Brno's cycling survey reveals key insights for new urban cycling strategy

Between March and May 2024, the city of Brno in the Czech Republic conducted an anonymous cycling survey through the ‘Dáme na vás’ platform, which gathered over 3,000 responses from residents. The results, released last Thursday by the municipality, offer valuable insights to support the development of the city’s cycling strategy, which aims to make cycling safer and more accessible for everyone.

Brno's transport councillor, Petr Kratochvíl, acknowledged the difficulties faced by cyclists in the city but stressed Brno's commitment to addressing these issues through the new strategy. The survey focused on understanding residents’ experiences with cycling in Brno, identifying key concerns, and highlighting areas needing immediate attention.

Key findings from the survey include:

• Safe infrastructure: Almost all respondents emphasised the importance of connectivity and continuity in cycling routes (94 %) and the need for cycle underpasses beneath busy roads (93 %). Additionally, 75 % also highlighted the importantance of two-way cycle lanes on one-way streets
• (Un)safe locations: The cycle paths along the Svratka and Svitava rivers and in Lužánky park were frequently rated as safe. Conversely, busy roads, streets with poor surface maintenance, and areas with parallel parking were often deemed risky.
• Conflicts: Three-quarters of cyclists reported experiencing road space restrictions due to motorists. Many also felt threatened by aggressive driving (60 %) and verbal harassment (40 %). Respondents suggested educational campaigns to promote mutual respect and consideration in traffic.
• Traffic violations: The most common violations reported by cyclists were riding on sidewalks and going against traffic. These behaviors were mainly attributed to disconnected or unsafe cycling routes. Respondents called for better organization of cycling infrastructure.
• Barriers to cycling: Poor infrastructure, heavy traffic, and improperly parked cars were cited as the biggest obstacles to cycling. Interestingly, neither current cyclists nor non-cyclists considered Brno’s hilly terrain to be a significant barrier.
• Support for urban cycling: A majority of respondents supported bike-sharing services (60 %) and called for more high-quality, secure bicycle storage facilities, particularly near key urban locations.

The detailed survey results have been integrated into an online story map, which includes individual “feeling maps” showing respondents' perceptions of various locations and direct quotes from participants. (Please note that the link leads to the story map in Czech only.)

Author: Janneke Janson-Goossens

Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.