traffic

Attention! This new measure will have a serious impact on motorists in Budapest

Budapest car traffic parking fees

Budapest has acquired 45 speed cameras, which will be installed before the end of August. The capital hopes that this will drastically reduce the number of fatal accidents.

Rampant fatal accidents in Budapest

Gergely Karácsony, Mayor of Budapest, wants to see a drastic reduction in the number of fatal accidents in the Hungarian capital. “There is another important goal: in the long term, I want to reduce the number of fatal accidents in the city to zero, like absolute zero. The example of several European cities shows that this is not an impossible goal. Yes, because of my father’s death, I have a personal commitment and sentiments about this. Every year, there are about a thousand serious traffic accidents in Budapest, and I think it is our common cause, free of politics, to reduce this number substantially – said Gergely Karácsony in 2020 on his Facebook page. The opposition politician’s father died in a traffic accident.

This has been a failure for the past 3 years, but the events of the past few weeks have spurred Hungarian politicians to action again.

In the spring of 2023, a drunk driver ploughed into a tram stop, killing a woman. Then Karácsony set a new goal: “To reduce the number of serious injuries and fatalities in road accidents in Budapest by 50 percent by 2030 and to zero by 2050.”

At the beginning of July, another tragedy occurred on Árpád Bridge in the Hungarian capital when cars racing each other caused an accident.

Speed cameras to fight accidents

These tragic cases further fueled Karácsony’s determination. To this end, Budapest has acquired 45 new speed cameras. Previously, district II. had installed seven new speed cameras on its own.

The Hungarian police told 24.hu that the installation of speedometers will be assessed on an individual basis. Technical capability and road safety risks have also become important criteria. The former includes the fact that they can be installed on road brackets that are currently in use and that the low-current power supply point is built in. According to the information, the first cameras will be installed in August.

Earlier, it was reported that 300 speed cameras were planned initially. The Budapest Transport Centre cites Paris as an example. The French capital operates 50 speed cameras, while Budapest currently has only 4 permanent speed cameras. According to BKK, Budapest would need around 100 cameras installed.

Major traffic changes coming in Budapest due to 20 August celebrations

budapest traffic parking

Due to the 20 August celebrations, there will be major traffic changes in the Hungarian capital. The Budapest Police Headquarters asks motorists to drive with increased caution and to carefully follow the modified traffic regulations.

On the 20th of August, Hungarians celebrate the founding of the state with a series of events all across the country. The festivities end with Europe’s largest firework display, as we have reported HERE. Telex wrote that the Budapest Police Headquarters published a long list of traffic changes. The celebrations on the 20th of August will affect many popular spots of Budapest. The list includes mainly areas close to the fireworks site, for example, the two banks of the Danube in the city centre. From Saturday until 23 August, it will be prohibited to drive through the following locations:

  • The lower quay of Pest
  • The northern and southern areas near the Chain Bridge
  • Both sides of the Jane Haining Quay from Chain Bridge to Elisabeth Bridge
  • The lower quay of Pest from Elisabeth Bridge to Liberty Bridge
  • Sztehlo Gábor Quay on the Danube side from Margaret Bridge to Halász Street

Further traffic changes

In addition, from Sunday, the waiting ban will be extended to the entire area of the Műegyetem Quay (in front of the University of Technology), where the restriction will only be lifted on the 22nd of August. From midnight on Monday, the quays in Districts I, II and VI will be completely closed. They will only re-open to drivers in the early morning on the 23rd of August. Another important change is that the Liberty Bridge will be closed from 8 AM to 8 PM on Sunday, and then again later on Monday, the 14th of August from midnight to 6 AM, as well as throughout the 22nd of August. As usual, it’s strongly suggested to double-check traffic information and plan your trip in advance.

If you are still unsure about what to do on the 20th of August, you can read our programme guide HERE.

Drastic rise in speeding fines from September in Hungary

budapest traffic parking

A new government decree appeared on the official government website. It would significantly increase speeding fines in Hungary from this September. According to the draft, all types of fines will rise next month.

