The Czech Cyclelobarometer

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18 Jul, 2018

This is a guest article from our Czech members, the Czech Cyclists Federation, on how they have created an innovative way to determine the country’s best cycling cities – introducing the Cyclelobarometer.

The Cyclelobarometer consists of a survey that is based on the German “FahrradKlimaTest’. Daniel Mourek from the Czech Cycle Federation explains that the goal is to find out how cyclists really feel when riding in their city, and to provide valuable feedback for municipalities. It was launched 3 years ago, in collaboration with Nadace Partnerství, Auto-mat and the Czech Association of Cycle friendly cities.

35 towns and cities in Czech Republic which joined the ‘By bike to Work’ campaign in 2018 were evaluated. 37 questions asked participants to rate each city on a scale from 1-6, including: conditions of cycling, comfort on cycle routes, safety issues and cycle infrastructure.

The results:

The Moravian town Otrokovice came out on top, as the most cycle friendly town in Czechia. This result marks the rise of the town three positions higher than the previous year. Otrokovice’s win is largely down to the city’s cycle friendly infrastructure, such as the compact network of cycle routes that connects major destinations and nearby cities, such as Zlín and Napajedla. It is also part of EuroVelo 4, the Central Europe route/Morava river trail, on the convergence of the Morava and Dřevnice rivers.

The municipality also does well to promote cycling. The town hall organizes an international cycle tour between Otrokovice and the Slovak town Dubnice nad Váhom. It also presented this year an ambitious plan to increase the safety of cyclists. The winner will receive an automated Eco-counter from Nadace Partnerství to evaluate the cycle traffic for 3 months.

“Our goal is a quality, well connected and safe network of cycle routes and good connectivity to neighboring towns for every day cycling, but also for leisure cycling which brings in reduced CO2 emissions and makes our community safer”
- Jiří Veselý vice mayor of Otrokovice.

Second and third place went to regional capitals on the Elbe Cycle route, Pardubice and Hradec Králové, in East Bohemia, which had won the two previous survey.Daniel Mourek explains: “Hradce Králové may have lost its leading position due to the closure of the popular Cycle Tower - fully automated bicycle parking,and due to its dangerous traffic lights on a major road crossing”.

Czechia’s two largest cities Prague and Brno also lost their previous positions, coming 12th and 13th respectively out of the evaluated towns.

The average mark for Czech cities was 3,25, showing little variation from last year. Three common concerns identified by Czech cyclists appeared to be incomplete networks of cycle routes in cities, winter maintenance and signposting during repairs works.

This project is an example of great advocacy work. It challenges cities to improve their cycling infrastructure and road safety, by rivalling each town against one another to be the best. It also provides clear and specific feedback on what needs to improve directly from local cyclists.

For more information visit the Czech Cyclists Federation’s website here.