Local residents are opposed to the proposal for the reconstruction of Štefánikova Street in Brno

Brno - Today, several protesters came to the Brno city council meeting, opposing the proposal for the reconstruction of Štefánikova Street. One of the main arteries leading from the city center to the north is set to be transformed into a city boulevard with a bike lane for 450 million crowns. However, over 100 parking spaces will be eliminated, and there will be only one lane for cars on each side instead of two. This will complicate life for the residents of the street, said Zbyněk Krupica to the council members, urging Mayor Petr Vokřál (ANO) to engage in talks. According to the mayor's deputy, Richard Mrázek (ANO), reconstruction could begin in 2018 and will last about two and a half years.

The mayor promised Krupica that he would meet with him to hear the citizens' demands. The mayor's deputy, Matěj Hollan (Žít Brno), who is newly responsible for transportation and the reconstruction of transportation arteries, intends to address the situation. "When reconstructing urban avenues, it is necessary to conduct detailed discussions with the citizens. We do not want people to move as a result of the city's actions because it becomes uncomfortable for them to live in the area. We will definitely find a decent compromise for the residents of the street, as well as for car drivers, cyclists, and public transport users," stated Hollan.

Residents are compiling a petition against the current design of the reconstruction. Krupica told ČTK that people do not want to complicate the project with the petition but to agree with the city on a form that will be acceptable. The intention includes keeping the tram track in the middle, creating a bike lane, narrowing two lanes on each side to one, and longitudinal parking spaces. Currently, parking is perpendicular, and the street offers about 300 spaces; after reconstruction, there should be significantly fewer.

"Reconstruction is inevitable, and we agree with it, but it is unacceptable for fundamental changes to be decided at a table without asking the residents about their needs," said Krupica.

According to him, it is unnecessary for a bike lane to be created in the area since there are existing ones on nearby streets. "We do not want to transport children to school and parents to doctors on a bike frame. Nowadays, it is not possible without cars. If we wanted to live without cars, we would live on the outskirts of the city or in the countryside, not in the center of Brno," added Krupica. If the proposal didn't include the bike lane, it could preserve some parking spaces or allow for more lanes.

Against the current version of the reconstruction, former deputy mayor Robert Kotzian (ODS), who is the chair of the Brno+ association, had already protested in the past. According to him, the drastic reduction of parking spaces is unnecessary.

Brno plans to repair one of its important arteries each year. Last year, work on Milady Horákové Street was completed for over 200 million, and this year Horova and Minská streets are being repaired for roughly the same amount. Besides Štefánikova, Brno also plans to repair Údolní, Benešova, and Veveří streets.