Study visit of members CIVINET Slovenia-Croatia-SEE Network to Prague
A study visit to Prague was held from 11 to 13 April 2022. It was organized by ODRAZ as a Secretariat of CIVINET Slovenia – Croatia – SEE in cooperation with Transport research center from Brno as a Secretariat of CIVINET Czech – Slovak. In total 26 members of the Network from Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina took part on this three-day visit to the relevant Prague institutions active in the field of transport and spatial planning.
The study tour was also an opportunity to present the examples of good practice of sustainable mobility in Prague (the results of SUMPs in spatial and transport planning, street transformation, public transport, pedestrian zones, electric vehicles), as well as knowledge transfer and the establishment of cooperation.
The programme of study visit began at the Centre for Architecture and Urban Planning (CAMP). There Judith Eisenberger, the spatial planner and international relations expert presented the history of spatial planning in Prague and the work of the Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR Prague), the authorities responsible for the development of the concept of urban architecture, urbanism and development. Then the head of the Transport Infrastructure Office Vaclav Novotny presented a Prague strategy for sustainable mobility. Novotny stressed out current projects for the extension of the metro network and new tram lines, battery-powered trolleybuses and electric buses, new travel applications, two new urban logistics warehouses for freight bicycles, new cycling tracks, street and bridges reconstruction.
Afterwards Jana Cerveňáková from the Prague Department for transport development and financing presented a Sustainable Mobility Plan for Prague and its suburbs. The strategic objectives of the City of Prague are to increase the spatial effectiveness of transport and reduce the carbon footprint, increase the efficiency and reliability of transport, increase safety and financial sustainability, improve public health and accessibility of transport. The main projects within the SUMP imposed were further development of railways, trams and metro, fast and easy travel by public transport, better pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, development of electric mobility and infrastructure, regulation of cars (tolls, parking), park & ride systems, public space quality and sustainable urban logistics. In the end of the first day, Rozália Kashparová has presented projects for the development of public space in Prague by the Public Space Office, which has been operating within the IPR Prague since 2013.
On the second day, participants visited ROPID – Regional organizer of Prague integrated transport. ROPID representatives showed us the way of functioning of the Prague Integrated Transport System (PID) which was followed by an organized visit to their control center. A single transport card is used for all mods of public urban transport in Prague. The programme continued to Prague’s public transport company, which is the largest provider of public transport services in the Czech Republic. Jiri Dosly, head of international and corporate business for Prague public transport, presented to participants the urban transport services and strategic projects of electrification of Prague bus transport. He stressed out that metro is the axis of public transport in Prague.
On the last day we visited Impact Hub Prague, where we listened to a series of interesting presentations. Markéta Braun Kohlaná from The Charles University has presented research into environmentally friendly urban logistics services and a new demand forecast for such services. The study objectives was focused on how to complement the city initiatives (focus on infrastructure, i.e. supply) with understanding of demand points (customer decisions) and motivate delivery services to expand their services to “greener” alternatives. Then the representatives of Automat, CSO hat promote sustainable development of the city, focusing on public transport, pedestrian, cycling and public space and urban solutions that raise quality of life introduced us in their work. Jan Haruda talked about one of the Automat’s projects – the “Bike to work” campaign, which aims to encourage the use of bicycle for travel to work.
We ended our study visit with a walking tour which was led by the representative of the City of Prague. We toured the locations and thoroughfares where specific SUMP measures were applied.
The study tour was financially supported by CIVITAS Elevate.
The photo gallery is available HERE.