Happening of AutoMat drew attention to the need to humanize the highway

On Wednesday 11/09/2024, almost 200 passers-by signed the AutoMat association’s petition for a friendlier highway during the 9 seconds happening for people. Playfully, we pointed out the need to adapt the surroundings of the highway in Prague to more pedestrians and cyclists, seniors, and parents with children.

“Through the happening, we want to draw attention to the petition initiated by our association, which is intended to ensure greater awareness among Prague citizens and to a certain extent to ensure pressure on politicians to decide what the highway will look like in this part of the city,” AutoMat director Martin Šotola told ČTK. “We would like to see those parts of the highway reconstruction plans that ensure pedestrian access and reduce the impact of emissions or noise from automobile traffic be followed to the greatest extent possible,” he said.

The architect and urban planner Peter Bednár, the vice-dean of the 3rd Faculty of Medicine Jan Trnka, and the chairperson of the Prague cycle committee Bára Soukupová also expressed their support for the happening and the petition on the spot. Vladimír 518, Daniel Münich, or David Vávra also signed the call before. The topic resonated most with seniors, parents with children, or even people who were in other world capitals, who could deal with the remains of transport planning from the middle of the 20th century better than us. The effort for a humanized highway is also supported by people who live in the vicinity or often pass through it.

We still need your signature to hand over the petition to the Prague City Council in the fall and turn the highway into a normal Prague street. More at https://vyzva.auto-mat.cz/petice

Photogalery from the happening

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