A tower for cyclists has opened in Poděbrady, the tenth in the Czech Republic

Poděbrady - A new parking tower for cyclists opened this morning in Poděbrady in the Nymburk region. This is the tenth facility of its kind in the Czech Republic and the second in the region. The first tower in Central Bohemia began operating in nearby Lysá nad Labem. The construction of the tower cost 13 million crowns, nearly 11 million of which was covered by a grant, Mayor Ladislav Langr (Volba pro Poděbrady) told reporters today.

The tower can accommodate up to 118 bicycles at once. People will pay five crowns for 24 hours of bike parking, while holders of the In-card from Czech Railways have free parking. Bicycles can be parked in the tower along with all equipment, giving people the assurance that their property is safe.

"Poděbrady is a city of cyclists, we are on the Elbe Cycle Path, and many residents of Poděbrady, including myself, ride bicycles. Unfortunately, we live in a time when private property is not inviolable; quite the opposite," Langr told ČTK.

A bike parking tower will also be built in Kolín, which received a grant for the construction in June. The costs will reach 12 million crowns, with a large portion covered by the European Union and the Central Bohemian Region. Kolín will pay about one million crowns from its budget for a bike tower for more than 100 bikes. It is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Čelákovice, near Prague, is also planning a similar construction.