the raised Vienna-style stop, along with the cars.

Continuity

On the western side, Bubenské nábřeží ends at the intersection with Argentinská Street. Its reconstruction brought about the shortening of pedestrian crossings and the addition of cycle crossings. As a result, the existing cycle paths along Argentinská were connected with the cycle paths near Hlávkův Bridge. Now, it is entirely legal to cross the Holešovice peninsula in a north-south direction from Těšnov to Pelc-Tyrolka, bypassing regular traffic.

In the middle of Bubenské nábřeží, the newly opened Štvanická Lávka connects to the street with new bicycle & pedestrian crossings. The whole area is paved with smooth cut stones and allows legal cycling both on the sidewalk and in the roadway – in the cycling lane.

On the eastern side of the embankment, both the cycling lanes and the legalized sidewalks end with the reconstructed section. Further on, it is necessary to continue directly on the Komunardů Street roadway.

It is worth mentioning the improved unification of the width of the traffic and cycling lane towards the city center. This should ensure clearer conditions for cars and bicycles to pass each other. In the past, the width of the traffic lane changed continuously, which, combined with the presence of curbs preventing access to the tram track, could lead to collision situations.

Is it enough?

Pavel Zelenka (Praha 7 sobě), the councilor for transportation in Prague 7, praised the implementation, highlighting that in the cycling lane, they managed to create perpendicular channel drains and narrowed the paved drainage strip to 25 centimeters. However, Barbora Soukupová (Piráti), the chairwoman of the Prague Cycling Commission, partially criticized the modifications, saying, „The channel is fine, but on this street, it’s really not enough! We are on the superior A1 cycle route, and there should be a separated cycle path here, not a cycling lane with the risk of falling under the tram. Yet, it would fit. The past months have also clearly shown that there doesn’t need to be any car traffic here at all.“

Regarding the implementation errors, it is worth mentioning the insufficiently lowered curbs that do not match the marked cycling crossings, and the positioning of signs allowing cycling on the sidewalk, making them very difficult to see for cyclists approaching. Additionally, in the direction towards the city center, the already narrow (1.25 m) cycling lane reduces the paved drainage strip, which they failed to narrow down.

If someone is coming from Komunardů Street in Holešovice, they will find that accessing the legalized sidewalk on the south side is almost impossible. It would be necessary to cross all lanes and the tram track around the bend. Therefore, when intending to continue on the southern cycle path towards Hlávkův Bridge, it is more suitable to approach the Holešovice Market through the cycling lane and then join the designated cycle crossing to the cycle path.

Before the Holešovice Market, in the direction towards the city center, the roadway makes a relatively sharp turn from the island, causing most cars to enter the cycling lane to ease the turn, even before reaching the traffic light.

Survey: Which way will you travel on the new Bubenské nábřeží?

Translation of the survey options below:

1. In the cycling lane on the roadway
2. On the sidewalk
3. I will combine both
4. I don’t travel this way