Police information confirmed the worst: The death of a cyclist in Prague’s Krč district was caused by a bus driver’s reckless driving. The AutoMat association is taking further steps

The main cause of the crash: reckless, aggressive, inconsiderate driving. This is how the police described the circumstances of the collision in their accident database, in which a bus driver killed a cyclist in Prague’s Krč district at the beginning of June. The victim was someone who regularly cycled to work at a nearby hospital. AutoMat subsequently raised the issue of safe mobility in the city with Prague’s leadership and is calling for systemic changes.

The death of Přemek B., an employee of Thomayer Hospital, left behind a family with two underage daughters. In response, the AutoMat association immediately launched a fundraising campaign to support them, which has already received donations from more than 670 people. But tragedies like this should not be a normal part of life in the city. Beyond the actions of individuals, they are also the consequence of Prague’s long-standing approach to the safety of more vulnerable road users.

Just days after the tragic incident (see the CDV accident map and the Czech Police accident map), AutoMat’s Head of the Sustainable Urbanism Laboratory, Michal Kalina, questioned Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda.

Equality Means Putting People at Risk

“You have repeatedly stated that all modes of transport are equal in Prague. Yet cyclists and pedestrians are far more vulnerable than people inside cars. Hiding behind the principle of not prioritizing particular modes of transport therefore means putting these groups of Prague residents at risk and moving away from sustainable and healthy forms of transport,” he stated in his interpellation.

According to AutoMat, this very approach translates into the everyday endangerment of pedestrians and people cycling. It is alarming that, unlike the trends in developed European cities that have long embraced the principles of Vision Zero, the numbers of people seriously injured or killed in Prague are not declining.

Training for Bus Drivers

In response to the interpellations by our colleagues Michal Kalina and Petr Štádler, Prague City Councillor for Transport Jaromír Beránek said that, if the driver is found to be at fault, he would initiate training for bus drivers focused on cyclists’ movements and road safety.

“Unfortunately, our own experience with Prague Public Transit Company drivers is not always positive, particularly when it comes to maintaining a safe passing distance and their overall approach to cyclists. We therefore offer the city our help in preparing educational materials and training,” says Michal Kalina.

Infrastructure Funding Exists Only on Paper
In addition to driver behavior, one of the reasons for the persistently high number of fatal and serious crashes is the lack of safe cycling infrastructure. In 2024, the Prague City Council committed to investing CZK 620 million in its development over the following two years. According to information from AutoMat, however, less than CZK 200 million will actually be spent in 2025 and 2026.

Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda promised AutoMat a meeting during the interpellations, but has not yet been in touch.

Road Safety as an Election Issue

With the upcoming municipal elections, we are therefore calling on political representatives to make the safety of vulnerable road users a genuine priority. This must be reflected in both compliance with their own commitments and concrete action.

Every death on Prague’s roads represents a real human story: a family losing a loved one, or children growing up without a parent. Such tragedies can be prevented through consistent implementation of safer infrastructure, effective public education, and clear political will. Only then will there be no need to organize yet another fundraiser for the families of road crash victims.

Note: The investigation into the crash has not yet been completed. We continue to follow the case closely. A court will likely ultimately determine responsibility.

Opening photo: Critical Mass Prague