The revitalization of the North-South Highway (Severojižní magistrála) is about to take place. Help us achieve its true transformation into a city boulevard

At the end of last year, Prague municipality selected project architects for the reconstruction of the highway in the Prague 2 area. The decades-old disgrace in the form of a highway passing through the center of the capital now finally has a chance to make a real change for the better. But, the project assignment of the so-called humanization is very vaguely formulated. Let’s make sure that there will be a transformation that will benefit locals and visitors, the environment, the local economy and sustainable transport. How?

Let’s work together to ensure that the planned “humanization” is not just another wasted opportunity. Join our appeal The Highway Does Not Belong to the City, in which we specify five specific requirements for the assignment. It’s about:

• New crossings, especially instead of underpasses
• Separate bike path
• Trees, greenery, water
• Reducing the number of traffic lanes
• Sidewalks for pedestrians

Only in this way can the highway be truly “humanized.” Do you agree? Appeal to the capital city management to approach it honestly and with regard to the most important thing – the residents of this locality. Locality where you could once walk comfortably and where today because of the highway and 100,000 cars a day, it is basically unlivable.

Join our appeal

Check out our visualizations of what the scenery might look like if we stopped prioritizing car traffic over people. With your signature, you will add more weight to our appeal, and anyone over 18 can sign it. On the page of the appeal, you will also find a classic paper petition intended for residents of the capital city of Prague (with permanent residence in Prague). You can print it and help us collect signatures in your area. You can take the signed sheets to our office or send them by post to Slezská 11, Prague 2. You can also stop by on one of Prague’s cycling breakfasts, cycling snack or the final Do práce na kole (Bike to Work) party and sign it there. With your signatures, we will then go to the Prague City Council with a call to ensure that the transformation will benefit people, the environment, sustainable transport and the local economy.

A possible bird’s-eye view of Leger Street. Visualization: Peter Bednár

We have been dealing with the highway for 20 years

We, as the AutoMat association, have been connected to the North-South Highway, which cuts through the very heart of Prague, since our foundation in 2003. Documentary filmmaker Martin Mareček, one of the founding members of AutoMat, lived in an apartment near the highway at the time. The filming of the daily usurpation of public space by cars at the expense of people eventually resulted in the feature film Auto*mat in 2009. Although we managed to achieve many changes in the field of public space and sustainable transport, the highway is still a shame of the capital.

Not to miss another chance

We have closely followed all the plans for the highway that have been created over the past twenty years. And unfortunately, we also witnessed how few of them became a reality (crossing near the Museum, footpath to the Main Station). Even the engagement of the world-famous Danish urban planner Jan Gehl in 2017 did not result in any change for the better. Now, there is a real chance for change and we are definitely not going to waste it.

We remind you that urban highways are a concept that does not belong to the 21st century and that we need to get rid of in order to be counted as a modern European metropoly. Join us.

Do you like what we do at AutoMat and want to support the development of urban cycling? Join our supporters and support AutoMat with any amount. Thank you.