In Přerov, the third bicycle tower in the Czech Republic has opened

source: cykloprerov.cz

Přerov - A glass tower, 11 meters high, has opened in Přerov near the train station, intended for bicycle parking. The building is only the third of its kind in the country, costing 9.5 million crowns excluding VAT. It can hold up to 120 bicycles, and owners will pay five crowns for parking them. The project has been criticized by the opposition, questioning not only the method of financing and its presentation at the city council, but also the fact that a subcontractor was a company owned by former Minister of Transport Antonín Prachař (ANO). The city of Přerov employs him as a transportation advisor.
Přerov is the second city in the country and the first in Moravia where cyclists can store their bicycles in this manner. "In Hradec Králové, we have already built two of these towers. The greatest advantage, in my opinion, is the security against theft; cyclists can store expensive bikes and e-bikes here. They can leave all accessories and even groceries on them. Only their owner will come into contact with them," said Rudolf Bernart from the company Systematica, which holds the patent for the bike tower, in an interview with ČTK today.
The glass-walled facility accommodates 118 bicycles. The tower features an automatic self-service system. The cyclist drives onto a platform, pays five crowns per day, and the elevator lifts and stores their bike in the appropriate compartment; the entire process takes about half a minute.
According to Deputy Mayor Petr Měřínský (ANO), the bike tower cost 9.5 million crowns excluding VAT. It will be operated by the urban Přerov Development Company. The city received a grant of five million for the construction. The city council anticipated covering two million from the remaining amount and taking a loan for three million crowns, but the bank ultimately did not approve it. The city company plans to repay the amount to the city in semiannual installments of 300,000 crowns until 2020, spokesperson Lenka Chalupová informed ČTK. The councilors will approve this on Monday.
The city opposition has also criticized the method of discussing the investment at the council. Reportedly, the councilors learned about the project financing only when construction began. Another point of criticism is that the subcontractor is the company of ex-minister Prachař, which, according to information from ČTK, was established at the end of March this year. Prachař, who works for the city as a transport expert, previously stated in the media that he sees no problem in his actions.
Due to the criticism, councilors recently tasked the audit committee with investigating the construction. Councilor Michal Zácha (ODS) told ČTK that the results from the audit committee are expected around the end of February.