The cycle path, with kerbs, on Vajanského Embankment. (source: TASR)
Transport Minister Jozef Ráž (Smer nom.) held a press conference on Tuesday to present the results of a state inspection of Vajanského Embankment, a road in central Bratislava that runs alongside the Danube river bank. The road, which is 500 metres long, has been reconfigured by the city council in recent years to give cyclists a dedicated lane protected by kerbs, but this has generated online complaints from motorists.
A group of cyclists disrupted the minister's event by riding up and down the cycle path and playing circus music from speakers.
"The state oversight expert has issued a directive to the city to modify this cycle path within 40 days," Ráž announced.
MPs Ján Mažgút (r) and Richard Glück (c), both of Smer, with Transport Minister Jozef Ráž (also Smer), during a press conference in front of the Slovak National Museum regarding the removal of the cycle path on Vajanského Embankment. (source: Tomáš Bokor)
The city must remove kerbs from the wide cycle path within 40 days and narrow it in places where the road does not meet technical standards within 90 days. If the city fails to comply, it faces a fine of €33,000.
Bratislava mayor does not agree
Matúš Vallo, the mayor of Bratislava, disagrees with the measures. He claims that the signage on the embankment complies with regulations, and any specific complaints will be investigated.
He also insists on keeping the kerbs. "In this case, we will definitely object to the ministry's directive, as these kerbs are intended as traffic-guiding devices and were recognised as such by the regional traffic inspectorate, which approved the project," says Vallo.
The amendment to the Road Traffic Act that gave the ministry the authority to oversee any road was passed by lawmakers after several changes and came into effect on August 1.
Politicised bike path debate
Many drivers would like to see the road returned to its previous configuration as a four-lane road, but the ministry's directive does not mention the removal of the cycle path. Minister Ráž said that the goal was safety.
Mayor Vallo defends the large white kerbs, which some drivers find problematic, stating their purpose is to "increase the safety of cyclists riding in the separated cycle lane."
While open to using a different type of kerb that "might not be as massive but would still adequately protect cyclists," Vallo insisted that the current ones fulfil their purpose. He added that the cycle path is frequently used by families and that it’s "not within the ministry's scope to assess this chosen solution."
Smer MPs criticise, Vallo defends
Smer MPs, including Ján Mažgút and Richard Glück, criticised Vallo, accusing him of acting unilaterally. They mentioned that the amended law is "also a call to other municipalities," so that mayors or governors "do not act arbitrarily, as our progressive mayor Matúš Vallo has done."
Vallo, however, believes the law was politically motivated, with Smer MPs "continuing to populistically misuse" the cycle path for campaigning.
Cyclists voiced frustration, questioning why the embankment was targeted when safety concerns apply elsewhere, with one asking, "Why do you consider this road so dangerous?"
Vallo noted that traffic times "are already comparable to those before the project" and that the path has quickly become "one of the most popular and frequented in Bratislava."
