CEE's best urban transport is in Czechia—but not in the city you might expect

In a study by consulting firm PwC, Ostrava has been ranked as having the best transport system in Central and Eastern Europe, followed closely by Prague and Brno. The study compared the "smart mobility" of 25 cities in the region, evaluating traffic management, environmental sustainability, public transport quality, and active mobility.

According to the study, Ostrava's high-quality public transport system, combined with effective traffic management and low prices, contributed to its top ranking. The city's extensive use of public transport, which accounts for 69 percent of all trips, was also a significant factor. "The main currency of Czech cities is cheap public transport, which is the cheapest in the region in terms of average wages," said analyst Jan Brázda for PwC.

Daniel Morys, General Director and Chairman of the Board of the Ostrava Transport Company (DPO), expressed pride in the result, stating that it symbolizes Ostrava's attractiveness to both residents and investors. 

Morys attributed the success to the company's efforts to create modern, comfortable, clean, and safe public transport. "We have modern vehicles and infrastructure. For example, we have installed a fixed track on a number of sections, which reduces noise and vibrations from tram traffic," he said.

Out of all the countries surveyed in PwC’s study, Brno, Ostrava, and Prague all had the lowest public transport costs in relation to monthly income.

The study also highlighted Prague's “excellence” in active mobility, with the city ranking among the top five in this category. The capital’s low price point was also a “strong incentive” for people to ditch cars and utilize public transport. According to the study, Prague is among the five cleanest cities in the evaluated region in terms of pollution by dust particles originating mainly from traffic. 

In the ranking, Tallinn in Estonia, took third place overall, while Bratislava, Gdańsk, Košice, and Warsaw also made it to the top of the list. 

The study found that people in the region use bicycles more than the European average, but less than in German cities. Residents of Kyiv, Bucharest, Budapest, and Košice walk the most to work, while Prague was among the five cleanest cities in terms of pollution by dust particles.

Despite Ostrava's overall ranking, the study noted that the city belongs to the quarter of the most polluted cities in the region, with high levels of air pollution. However, the city's efforts to modernize its transport system, including the introduction of electric chargers and electromobility projects, are expected to improve its environmental sustainability. 

As Morys emphasized, "We are intensively working on electromobility projects. We are modernizing the equipment of stops. We were the first in the country to introduce electronic check-in of passengers using a regular payment card and canceled paper tickets."