Finally! Thai Massage Rickshaw Ads to Disappear from Prague Streets

The advertising rickshaws promoting Thai massage parlors will soon disappear from the streets of Prague.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT) has upheld a decision by the city’s Department of Trades and Consumer Legislation, which ruled that these rickshaws must be removed as they constitute illegal advertising within a conservation area.

This decision is final and cannot be appealed. For several years, the city has been fighting to remove these red and green rickshaws, which are equipped with LED lights, from key locations.

Rickshaws Removed from Historic Locations

The removal order specifically targets rickshaws located in high-traffic areas, including Wenceslas Square, Old Town Square, Celetná and Karlova streets. The municipality argues that these rickshaws not only represent unauthorized advertising but also create obstacles for pedestrians.

The operator countered that the rickshaws are not advertisements but rather a means of transport for employees. However, the city imposed a fine on the operator for both the rickshaws and the use of tarpaulins on Karlova Street.

Complaint Rejected

The decision states, “The Ministry concludes that the contested decision was issued in accordance with the law and that the appeal should be dismissed as unfounded.” None of the operator’s arguments against the municipality’s decision were accepted.

“We now have a final ruling that the rickshaws in front of Thai massage parlors in Prague’s historic center are illegal advertising. The city has tried various methods to eliminate these rickshaws, which are blighting important public spaces in the center, but until now, we’ve encountered obstacles,” said city councillor Adam Zábranský (Piráti).

“They managed to get away with this for years, even though everyone knew they just parked them outside the establishment every morning and removed them at night without actually using them for transport,” he added.

This decision is part of the city’s broader effort to combat “visual smog,” or the proliferation of unsightly advertisements in public spaces.

Prague is working on new regulations to manage smaller advertising spaces and will commission a plan to strategically place poster display areas within the conservation zone.

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