On the bike path in Vítkov, the first cyclists will finally ride

Prague - The cycle path at Prague's Vítkov will open to its first cyclists by the end of the week. The city cycling coordinator Pavel Polák told ČTK today that cyclists will likely ride on it as early as June 1. The access road from Seifertova Street to the tunnel received the necessary occupancy permit on Friday. The occupancy certificate had previously been complicated by unresolved property relations.
     The necessary permits had only been awarded for part of the cycle path so far. However, access to the tunnel has been blocked by concrete panels since autumn due to the missing occupancy permit, and there are signs around the path warning Prague residents that it is a construction site. The city is now preparing the relevant contracts with the Railway Infrastructure Administration (SŽDC). It also intends to contractually agree with Czech Railways (ČD) on the use or takeover of the land under the cycle path.
     The cycle path began construction after the completion of the so-called New Connection, when rail transport from central Prague stations was moved to a newly built system of viaducts. During one of the events before the parliamentary elections last spring, the former mayor Pavel Bém (ODS) rode along the new cycle path. Some cyclists believed that this was the official opening of the cycle path and complained that the tunnel was still blocked by concrete barricades months later. However, according to Polák, it was only part of a construction site control day.