According to hvg.hu, the fines will be the following sums from 1 September. In a 50 km/h speed limit road or area:

  • 15 km/h overspeed: HUF 30 thousand (EUR 77.7) increases to HUF 39 thousand (EUR 99.7),
  • 25 km/h overspeed: HUF 45 thousand (EUR 115) increases to HUF 58,500 (EUR 150),
  • 35 km/h overspeed: HUF 60 thousand (EUR 153) increases to HUF 78 thousand (EUR 199),
  • 45 km/h overspeed: HUF 90 thousand (EUR 230) increases to HUF 117 thousand (EUR 300),
  • 55 km/h overspeed: HUF 130 thousand (EUR 332) increases to HUF 169 thousand (EUR 431),
  • 65 km/h overspeed: HUF 200 thousand (EUR 511) increases to HUF 260 thousand (EUR 664),
  • 75 km/h overspeed or more: HUF 300 thousand (EUR 766) increases to HUF 390 thousand (EUR 996).

That means the fee rise rate will be 30 percent. The fine sums are the same in all speed limit categories (50-100 km/h; >100 km/h). Not only speeding fines will rise from September by 30 percent. The modification concerns drunk driving with the following fine increases:

  • 2000 cm3 or smaller engine: HUF 520 thousand (EUR 1329) from HUF 400 thousand
  • Bigger than 2000 cm3 engines: HUF 1.04 million (EUR 2658) from HUF 800 thousand

Race-001. This was the plate number of the car causing fatal accident on Budapest’s Árpád B ridge killing an innocent cyclist. An unnamed participant of illegal speed races in Budapest told Blikk that their blood drives them. Will they stop because of the higher fines?

Not only speeding will cost more

Drivers commuting on the motorway’s hard shoulder will get a HUF 130 thousand (EUR 332) fine. Those breaking mandatory travel directions will pay HUF 65 thousand (EUR 166). Ignoring a no-entry sign will cost HUF 39 thousand (EUR 100). Entering a natural reserve area will be HUF 390 thousand (EUR 996).

The fine on producers will also increase by 30 percent. They will pay more e.g. if they write lower pollutant emission than the reality (EUR 2658), for a fake test report (EUR 996), or if they manipulate pollution emitting devices (EUR 2990).

The social debate about the draft started yesterday. The government waits for feedback until 10 August. Although it popped up before that János Lázár’s ministry thinks about modifying zero-tolerance concerning alcohol consumption, there is no reference to that in the paper.

Interested in Hungarian traffic news? HERE is an article about the Chain Bridge that will open earlier than calculated before. We wrote in THIS article about the many guest workers flooding Hungary’s motorways during the summer.

Renovation complete: Budapest Chain Bridge to open this week!

Budapest Chain Bridge

The renovation of the Chain Bridge was completed a month and a half ahead of schedule and within budget, Gergely Karácsony, the Mayor of Budapest, announced on his Facebook page. The bridge will open to pedestrians on Friday 4 August.

“On Friday 4 August, the sidewalks along both sides of the Chain Bridge will open to pedestrians. This inauguration also marks the end of the structural and monumental reconstruction of the bridge and is therefore a historic moment in the life of Budapest and our country,”

Mr Karácsony wrote on Facebook. “Meet us on Friday at the pride of the nation!” he added.

As we reported, at the end of June, Gergely Karácsony presented the results of the capital’s “Budapest Residential Assembly” (Budapesti Lakógyűlés) initiative. According to this, 80 percent of the 136,435 respondents decided to maintain the current traffic regime on the bridge. This meant that only public transport buses, taxis, motorbikes, cyclists and pedestrians will use the bridge. The bridge will remain closed to motor traffic from August.

Check out the amazing decorative lighting of the Chain Bridge HERE.

Child dies when car crashes into another with refugees

car accident

One child died and five people were injured when a car carrying illegal migrants veered off the M5 motorway and crashed in south-eastern Hungary early on Tuesday, Bács-Kiskun County police said.

On the side of the M5 motorway leading to the capital, at km 66, a car with Romanian license plate number drifted off the road for unknown reasons and drove into a ditch at 6:03 AM on 1 August 2023, police.hu reports. The accident left one child dead and five others injured.

