Čechův Bridge: Prague has its second Viennese tram/bike stop

We already reported on the start of the construction of the Viennese bike stop at Čechův Bridge in August. In the opposite direction, a classic Viennese stop has been created. The stops in both directions are now barrier-free. The reconstruction also affected the entire adjacent intersection and its surroundings. In terms of cycling traffic, this is a significant intersection of the superior A1 cycling route with locally important connections A309, A315, and 409 leading to Letná and across the river to Old Town Square.

What is a Viennese tram/bike stop?

A Viennese stop is a colloquial term for a stop with a raised platform through which the classic road passes. In the case of a tram stopping at the station, vehicles stop to allow passengers to get off and board. Unlike the classic exit to the roadway, the stop allows barrier-free access to trams, making travel easier for people with larger luggage, strollers, or reduced mobility.

In the cyclist version of the Viennese stop, the platform is traversed only by bicycle wheels, while for other modes of transport, the stop functions like a traditional platform. This type of stop is particularly suitable in confined areas with heavy automobile traffic, where maneuvering to merge into a regular lane across tram tracks can be risky. At the same time, the Viennese tram/bike stop is spatially less demanding than the conventional detour using a bike path behind the stop, making it well-suited for narrower street profiles.

Only the second Viennese tram/bike stop in the Czech Republic

In Prague and throughout the Czech Republic, this is only the second similar implementation. The first Viennese tram/bike stop has been operational since 2014 on Francouzská Street on the ascent towards the city center (Krymská stop). In both cases, the stop directly follows a dedicated bike lane, which, thanks to the chosen solution, is seamlessly integrated through the stop.

Unlike the Krymská variant, the space for the bike lane and the waiting area for passengers at Čechův Bridge stop are separated by columns. This significantly enhances the separation of the roadway from the sidewalk and visually alert waiting passengers to the possible passage of cyclists in the designated area when waiting for the tram.

Other changes in the vicinity

A significant change is the realization of a completely new pedestrian crossing on the western arm of the adjacent intersection leading to the approach to Čechův Bridge. The crossing was complemented with a crossing for cyclists. This will greatly facilitate the exit onto the roadway of Čechův Bridge for people cycling from Letná Gardens towards the Law Faculty. The newly lowered curb can be used for entry in the opposite direction as well.

At the suggestion of a citizen (MNK editor, red.), as part of the traffic sign determination process, the railing at the exit from Letná Gardens along the intersection was replaced with columns. This can further assist in easier integration from traffic onto the path towards Letná Gardens.

As part of the initiative, new sections of bike lanes were also created, complementing the segments already designated in 2021 along the Edvard Beneš embankment. The editorial team of „Městem na kole“ concurrently discovered that the city, under the leadership of former deputy Scheinherr (Praha sobě), originally planned to extend the bike lanes on the entrance and exit of Čechův Bridge underpass beyond the hatching and bollards, in a more protected position. This would be similar to the short bike lane marked in 2021 in Prague’s Zličín.

However, state administration rejected this solution, stating that dangerous situations could arise when exiting the bike lanes. Consequently, the bike lanes are ultimately guided along the same corridor as motor traffic, to the left of the hatching.