Ostrava invested 160 million Czech crowns in cycling paths this year, making it the most Cyclist-Friendly City of the Year

The largest investment this year in cycling and pedestrian transport was a bridge connecting the city center with the Dolní Vítkovice area, costing 103 million crowns. Another 32 million crowns were allocated by the Ostrava city council for the construction of pedestrian and cycling paths. The latest addition is a 450-meter-long path connecting the neighborhoods of Poruba and Vřesina. The city also contributed 25 million crowns to the repair of existing paths. Approximately one-third of the funds for the construction of cycling and pedestrian infrastructure in the last six years were covered by European Union grants.

Conditions for cycling have also improved through regular street and intersection reconstructions. An example is the new traffic light intersection at Studentská and Opavská streets, where a previously non-existent crossing for pedestrians and cyclists has been added.

Cyclist-Friendly City of the Year

Ostrava has been awarded the title of most Cyclist-Friendly City of the Year 2023 for its progress in the field of cycling transportation, as indicated by the evaluations of participants in the ‚Cycle to Work‘ challenge. Participants assessed the city’s advancements in building paths, marking cycling lanes, creating cycling roundabouts, and overall improvement in safety on a four-point scale. They also considered how the city communicates its innovations.

„We greatly appreciate the title of most Cyclist-Friendly City of the Year in the ‚Cycle to Work‘ 2023 challenge, and we are pleased that our activities and implementations are recognized on a national level. We have come a long way, and with the same enthusiasm, we aim to continue in the future,“ said Deputy Mayor Aleš Boháč.

In addition to the title, the city also received a new cycling service station. It will be located near the new playground at Koupark in the local district of Radvanice.

The progress in the field of cycling transportation also stems from the work of the City Studio of Spatial Planning and Architecture (MAPPA). This entity conceptually addresses urbanism and transportation in the third-largest Czech city. MAPPA is also the author of the Cycling Transportation Concept in Ostrava, which sets standards for cycling infrastructure in the city. Among other things, it states that along main roads with a speed limit of 50 km/h and above, separate infrastructure should be provided, while in other areas, the speed limit should be 30 km/h.

In Ostrava, shared bike company Nextbike have been operational since 2019. There are 1,100 bikes distributed throughout the city, and the first 15 minutes are free for users. Additionally, starting from this year, Ostrava provides the first 30 minutes free of charge as part of the public transport subscription.

Even City Hall participates in the 'Cycle to Work' campaign

Every year, employees of Ostrava city hall, as well as some members of the city council, take part in the ‚Cycle to Work‘ challenge. City hall always covers the registration fees for its employees and motivates them with small gifts. In June, city hall even earned the title of Ostrava’s Cycling Employer of the Year 2023. The award was determined by employees who evaluate the company’s activity, promotion of cycling, and the quality, accessibility, and facilities available for cycling. The recognition of Cycling Employer is also linked to a certification process, which Ostrava is currently undergoing.

An interesting fact is that Ostrava collects data from the ‚Cycle to Work‘ campaign on its data portal. Additionally, the city has recently installed five counters in the streets to track cycling activity.