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Prague’s Car Problem: How the Car Lobby is Destroying the City’s Future
I have been living in Prague for a while now. Originally, I came here in the summer of 2023 to do my dissertation research in the National Library, in the heart of the city. Then I came back in February 2024 from Montreal, in search of a job. I was lucky enough to land a journalism job.
As a result, I have been focusing a lot on the politics of the Czech Republic (or Czechia). And I have noticed a number of ways politicians influence the country’s urban planning.
This is particularly true in Prague, where the car lobby prevents sustainable housing and the diverting of traffic in the center. For someone who has lived in Montreal, which takes considerable steps to make the city more walkable, I find this all very surprising. So, I thought I’d interview an expert to find out what she thinks about the issue.
I spoke with Urbanist at the Sustainable Urbanism Laboratory Zuzana Poláková to discuss some of these challenges that prevent a more sustainable Prague.
Have you ever been to Prague? Well, then you probably know what I’m talking about.
So, what’s being done?
“If European cities were a necklace, Prague would be a diamond among the pearls.” — Unknown
