Critical Mass dedicated to Pup rode through Prague. The tribute was accompanied by a screening of the film Auto*Mat

On the last Wednesday of the month, a bike ride traditionally takes place under the guidance of the Critical Mass Prague initiative. This January ride was dedicated to Jan “Pup” Bouchal, co-founder of Auto*Mat, who died exactly 20 years ago. On this occasion, we brought things together and prepared a commemorative evening.

A thirty-year-old father of a young son, tireless promoter of urban cycling, and advocate for transparency in public administration, he died a few days after a tragic accident at the busy Prague intersection of Dukelských hrdinů Street and nábřeží Kapitána Jaroše in January 2006. Ironically, he had criticized this junction for years as dangerous and had long pushed for its redesign. Twenty years later, partly thanks to Pup’s work, conditions for active mobility in Prague are better, yet “avoidable” traffic accidents and fatalities still occur. Dozens of families have thus not had their loved ones return from trips to school, shopping, or work.

About 100 people took part in the Critical Mass ride, including Pup’s family, and around 15 pedestrians arrived directly at Bike to Heaven. After a moment of reflection and lighting candles, the peloton continued with a slight detour, while the pedestrians went straight to the Holešovice Shaft, where a screening of the film Auto*Mat (directed by Martin Mareček, produced by Bionaut, 2009) followed, introduced by the director himself.

Thankou

Route of the bikeride

Photo gallery (photo: Marcela Zatloukal Juříčková)