How does Prague deal with over-tourism?

The city of Prague has proposed to curb and limit the nighttime entry of most vehicles into much of the Old Town and better regulate electric scooters in order to limit the negative consequences caused by overtourism.

In fact, to contrast the excess noise and tourist overcrowding in the center of the Czech capital, the mayor of Prague 1, Terezie Radoměřská, presented a proposal for a law that bans the nighttime entry of most vehicles into many areas of the historic center of Prague. The city is expected to make a decision on these proposals soon. In addition, Prague councilors are also discussing the restriction and regulation of shared electric scooters in the capital.

The main streets affected by this proposed law include Dlouhá, Králodvorská, Soukenická, Kozí, Pařížská, Břehová, and Revoluční, where dozens of bars and nightclubs are located. If the mayor’s proposal is approved, the restrictions will come into effect from August.

These restrictions are justified by residents’ complaints about the disturbance of nighttime quiet due to traffic noise, horn sounds, and the disruption of normal traffic. The mayor has emphasized that the center of Prague is a historic reserve, not an amusement park comparable to Disneyland.

Residents, taxis, couriers, vans, trucks, and emergency service vehicles will be exempt from the ban. Tourists staying in the streets in question will also not be affected by the ban and will be able to circulate freely at night throughout the entire historic center. However, family members of residents living in the affected areas will be subject to these limitations from 10 PM to 6 AM. To ensure these restrictions’ effectiveness, vehicle checks must be frequent.

Electric scooters have also been a point of contention for Prague’s districts. Since September, Prague 1 has banned the parking of shared electric scooters on streets and open spaces. In a new development, the Prague Technical Road Administration is collaborating with shared electric scooter operators (such as Bolt or Lime) to increase fines for leaving electric scooters in inappropriate places or riding them on sidewalks.

The aim is therefore to establish a contractual relationship with scooter operators, to set strict rules for operation and parking uniformly across the city, and specifically determine the penalty for violating these rules. Fines are proposed to range from a minimum of 100 CZK for riding outside designated scooter areas to a maximum of 1000 CZK for abandoning these vehicles in inappropriate places.

Since the beginning of the year, Prague 2 has already signed an agreement with Bolt to limit parking zones in the district, and in the future, the goal is to set up speed zones in residential areas, forcing users to slow down at certain points.

In conclusion, Prague is taking concrete measures to address the consequences of over-tourism in order to improve the quality of life for residents. Indeed, the proposal to restrict vehicles from entering central areas at night and to regulate the use of electric scooters represents a significant step towards reducing noise and tourist overcrowding. Additionally, the regulation of electric scooters, with the introduction of fines for inappropriate parking and abandonment on sidewalks, aims to regulate the use of these vehicles to ensure a more orderly and safe environment. These initiatives demonstrate the city’s commitment to finding a balance between welcoming tourists and respecting the daily lives of its inhabitants.

Sources: https://www.expats.cz/