The ordinance prohibits oversized costumes and all disguises of animals, characters from movies, TV shows, or computer games. “The current wording of the decree did not specifically prohibit similar types of buskers who were just pretending to be artists. These disguises belong in amusement parks, and not in the historic center of the city,” said councilor Hana Třeštíková (Praha sebo), who came up with the proposal.

The decree also added a ban on performances that unreasonably disturb with noise, polluting the street or smell. For this reason, even spray painters or so-called bubble shooters will not be allowed to perform on the street. New places have also appeared in the list, where street performers of any kind will not be allowed to perform from mid-October.

No buskers, i.e. street performers, are allowed to appear in, for example, Nerudova Street, Náměstí Míru or Staroměstské náměstí. New general rules also apply to them – they must not obstruct entry to the subway or other means of transport, nor can they perform in front of churches, hospitals, cemeteries or playgrounds.

“The quality of busking has gone down in recent years. I agree with the city that pandas and the like are just attractions and we will definitely not miss them. I am sorry, however, that as part of this decree they are banning all street artists even in such traditional places as the Old Town Square. We would like to help the city, we are now establishing an initiative to improve and beautify busking in the Czech Republic, so that it does not have to be solved only by more and more bans,” said street artist Dalibor Zíka.

The municipality issued the first decree on busking back in 2013. However, due to complaints from local residents, the representatives decided three years ago to amend the decree and limit, in particular, performances that disturbed excessive noise. For example, they banned the use of percussion instruments or electric noise amplifiers.

Last year, police officers dealt with 306 offenses violating the 2016 decree, this year there were 374 by July alone. Most of the offenses concerned Prague 1 and its historic center. While complaints about noise decreased, the people of Prague began to complain about giant pandas or slippery sidewalks on bubbles.

Police officers try to solve this type of offense mainly by negotiation, but they can also issue a fine or report the busker to the state administration authorities. “Buskers can be fined up to 10,000, but police officers always take into account the harmfulness and danger of a particular offense,” said Irena Seifertová, spokeswoman for the city police.

Prague councilors are also trying to reduce the so-called visual smog, which is caused by an excessive number of advertisements and banners in the center. Moreover, they are introduced illegally.

Substitutable cities are also trying to limit so-called beer bikes, i.e. mobile bars and beer taps that are powered by pedal bikes. These are an attraction especially for tourists who go to Prague for cheaper alcohol.

“As the Chamber of Commerce, we welcome the initiatives of the municipality, but at the same time we must ensure that the city center has many more problems. Prague should have the ambition to attract visitors other than the current groups that come to us for alcohol and sexual services,” said Marek Beneš, vice-chairman of the Prague 1 Chamber of Commerce.