A Moldovan national was driving seven migrants in the car with Romanian number plates. The motorway near Lajosmizse has been partially closed to traffic. The police ask for the increased attention and patience of drivers.

Featured image: illustration (Pixabay)

Guest workers flooding Hungary’s motorways

Hungary border crossing Röszke traffic guest workers

Traffic on Hungary’s motorways was particularly robust during the weekend, and the situation will be even more challenging since a large influx of guest workers are planning to leave for Western Europe for holidays as school terms are ending. Serbians, Bulgarians, Greeks, and Albanians drive home via Hungary, causing e.g. three-hour-long waiting time at several border crossings.

According to 24.hu, traffic is regularly jammed on Hungary’s motorways and guest workers going home for holiday worsens the situation. The most crowded motorways are the M1-M0-M5-M43. M1 connects Budapest with Vienna. M0 is the ring road around the Hungarian capital. M5 leads to Szeged and the main Southern border crossing to Serbia, Röszke. Meanwhile, M43 is an offset of M5 leading to Romania and the Southern Transylvanian motorway through the Csanádpalóta-Nagylak border crossing.

The majority of the cars transiting through Hungary come from Germany. Since the school holiday started even in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, more people are heading home to spend some days or weeks with their families. Utinform.hu, Hungary’s road traffic website is not available in English, but you can check out the actual waiting time at the border crossings at THIS website. For example, now, the waiting time at the Csanádpalota border crossing is 1 hour, just like at Röszke-Horgos.

You can select the border crossing by choosing the border segment (határszakasz in Hungarian) and hitting the ‘Mehet’ button.

Bad news came today for the drivers. Fuel prices will continue to soar and it appears they will remain high for long. Read our article HERE. And HERE is a shocking video about two pedestrians playing Russian roulette with their lives in Hungary.

Shocking video: two pedestrians play Russian roulette with their own lives in Hungary

pedestrian budapest traffic

A recent video by Budapesti Autósok (Budapest Motorists) shows two pedestrians play Russian roulette with their lives in Budapest. The two pedestrians were not together: the two shocking situations happened in two different parts of the Hungarian capital.

Pedestrians play Russian roulette on the roads?

Budapesti Autósok (Budapest Motorists) have published a video of two pedestrians playing with their lives on YouTube. The first incident happened on Tuesday 18 July at Ferenciek Square.

Traffic was stopped because of a traffic light. When the light turned green, the queue started. Then, a pedestrian ran across the six-lane road. He was lucky up to the half-way line, but then he didn’t look right and ran into a white car coming the right way, causing him to fall, rtl.hu explains.

“You can’t see it in the video, but then he stood up straight away, although he was quite confused,” the video’s submitter wrote.

Uses pedestrian crossing at the wrong time, gets surprised

The second situation occurred in Csepel, on the four-lane Weiss Manfréd Road.

There, a pedestrian who was on his phone tried to cross the pedestrian crossing despite the no-crossing sign. He was apparently quite frightened when the car with the green light avoided hitting him by applying emergency braking.

Budapest’s downtown traffic to change today fundamentally due to the Pride

Budapest Pride traffic changes

Budapest Pride will kick off at 3 PM today. The crowd is to begin their march from the Vajdahunyad Castle in Budapest’s beautiful City Park (Városliget) to get back there a couple of hours later. However, that will result in considerable traffic changes concerning the entire downtown of the Hungarian capital.

According to telex.hu, the procession will march on the following route: Vajdahunyad Castle-Heroes’ Square–Andrássy Avenue-Oktogon–Teréz promenade–Király Street–Lövölde Square–Felsőerdősor Street–Kodály körönd–Andrássy Avenue–Heroes’ Square. The expected arrival back to Budapest’s central square is at 5 PM.

The route will be cancelled for public traffic, BKK, Budapest’s transport company, said yesterday. Therefore, Budapest’s entire public transport system will change for a couple of hours.

