Prague buses now only stop per request: Is that system confusing?

The transport administration of the Czech capital claims this will ensure a more sustainable operation of the public transit

On 29 June, the Regional Organiser of Prague Integrated Transport (ROPID) launched a new rule regarding the operation of public buses in the Czech capital. The buses do not stop at bus stops anymore unless specifically requested to do so either by onboard passengers or by people waiting at the stop.

More specifically, onboard passengers need to press a stop request button before the bus gets to the actual stop – that itself is an already common and widely used practice worldwide. Regarding people waiting at bus stops, the operator has stated that all they have to do is stand at the bus stop and face the incoming vehicle in a way that the driver has to see them. Previously, wannabe passengers had to raise their hands, but this is not required anymore.

This may seem fairly straightforward, however, a month and a half later, the changes have left many public transport users confused, especially the elderly. For example, one person told Czech media outlet Metro.cz that they didn’t understand why stops near hospitals are request stops, when they almost always have people – often elderly and with limited mobility – needing to use them. 

Furthermore, some older bus shelters are opaque (most new bus stops are transparent) so a driver wouldn’t see the person unless they step out of the shelter.

Why was this change needed?

According to ROPID, the implemented changes are only logical since 70% of the city’s bus stops had already been ‘request only’. The implemented changes aim to improve efficiency, quicken journey times, and reduce fuel costs – thus they have a sustainability mindset at their core.

"This is a trend that has already been established in many places for many years. Unfortunately, there were different variants of the regimes of individual stops. We will therefore unify the entire system in the Central Bohemian Region and in Prague,” explains Petr Borecký, councillor of the Central Bohemian Region for public transport.

ROPID remains optimistic that despite some complaints public transport users will get used to the new changes as new things take some time to become a habit.