In Litoměřice, the construction of a bike parking tower will begin in the spring

Litoměřice - Construction of an eleven-meter-high bike parking tower will start in Litoměřice in April. The so-called biketower, featuring a self-service system, will accommodate up to a hundred bicycles. It will be available to cyclists traversing the Czech Central Highlands, likely from September. This was stated today by the city's spokesperson Eva Břeňová. Similar towers can be found in Hradec Králové and Přerov.

The city will receive 12.5 million crowns from the Integrated Regional Operational Programme for the construction, which will cover 90 percent of the costs. The decision to allocate the grant was made by the city hall this week.

In the parking tower, cyclists will be able to store not only their bikes but also helmets or personal luggage. There will also be a charging station for electric bikes.

The tower will be located next to the lower train station, near the city center. The project includes extensive modifications to the space in front of the station towards Mezibraní Street and the underpass to Střelecký Island. According to the head of the spatial development department, Venuše Brunclíková, the city will demolish the current small structures and fencing, purchase equipment such as bins or benches, modify the adjacent roads, and take care of the greenery.

The Litoměřice city council approved the grant application for the construction of the tower last April. The opposition criticized the decision at that time, stating that while a tower was being built, cyclists could not safely pass through the city. A popular bike path runs along the Elbe, but there is a lack of connection to routes from the Czech Central Highlands in Litoměřice itself. Ultimately, the council was convinced by the fact that the city would only pay ten percent of the costs, which amounts to about 1.2 million crowns.

The tower will feature an automatic self-service system. A cyclist will ride their bike onto a platform, pay a five-crown fee per day, and the elevator will lift and store their bike in the assigned compartment; the process takes about half a minute.