20 years with AutoMat: Vláďa Galas takes you on a bike ride and recommends how to ride in traffic

Vladimír Galas is one of the most ardent fans of AutoMat and the organizer of the longest-running regular bike rides. When Prague 1 wanted to ban cycling in 2017/2018, he brought us a record number of signatures for our petition. He helped and still helps with the organization of our bike rides. He has been working with us for 20 years. During our interview, he revealed to us that it was a chance encounter with AutoMat that actually got him into cycling on the streets of Prague.

When did you first meet AutoMat?

In 2005, when I was walking by chance along Smetananovo nábřeží. There was a Car-Free Day going on there, and I also heard that there would be a bike ride. So I thought, why not give it a try. Back then, bike rides were held every third Thursday of the month, and I liked it and started riding regularly. Sometimes I even helped organize them.

Have you cycled around Prague before? And what do you enjoy most about it?

Yes, but not that often. I enjoy that it’s faster than by car. You get to know interesting places and people. Four years later, I started organizing my own bike rides, the so-called Galas bike rides. On April 27th, I will celebrate the 16th anniversary of their founding.

What are your bike rides about? Who are they for?

I do it for people who are afraid to ride alone in traffic. They can check out my route online in advance and try it out. And if they like it, they can participate regularly and for free. I was also awarded Volunteer of the Year by Mayor Pavel Bém for urban cycling. I started with Prague and its surroundings, which is always once a month on the weekend. Once a year we ride the route Vienna – Bratislava and Mariánské Lázně and its surroundings in Germany. Last year I also did Litomyšl and its surroundings, and this year I am planning a three-day event in Western Bohemia at the end of June: Domažlice – Klatovy – Pilsen. I also go to support bike rides in České Budějovice, Liberec, Pilsen…

“I went on a bike ride to Vienna with Vláďa in 2015 and I have to say that everything was perfectly organized. Moreover, I have never cycled 100 km in a day before or since,” adds AutoMat member Ondřej Hána, adding his experience. “I went on Vláďa’s birthday ride, which led through the Prokopské Valley, and enjoyed the beautiful scenery at sunset. It motivates a person to go, even if they don’t really want to initially,” adds another AutoMat member Anna Kociánová.

Galas’s bike ride No. 392

Have you been interested in cycling since childhood, or how did you actually get into it?

When I was a child, I used to ride my bike with my family on trips to the cottage. But also at home in Mariánské Lázně. In 1991, I moved to Prague and it was worse, mainly because of the traffic. I only rode it occasionally. It was only thanks to AutoMat that I started riding more regularly.

And today, cycling is partly your livelihood, isn’t it?

Yes. I work as a courier, on bike and on foot. I deliver food and I also work for Cargobajkery, so this year I will again be delivering participant packages for Do čráce na kole around Prague.

How do you cope with Prague’s traffic?

Sometimes it’s a life-threatening situation, yes. But I’m already worn out and used to it. I can fit in with the cars and, if possible, keep up with them. The good thing is that the conditions for cyclists in Prague have improved at least to some extent, but it’s still far from ideal. There is a lack of connectivity and sometimes the infrastructure simply ends and you can do whatever you want. But drivers are a bit more used to cyclists being in traffic and they don’t honk as much anymore. My advice is to ignore them at all, if someone threatens me, I’d rather stop for a moment, pull over, and let that particular car pass.

With the Danish Ambassador to the Czech Republic

So do you feel that cycle lanes increase cyclist safety? That they simply work?

About 70%. There is often a lack of signage showing where cyclists should go. As an example, imagine that you go up the hill from Folimanka to Lublaňská, which is two-way in a certain section, and then you come across a no-entry or one-way street, cars are going left to Legerova, and there is no sign anywhere about what a cyclist should do.

I am fascinated by the cycle lane on Modřanská. If you want to drive to Barrandovský Most by car, you have to cross it and it seems to me that drivers don’t really look to see if anyone is riding on it. I find that terribly dangerous…

A lot of people ride there. There are a lot of people hanging around on that separate cycle lane, and if you need to go fast and don’t want to get in the way of those people on skates and scooters, you go that way. But yeah, you have to be constantly on your guard. I’m more bothered by the fact that people are turning bike lanes and sidewalks into parking lots for cars. If I drive five meters on the sidewalk, I get a fine, one, two. Nobody mind a car parked there.

Petition sheets that Vláďa brought to the AutoMat office

Where did you go the furthest on your bike?

Probably from Brno to Vienna and to Germany from Mariánské Lázně.

And where did you like the most?

Vienna is nice. Even the cycle path to Bratislava, except for one place where you ride on gravel and you get really dirty. Drivers are also more considerate in Vienna. And the cycling infrastructure is on a completely different level. It just tends to be very busy. On Sunday, April 13th, there is the Radparade and on April 14th, I have my Vienna-Bratislava cycle ride.

What do you think would make Prague the most comfortable?

I would definitely consider the Smetana embankment. Maybe even a pontoon from Výton to Čechův Most, which was already talked about at the time, but somehow it fell through. As usual. Then separate cycle lanes would definitely help, maybe even bollards so that cars can’t park there.

From the filming of the video Homo Cycliens

How to motivate people to use sustainable transport in general? The public debate here is still at the level that driving anywhere by car is basically a human right…

I would definitely introduce a fee for entering the city center. I believe that then 60% of people would stop driving there. Then I would introduce incentives like: if you don’t drive, you get free public transport, like in some European cities. Or do a campaign for shared bikes, because the problem with them is that people leave them at the bottom of the hill and then none go up. So, if you rent a bike and return it at the top of the hill, you get a discount.

In 2018, Vláďa Galas led one of the branches of the AutoMat association’s Star Cycle Ride.

Why do you think it is worth supporting AutoMat, whether financially or as a volunteer?

Because AutoMat is trying to improve something within its capabilities. Of course, there are always some haters who won’t like something. But they don’t realize how much work is behind you and how much effort each small step forward entails.

Do you like what we do at AutoMat? Support us at donate to AutoMat with any amount. Thank you!