From 3 PM until 5 PM

  • Bus nr 20E will not touch the Heroes’ Square and the Vágány utca / Róbert Károly körút stations. Its journey will be Dvořák sétány–Zichy Mihály út–Erzsébet királyné útja–Hungária körút–Reitter Ferenc utca.
  • Bus nr 30, 30A, 79, and 230 will not touch the Damjanich utca / Dózsa György út, Benczúr utca, and the Heroes’ Square stations. Instead, they will follow this route: Dvořák sétány–Zichy Mihály út–Hermina út–Állatkerti körút–Gundel Károly út–Dózsa György út.
  • Trolley nr 75 will commute on the Hermina út–Állatkerti körút route. It will not touch its stations between the Ötvenhatosok tere and the Heroes’ Square.
  • Meanwhile, trolley nr 72 will stop only at the National Institution for Blind People (Vakok Intézete) and the Gundel Károly körút station.
  • Bus nr 105 and 210B will use the stations of trolley bus nr 72 between the Szent István basilica and Honvédkórház stations. They will commute on Podmaniczky Street.
  • Moreover, trolley bus nr 73 will not operate between 3 PM, and 5 PM.
  • Trolley bus nr 76 will not commute on Andrássy Avenue and Király Street.
  • Trolley bus nr 78 will commute on a shortened journey between the Keleti Railway Station and the Damjanich Utca station.
  • Furthermore, trolley bus nr 70 will carry passengers between the Erzsébet királyné, aluljáró and Károly körút (Astoria M) stations.

Meanwhile, drivers will not be able to use the Kós Károly promenade between 1 PM and 8 PM. Furthermore, no cars will be allowed to enter the Kós Károly Promenade-Heroes’ Square–Andrássy Boulevard–Oktogon–Teréz Promenade–Király Street–Lövölde Square–Felsőerdősor Street-Andrássy Boulevard–Heroes’ Square–Kós Károly Promenade route.

One-day motorway vignette to be extremely expensive in Hungary

Under a European Union regulation, Member States must introduce the one-day motorway sticker by March 2024. In Hungary, this is expected to cost up to HUF 5,000 (EUR 13). According to motorists, the one-day vignette would only be worth it if it cost up to HUF 1500 (EUR 3.90). However, that is extremely unlikely.

New, one-day motorway vignette to be introduced in 2024

The European Union regulation requires member states to introduce a one-day motorway sticker by March 2024. The Ministry of Construction and Transport announced earlier that the one-day sticker is indeed expected next year. However, the government has yet to decide on the details, ATV reports.

According to a non-representative survey carried out by autopalyamatrica.hu, in which more than 5,000 motorists took part, 98 percent of motorway users would like to have a one-day sticker. However, this depends on many things. Almost a quarter of respondents do not consider a 10-day sticker for daily use of the motorway to be fair. They would use the motorway more often if the price of a one-day sticker were proportionately lower.

Is there a demand?

Many people would also like a 3-4 day sticker, as this could be the best option for those who only use the motorways for weekend trips, the survey shows. Many drivers also said they would buy the vignette for trips to Budapest or to Lake Balaton. However, the 10-day entitlement was not worth it for them. Thus, on several occasions they opted for expressways or skipped the trip, Infostart spotted.

The one-day sticker could also be a good solution for those who accidentally drive onto the motorway, as it would allow them to avoid a penalty. The majority of respondents indicated that a daily vignette would be beneficial for one-day trips, errands and transit passengers. However, according to them, it would only be worth it if the price ranged from HUF 500 (EUR 1.30) to HUF 1,500 (EUR 3.90).

It will not be cheap

The portal noted that seeing the Czech example, the price will be much higher. The reason is that the European Union restricts the price of a one-day sticker to 9 percent of the price of an annual sticker. This means that if compared to the price of this year’s annual sticker, it would cost HUF 4,427 (EUR 11.51). According to the legislation, the price of a motorway sticker is inflation-linked. So, if inflation is assumed to be 15 percent, a one-day sticker could cost up to HUF 5,100 (EUR 13.25).

Important: Major traffic change on busy Budapest road leading to the airport!

traffic change roadwork

Due to roadworks, one of the busiest roads of Budapest will operate as a unidirectional road from the 8th of July. This change affects Üllői Road between Béke Square and the District 18 towards the city centre. The change will affect public transportation as well.

