Is the car a sin? Does it belong to the center? Prague wants to close other areas after “Smetaňák”
“We discussed the extension of the measures with all coalition partners, and I am glad that we were able to put politics aside and have fun without emotion over the facts and the real benefits. We will continue with the thing that helps all Praguers to move around the city. We do it for pedestrians, people in public transport and drivers, “said Prague councilor Scheinherr on a Facebook profile two days before Christmas.
The paper evaluates, on the basis of specific data, the positive changes in the transport regime for which the coalition of Pirates, Prague and the United Forces (TOP 09, STAN, KDU-ČSL) decided in May this year. Smetana’s embankment suddenly became one of the main topics of Prague’s municipal policy, ammunition for critical fire from the opposition and the core of the dispute between the municipality and the leadership of the central city district.
In the end, Prague 1 “cried out” at least the removal of the yellow-black concrete barriers and other modifications that improved the overall aesthetic impression. But there was nothing left of the original intention – to help restaurants and cafes on Smetana’s embankment during the coronavirus crisis by installing gardens. The sitting did not attract (almost) anyone even during the hot summer, and when in the autumn, as part of anti-epidemic government measures, companies had to close and reduce cultural events in connection with the covid-19 virus canceled the closed lane at least as a space for outdoor construction. However, in the winter months only rain and snow sat on the chairs and tables from the municipal project…
At the beginning of December, the ex-mayor of Žižkov and now the opposition representative of Prague 3, Alexander Bella (ODS), was also surprised by the current state of Smetana’s embankment. The Civic Democrats, as the strongest opposition party in the municipality and part of the coalition in Prague 1, have been among the most vocal critics of “Scheinherr’s” idea from the very beginning.
That is also why the mayor’s deputy, who is in charge of transport, announced the benefits of the controversial solution. “People on trams benefit most from the abolition of the left turn from the Legion Bridge. By turning on Smetana’s embankment, cars do not block oncoming trams from Národní třída, “wrote Scheinherr, adding that all Prague’s backbone tram lines (2, 9, 17, 18 and 22) run through the intersection and 86,000 people pass through the area daily. “On average, this junction alone saves 30 seconds at this intersection.”
Scheinherr: Change also helps car drivers
“We also help car drivers change, even if sometimes someone tries to tell us that this is not the case,” added the Prague councilor. According to Scheinherr, by canceling the left turn, each motorist saved an average of five seconds of time at the intersection. The area near the National Theater is also smoother and, compared to 2019, the number of accidents has decreased. “We allowed the locals to enter from Národní to Masaryk embankment. This was banned for several years, “Scheinherr mentioned another benefit for the inhabitants of Prague 1.
Although the management of the metropolis claims that the situation consults with the town hall concerned, the statements of the local politicians suggest the opposite. Mayor Petr Hejma (We, What We Live Here / STAN) in reportage of Radižurnál stated that the changes to “Smetaňák” are not based on people living in the area.
“It simply came to our notice then. The waterfront will never function as a multi-cult scene, we have Slavonic Island, Žofín, the piazzetta of Václav Havel. Cultural events are still taking place there and we do not understand why another culture should be imported in this place, “said Hejma. The councilor of Prague 1 for transport, Richard Bureš (ODS), had previously complained that the city district first learned about the plans of the municipality from the media. Scheinherr’s critics objected that the situation had deteriorated for residents in Divadelní Street and others on the detour due to partial closures.
In any case, the debate over Smetana’s embankment perfectly illustrates the long-standing disputes over the ban on cars entering the center of Prague and the strained relations between motorists and cyclists or public transport recipients. Further discussion provoked the text in Hospodářské noviny, according to which the management of the metropolis wants to close the historical part for passing cars. The map of the area where car traffic would be reduced was shared by several people on social networks.
Are you looking forward to it too? I do.
I expect a fruitful debate. ? pic.twitter.com/VoW95jDaLL
– Prague Tram (@Tramvajak_Praha) December 23, 2020
“The car is not a sin. And if someone wants to get somewhere with him, he should not be a second-category Prague, “quotes an article by Jiří Pospíšil (TOP 09), chairman of the United Forces representative club. From the very beginning, it was Pospíšil who set himself against the current restriction of traffic on the Smetana embankment. Coalition partner Petr Hlubuček (STAN), as the mayor’s deputy for the environment, is pushing for the introduction of a toll for entry into the center of Prague. Mayor Zdeněk Hřib (Pirates) persistently defends the municipal steps.
There are still many voices of dissatisfied Praguers, according to whom the execution of the partial closure of Smetana’s embankment was “catastrophic” and was left with the “smell of papalism and comradeship”. Others claim that the car does not belong in the city center. It can therefore be expected that this year will be intensively addressed next year as well.