Weekend alert: Races, e-scooter crackdown, and tram closures coming to Prague

The weekend is almost upon us, and if you are living in Prague, you may well be affected by some major events upcoming in the capital. Here is everything you need to know.

The 26th Birell Grand Prix Prague, an international sporting event, will take place this Saturday. It features two races: the Adidas Women's 5-kilometer run and a 10-kilometer run, both starting and finishing at náměstí Republiky. The event will impact traffic, with road closures from approximately 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the center of Prague. 

Key road closures include Wenceslas Square, Na Příkopě Street, and náměstí Republiky, while other streets will reopen as runners pass. A stopping ban is enforced along the race route, and vehicles violating it may be towed. Stopping bans are also extended near event facilities.

Public transport changes include tram and bus suspensions from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. around náměstí Republiky, Revoluční Street, Štefánikova, Čechova Most, and the Edvard Beneš Embankment. Affected tram lines include 2, 6, 8, 15, 17, 26, 27, 41, and 42, while bus routes 194 and 207 will be altered.

The event is organized by Prague International Marathon. For additional information and race maps, visit the RunCzech website.

Prague City Council is addressing issues caused by shared bike and scooter users with a new initiative called the Scooter Safety Action. Police in the capital will be actively monitoring and dealing with cyclists and scooterists who flout traffic rules from this weekend. A team of 64 officers will be on patrol during this period to identify and document offenses committed by these users, such as riding on sidewalks or disregarding traffic signs.

Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda appreciates the effort, particularly highlighting the problems caused by rented scooters in the city center, including reckless driving and thoughtless pavement parking. The issue primarily involves shared scooters and bikes from commercial providers, prompting the city to collaborate with these companies on a new memorandum. 

This memorandum will address concerns like regulating no-parking zones, defining restricted areas, establishing procedures for scooter removal, and providing a reporting mechanism for improperly parked bikes and scooters.

Common violations include riding on sidewalks, ignoring traffic signals, using pedestrian crossings, and riding against the flow of traffic. Fines for cyclists and scooter riders can reach up to CZK 2,000 on the spot, while drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs can face fines ranging from CZK 2,500 to CZK 20,000, increasing to CZK 25,000 to CZK 50,000 for severe cases.

The municipal police are committed to addressing this issue year-round, not just seasonally. They also conduct preventive actions, including equipment inspections and educational campaigns. An annual autumn campaign called "Don't ride like a bat" aims to educate cyclists about following traffic rules.

From today until Sept. 17, tram services in the Moráň to Albertov section will be temporarily suspended due to tram line repairs.

Tram line 2 will run from Sídliště Petřiny to Malostranská (Edvard Beneš embankment), continuing through the Faculty of Law stop to Malostranská (near the metro), then back to Sídliště Petřiny.

Tram lines 14, 18, 93, and 95 will be rerouted through Palackého náměstí and Výtoň stops in the Moráň to Albertov section. Tram line 24 will operate a shortened route from Vozovna Kobylisa to the Florenc stop.

A new stop, Malostranská, will be established on the Edvard Beneš embankment in the direction of Čechův most.

To inform the public about these changes, various measures will be taken, including distributing information leaflets, deploying personnel in reflective vests, using information boards, making announcements in metro stations and surface transport cars, and modifying the information system in metro stations.