Number of Vehicles in Prague Soars, Exceeding 1.25 Million

The number of vehicles in Prague has surged to 1.26 million, marking an annual increase of nearly 41,000, according to the Technical Administration of Communications (TSK).

Throughout the city, vehicles covered a distance of 22.8 million kilometers, which was about 140,000 kilometers less than the previous year.

Among the registered vehicles in Prague, passenger cars account for one million, with over 208,000 being added since 2016 alone. The most substantial growth occurred between 1990 and 2000, doubling during that time.

Traffic patterns have undergone shifts in the past two years. In 2020, traffic decreased by eight percent compared to the previous year. In 2021, it rebounded to nearly match the pre-peak year of 2019, and it maintained a similar level in the subsequent year. While the downtown traffic intensity remained consistent year-on-year, some vehicles decreased within the outer cordon.

Despite undergoing repairs and traffic restrictions during the summer, the Barrandov Bridge remained the busiest road last year, with approximately 139,000 vehicles crossing daily, which was around three thousand fewer compared to the previous year. The Jižní spojka section in Chodovská – V koryty followed as the second busiest, serving 129,000 vehicles, while the Jižní spojka between 5. května and Vídeňská streets ranked third.

Additionally, the Barrandov Bridge stood out as the most traversed bridge across the Vltava River. Hlávkův Bridge and Radotínský Bridge, alongside Barikádníků Bridge, secured the second and third positions, respectively.

The intersection of Černokostelecká and Průmyslovská experienced the highest regular traffic volume, with 70,000 vehicles daily. The second busiest regular intersection was the Poděbradská-Kbelská crossroads. Furthermore, the intersection of 5 May and Jižní spojka claimed the title of the busiest off-grade intersection, with 209,000 vehicles. Among tunnels, the Dejvice Tunnel took the lead, serving 93,000 vehicles daily.

Car occupancy has remained steady over the years, holding at 1.3 occupants per vehicle in the city center, comparable to 1.71 in 1990 and 1.44 people per car in 2000.

Shifting focus to public transportation, the TSK Yearbook reported that over a billion passengers used public transport in Prague last year, marking a year-on-year increase of almost 265 million passengers. However, the figures for 2020 and 2021 were significantly impacted by COVID-19-related restrictions and the decline in tourism.

The metro took the lead in passenger transport, accommodating 338 million travelers, followed by trams and buses, collectively covering the most kilometers (83.6 million) in the past year. In total, public transportation in Prague covered a distance of 206 million kilometers.

Operating Prague’s public transport system cost CZK 23.6 billion in the previous year.