According to a recently released annual report by the Technical Road Administration (TSK), Prague has seen a significant increase in registered vehicles. The report states that the number of motor vehicles registered in the city has exceeded 1.25 million, with an increase of nearly 41,000 from the previous year.
Of the registered vehicles, personal cars dominate the streets of Prague, with over 1 million cars registered in the city. The number of registered vehicles has increased by over 208,000 since 2016, with the highest number of new registrations occurring between 1990 and 2000, when the number of cars doubled.
Despite the increase in registered vehicles, the city’s traffic intensity has changed in the past two years. In 2020, traffic power decreased by 8%, while in 2021, it increased and almost equaled the pre-COVID year of 2019. The intensity in the city center remained the same, but the number of cars decreased in the so-called outer zone.
The report shows that Barrandov Bridge was the busiest road in the city, with nearly 139,000 vehicles passing through it daily, despite being partially closed for repairs last summer. The second busiest street was the South Link between Chodovska and V Korytech, with 129,000 cars, followed by the South Link between 5. května and Vídeňská.
The report also shows that the public transport system in Prague is heavily used, with over a billion passengers using it in 2021. While the numbers are impressive, they were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the decline in tourist traffic. The metro was the most popular mode of transport, followed by trams and buses. The buses traveled the longest distance, covering 83.6 million kilometers.
The report notes that the occupancy rate of cars in the city center has remained at 1.3 people per vehicle since 2010. This is a significant drop from 1.71 in 1990 and 1.44 in 2000.
The increasing number of registered vehicles is a concern for the city, leading to traffic congestion and pollution. The city authorities need to take measures to encourage the use of public transport, cycling, and walking.