Motorcycles and scooters will be able to ride in the lanes for public transport buses in Prague from spring
Update: 02/01/2023 11:16
Issued by: 02/01/2023, 11:16
Prague – People on motorcycles and scooters will be able to start using dedicated lanes for public transport buses in the city from spring. The plan was approved by the road administration office and the city is waiting for the acquisition of legal authority. The reason for introducing the changes is to increase safety and smooth traffic. This was announced to ČTK today by the acting mayor’s deputy Adam Scheinherr (Prague Sobě). 66 kilometers of lanes are reserved for public transport buses in Prague, which are also used by police officers, constables, rescuers or taxi drivers, and in some places are also used by cyclists.
“Allowing motorcycles in bus lanes will not only increase the safety of motorcyclists, but also benefit them. This benefits the city, as motorcycles take up much less public parking space than cars,” said Scheinherr. The measure is now posted on the official board and the city management is waiting for it to become legally binding. According to the deputy, this will happen in January and then the traffic signs will be gradually changed during the spring, which will make the change effective.
The change will also enable smoother and safer operation. Motorcyclists and scooter riders often use the lanes to overtake queues, then move back into the lanes between cars. The new will limit these maneuvers, which are often dangerous, reducing the risk of accidents. Safety will also increase for cyclists, as they are motorcycles and the experience will not be compromised by the aforementioned crossing between lanes. At the same time, cyclists will expect that motorbikes and scooters also use the lanes.
The flow of bus traffic in the reserved lanes will not be affected by the new measures, as the speed of motorcycles is comparable to buses. “Therefore, I expect negative impacts,” the office writes in the decision.
Last year, 4.4 kilometers of dedicated lanes were added in Prague, the length of which was thus extended to 66 kilometers. He wants to expand the lanes in the future as well, and is examining, among other things, the possibilities of establishing them in Českobrodská Street between the Blatov and Na Vaňhová stops, in Horoměřická Street in the entire rise from Šárecký údolí to the Bořislavka stop, and in Náchodská Street from the Prague border to the edge of the Horní Počernice development.