Two steps behind you

This discreet experiment, which today enters its fourth day in Prague, would not be worth talking about under normal circumstances. After long-lasting disputes, the municipal authority of Prague 2 decided to narrow the number of lanes on the city's north-south artery from four to three.

But this is not what we call „normal“. The narrowing is a desperate reaction to problems emerging in the vicinity the main city's artery with daily traffic of 100,000 cars. The section of the road shows what it takes when a large group of people desires to go everywhere by car. Noise and dust pollution exceeding all limits is bothering some 1,200 local residents. Doctors say in addition to enormous stress, residents are facing an increased risk of cancer, heart diseases and all kinds of respiratory problems.

City Hall relentlessly ignores the current state of what used to be a famous example of the communist traffic engineering (including a court's ruling to reduce noise based on the locals' complaint). The Prague 2 district has decided to deal with the situation on its own. But it could be an aimless effort. The district has limited powers within the city structure, has no plans to solve the traffic situation and is currently under pressure from the neighbouring districts, which are annoyed that their „selfish neighbour“ is redirecting tonnes of unbearable cars closer to their windows and playgrounds.

The other side may…