Are Budapest residents happpy with the mayor’s traffic policies?
More than three-quarters of Budapest’s residents are concerned about the increasingly heavy traffic congestions in the city and the resulting air pollution, according to a fresh survey by the Századvég Foundation, which found that “Budapest disapproved” of Mayor Gergely Karácsony’s traffic policies.
Altogether 82 percent of the survey’s respondents expressed concern over traffic jams resulting from traffic lanes being blocked off for cyclists, Századvég said. Fully 80 percent said they were concerned about the increased air pollution that came with the congestions.
At the same time 61 percent of respondents had nothing negative to say about the increased road space for cyclists, Századvég added.
A total of 56 percent of the survey’s respondents disagree with the municipal council’s expansion of bicycle lanes at the expense of roads for cars. In addition, 61 percent said they disagreed with the Budapest leadership’s decision to pave a flower bed at the bridgehead on the Buda side of the Chain Bridge and put a bicycle path on it.
“It is clear that the mayor’s efforts to promote cycling are not in line with the needs of Budapest residents on roads with heavy traffic,” Századvég said in its analysis.
“The interests of local residents lie in well-thought-out improvements to traffic for both motorists and cyclists, rather than having the various groups of road users be pitted against each other.”
Read alsoNew cycle sections to be built in Budapest!
Source: MTI
Perhaps introduce a Low Emissions Zone for Budapest – or even an Ultra Low one with a congestion charge? Should help improve the air quality, no end – and a lot less traffic, I’m sure!
The mayor of the capital city has been doing pretty bad job since he was elected. No results, just talking… As they say “all hat, no cattle”.
The city becomes dirty, not well maintained, with huge traffic jams, stupid bike lines… Definitely he and his team don’t walk the talk.
The air pollution in Budapest has become very dangerous since the new mayor took office. The decision to remove lanes for cars on the busiest roads has caused serious traffic. Mr Karacsony should spend less time sucking up to the 1% sodomites and more time attending to the genuine needs of Budapest citizens. Karacsony has been an unmitigated disaster for the city. Why is nobody talking about the new armies of drunks, drug addicts and homeless everywhere too?