Prague unveils plans for suspended cycling path above the Vltava

Prague could soon have one of its most unusual cycling routes, with newly released visualizations showing a suspended steel walkway running along the banks of the Vltava River.

The proposed route would extend the city's A1 cycling path north from Sedlec, helping address a difficult stretch where steep cliffs, railway tracks, and a road leave little room for a conventional cycling path.

According to Czech transport news outlet Zdopravy.cz, the recently completed study outlines a solution that would allow cyclists to travel along the river without having to navigate the narrow roadside corridor.

The most striking feature of the proposal is a steel walkway stretching for more than one kilometer along the Vltava.

The structure would run through a particularly challenging section north of Sedlec, where Roztocká Road and the railway line are squeezed between the river and surrounding cliffs.

Rather than attempting to build a traditional path at ground level, designers propose supporting the route on a suspended steel structure along the riverbank.

The plans also include several viewpoints where cyclists could stop, rest, and enjoy the surrounding landscape, with opportunities to access the waterfront.

Beyond the most challenging section, the cycling route would return to solid ground as the terrain becomes easier to navigate.

The design was prepared by Atelier Bridge Structures, led by architect and bridge designer Petr Tej.

Tej is also known for designing Prague's Štvanice footbridge, which connects Holešovice and Karlín via Štvanice Island.

The new proposal would bring another distinctive piece of cycling infrastructure to the capital, this time focusing on improving connections along the northern stretch of the Vltava.

Outgoing Deputy Mayor for Transport Jaromír Beránek shared the visualizations from the recently completed study.

Beránek told Zdopravy.cz that the full study would be made available after discussions with the Vltava River Basin Authority.

For now, the project remains at the planning stage, with no confirmed construction date or final cost estimate.

Building a suspended steel walkway along the river is expected to be expensive, although the city has yet to specify a budget.

The proposal is also part of a broader effort to improve cycling connections along the Vltava beyond Prague's northern boundary.

The Central Bohemian Region is preparing a separate 2.5-kilometer section between Úholičky and Libčice nad Vltavou, with an estimated cost of CZK 505 million.

That project has already received a building permit, although its high cost has prompted debate about whether the investment is justified.

The wider aim is to address missing sections of the riverside cycling network, which currently lacks continuous connections between Roztoky and Mělník.

If the suspended route moves forward, it could eventually make cycling north of Prague more accessible while offering an unusual new perspective on the Vltava valley.