Jan NettigThe Prague City Hall has suspended the effectiveness of a decree by Prague 1, which substantially banned vehicle entry into a significant part of the Old Town between 10 PM and 6 AM, except for traffic services. This decision was made due to the decree’s non-compliance with the law. The traffic signs indicating this ban will be invalidated by crossing them out, and the city hall will review the decree, as stated by Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda.
The traffic signs started appearing on Wednesday evening without any official notice to the residents of Prague. Vojtěch Ryvola, the Prague 1 councilor for transport from the ANO party, expressed surprise at the installation of these signs, having learned about it through Facebook. The measure had been approved by the city district in July, awaiting the installation of signs by the Technical Administration of Roads (TSK).
Barbora Lišková, spokesperson for TSK, mentioned that the installation date was set immediately after the July decision and was to be completed by the end of November. The Prague 1 Transport Department was informed in writing about the ongoing installation on November 16, 2023.
The decree caught not only the residents but also the city leadership by surprise. Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda emphasized the need for an explanation from the Prague 1 mayor and transport councilors, stating that it’s unacceptable for such significant decisions to be learned through the media.
The reason behind the decree, according to Ryvola, was to reduce noise caused by inconsiderate drivers in the area. He described the issue of drivers in high-powered cars racing and revving their engines at night, creating significant noise pollution.
