On Wednesday evening, dozens of trams and buses in Prague experienced delays of up to 30 minutes due to exceptionally heavy car traffic, the Prague Public Transit Company reported. The worst congestion occurred on key routes overwhelmed by private vehicles, severely slowing down surface public transport.
In response, the transit company urged commuters to use the metro system, advising on their website that passengers in the city center should prefer metro lines to avoid the traffic jams. This came as trams and buses struggled through gridlocked streets across central Prague.
The worst bottleneck was reported on the Nusle Bridge, where traffic came almost to a standstill. While evening rush hour typically tightens traffic flow, many drivers said this congestion was worse than usual, especially in the city core.
Despite the severe jams, police confirmed around 6:30 PM that no accidents or extraordinary incidents had been reported. This indicated that the congestion was due mainly to sheer traffic volume rather than any particular event.
The city’s traffic situation has worsened substantially over recent years due to a combination of increasing car numbers, ongoing construction projects, and poorly coordinated roadworks that reduce lane capacity. Experts warn that without better planning and traffic management, severe gridlocks like this will become more frequent.
Officials reiterated the long-term priority of encouraging public transportation use to reduce the overwhelming numbers of cars on Prague’s roads. The straightforward recommendation to commuters was to take the metro instead for faster, more reliable travel.