Safety of Žižkov Tunnel questioned after pedestrian struck by courier

The couriers and commuters using the vital pedestrian link between Prague’s Karlín and Žižkov districts will soon face new safety measures following a spike in collisions involving cyclists and pedestrians.

City officials confirmed this week that the Žižkov Tunnel, a key shortcut for thousands, will undergo structural and regulatory changes to curb high-speed cycling.

The decision comes after a series of serious incidents within the tunnel’s narrow confines. In the most recent high-profile case, a pedestrian sustained head injuries after being struck in early March by a courier traveling at high speed through the dimly lit passage.

The accident happened just before 6 p.m., the busiest time in the tunnel. "People walk in threes and at different speeds at this time. There are also runners and cyclists going in both directions," Miriam Ryndová, the injured pedestrian who was struck just before the exit on the Karlín side, told iRozhlas.

According to the Technical Road Administration (TSK), the tunnel was never designed to accommodate the current volume of high-speed bicycle traffic.

Plans are now being finalized to install physical "slow-down" measures, which may include rumble strips or chicanes at both entrances to force cyclists to reduce their pace before entering the pedestrian zone.

"Cyclists have to slow down, there is a lot of pedestrian traffic in the tunnel. We are also looking for a solution that will be enforceable by the city police," Prague 3 mayor Michal Vronský wrote on Facebook. Vronský added that couriers on e-bikes in particular are riding recklessly here.

To begin with, additional signs will be installed. "We have therefore arranged for the installation of several signs urging considerate driving. This is already in the process," Vronský said.

While some local cycling advocacy groups have expressed concern that the measures might discourage eco-friendly commuting, city officials insist that safety must come first.

"We are not banning bicycles, but we are enforcing a environment where pedestrians feel safe," Ondřej Rut deputy mayor of Prague 3 added.

Currently, the tunnel is designated as a pedestrian zone where cyclists are permitted only if they travel at walking speed, a rule that officials say is frequently ignored.

Both cyclists and pedestrians are being asked to exercise caution, with one social media comment noting, "I also see cases of arrogant pedestrians, spread out across the entire path and refusing to move, even when a cyclist rings the bell in time."