Cycle City one year later: What is Hradec Králové planning in the area of ​​sustainable mobility?

Hradec Králové will soon pass the Cyclist City of the Year baton to a new holder of this title. Even before we officially announce this year’s Cykloměsto Bike to Work, we went to visit Eastern Bohemia to find out how they capitalized on the title, what they are facing, and what other plans they have in the field of sustainable mobility.

In his minimalist but cozy office, Lukáš Řádek, the deputy mayor of the city together with the head of the concept and mobility strategy department, Petr Schiller received the representatives of our LAB. He is relatively new to his position, as is his entire department. The city management, which is now halfway through its mandate, makes no secret of its ambition to bring about the transformation of Velké Náměstí and Komenského Street. According to Lukáš Rádek, its current state is literally catastrophic. It mainly serves as a parking lot.

Square for the 21st century

And that’s exactly what the deputy mayor wants to change. A shared zone for pedestrians, cyclists, and cars, greenery, new lighting, and facilities for holding events. Not only these elements bring a new study concept for the reconstruction of the Great Square. “Our goal is for public space to better serve everyone,” he begins our discussion. They have now completed the phase of participation with the public when they organized debates and polls regarding what the citizens would like. “At the end of the election period, we want to have a building permit issued,” says Řádek. Even though he admits that with his efforts he also encounters the displeasure of people who yearn for cheap gas and the ability to park anytime and anywhere. But we believe that the space in front of the impressive cathedral of St. Spirit manages to acquire a more dignified character worthy of the 21st century.

The current state of the Great Square is about to change

But because they work here with traffic data and sociological surveys, the people of Hradec Králové know that those dissatisfied voices are simply heard more and they manage to promote measures aimed at an even higher share of sustainable mobility in the overall structure of transport. Hradec Králové is already at the top of the country when it comes to the use of bicycles to move around the city, and it can also boast of a bicycle infrastructure that, for example, in Prague, we can only dream about.

Shared bikes rule

There is an increase in the number of nextbike shared bike rentals, the operation of which is strongly supported by the city. “The city, but also the Hradec Králové Region and the Škoda Auto Foundation support mechanical bikes with a free 15-minute ride. We are currently preparing an integration with public transport, where holders of the City Card with an annual timed fare will have 30 minutes for free,” says Schiller. With a new visual identity and new 250 bikes (including 30 e-bikes) in city colors, shared bikes have become a local “cool trend”. “The quality of the service, including modern and top-notch visuals, is essential for the perception of this natural transport and also the handling of bicycles,” continues Mr. Deputy. The next step in this area is to introduce shared bike stations in the surrounding municipalities as part of the URBACT – Beyond the Urban project. The first can be expected in the villages of Vysoká nad Labem and Běleč nad Orlicí.

Sdílená kola v novém hávu

School streets? Yes!

Of course, preparing for the most sustainable possible future also includes schools and children’s education. “The City of Hradec Králové has newly developed school mobility plans for four elementary schools,” explains the head of the concept. According to the proposed measures, the city will now process the project documentation for the new bike storage facilities. It will proceed similarly when implementing construction measures on the transport infrastructure with the aim of increasing safety in transport. At ZŠ J. Gočár, the first school street was created, still on trial. “Even though the director was initially skeptical, he is finally satisfied and praises the implemented measures to increase safety in front of the primary school. Together, we want the children in Hradec to grow up in a safe environment and to learn that movement is a natural part of everyday life,” says Řádek. School mobility plans do not forget about soft measures, which include educational and educational projects.

Mr. Deputy invited us to his office

From dialogue to compromise

The third parking garage will be built in the city in a row, which does not lack a green roof. The parking house in the Silesian suburb will be built on the existing parking lot, where there is a shortage of parking spaces. According to the two gentlemen, these are the biggest obstacle in the effort to introduce cycle lanes, because residents do not want to lose their parking spaces. However, they are optimistic in this area as well. “Even if we sometimes encounter resistance, we believe that open dialogue is the key to reaching a compromise,” adds Řádek.

A bit like Copenhagen

“Our electoral program is based on progressive principles, and even though we encounter challenges and problems, we see real positive changes in practice,” says the deputy, and sends us to look at the bicycle turn signals in Škroupova Street. Bicycle racks have been added nearby and we can also find a patch that was created here due to traffic calming. Even with the help of tactical urban planning, the town hall intends to further cultivate the intersection of Škroupova and Průmyslova and the adjoining public space. From there we continue to the new footbridge for pedestrians and cyclists near Aldis and for a while we really feel like we are in Copenhagen.

A bridge for pedestrians and cyclists

Bike park for everyone

One of the novelties is also the planned improvement of the area near the new all-sports stadium under the Hradec Lollipop. The goal is an overall increase in the attractiveness of the public space, which should be helped by the addition of new leisure activities and the furnishing of the space itself. At the same time, a bike park is being prepared in the forest park in the largest Moravian suburb, where the city is interested in placing a paved pump track, which will be intended for the general public from beginners to advanced riders.

“Yes, in two years we would like to be such a taste of Copenhagen, and in the next four we want to completely match it,” the deputy nods with a smile. There is a hint of exaggeration in his tone, but we would like the city to maintain a well-trodden direction and drive. The number of people of all ages that we saw using the cycling infrastructure in the streets of Hradec Králové indicates this.

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