As Index reported, the roadworks and the one-way traffic will go on until the beginning of November. According to BKK, the change will affect buses on this route as well. Bus 193E to Mednyánszky Street and Market Central will run on a modified route. Instead of taking Üllői Road to Gyömrői Road, it will run on the route leading to Ferihegy Airport. Therefore, it will not stop at Szarvas Csárda Square and Béke Square in Pestszentlőrinc. However, trams will run the same, undisturbed.

Modified bus routes in Budapest

Buses 236 and 236A to Mednyánszky Street and Market Central will run on a modified route between Szarvas Csárda Square and Királyhágó Street. Instead of Üllői Road, they will run on the route of bus 182, Ráday Gedeon Street–Bessenyei György Street–Haladás Street–Petőfi Street–Gilice Square–Cziffra György Street–Szabadka Street–Száva Street–Halomi Street–Királyhágó Street.

Night bus 950 will also run of a modified route. The bus to Pestszentimre, railway station, runs on the route of Petőfi Street–Gilice Square–Cziffra György Street–Szabadka Street–Száva Street–Halomi Street–Királyhágó Street–Béke Square–Üllői Road–Mednyánszky Street–Bartók Béla Street–Királyhágó Street. The bus will not stop at the stops between Szarvas Csárda Square and Béke Square. Budapest Transport Centre (BKK) suggests taking the tram line number 50 to reach the stops that the buses miss on Üllői Road.

Get information in advance

BKK also suggests getting information before your journey. To plan your journey in the Hungarian capital, you can use the BudapestGO app, which calculates the optimal route to your destination based on real-time public transport service information. In addition to that, you can also buy your tickets and passes using the BudapestGO application.

Situation at restricted Hungarian-Austrian border crossing resolved: what about the others?

Austria Hungary border crossing border control

Hungary and Austria have settled the issue of a restricted border crossing between Rajka and Deutsch Jahrndorf (Németjárfalu) but have yet to find a solution in the case of two other border crossings, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Vienna on Friday.

A dual approach should be applied in connection with borders, Szijjártó said after talks with Karoline Edtstadler, Austria’s minister for European and constitutional affairs, according to a ministry statement.

The border should be closed to those who intend to cross it illegally, but the border crossing process should be speeded up and should be as unrestricted as possible in the case of those who, like commuters, want to cross in line with the rules, Szijjártó said.

This was why, he said, Austria’s decision to restrict traffic at three border crossings was “disappointing”.

He said the two countries had reached an agreement that will allow all residents of Hungary’s Győr-Moson-Sopron County to cross the border crossing between Rajka and Deutsch Jahrndorf.

But the problem at the crossing at Ágfalva has yet to be resolved, Szijjártó said, noting that the mayor on the Austrian side was only allowing pedestrians to cross. The situation is similar at the Fertorakos border crossing which is also closed or significantly restricted for motorists, the minister said.

It is especially problematic that the latter crossing point had been set up using European Union resources specifically so that it could function as an alternative border crossing to the one at Sopron, Szijjártó said.

“I have therefore asked Austria’s minister for integration who also oversees European resources to take steps to convince the province of Burgenland or the local council not to take steps that go against common European agreements,” Szijjártó said.

He said he had been promised that Austria would soon put forward a proposal in connection with the Fertorakos border crossing on how to avoid harming the interests of Hungarians.

Szijjártó said there was no need for new security challenges given the serious difficulties already faced by the EU.

He said Hungary understood the importance of integrating the Western Balkans into the EU, arguing that otherwise it would remain a potential source of further security challenges.

He criticised the EU’s enlargement policy as “flawed”, and lamented the lack of progress in the last several years.

Szijjártó said this was because the more powerful European countries “and even the smaller western European ones” were “extremely condescending” towards the Western Balkan countries rather than speaking to them.

“Threats of sanctions, lecturing, condescension: this is what characterises western European attitude towards the Western Balkans when they should be talking to them,” Szijjártó said. “That is something we do on a regular basis.”

He noted that as part of the so-called Berlin Process, Western Balkan countries had agreed on the mutual recognition of higher-education degrees and travel using IDs, but this was vetoed by Bosnia’s Serbs.

The minister said he had spoken in person with the president of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and had asked him to reconsider. As a result, the Bosnian Serbs will likely approve two of the three Berlin Process agreements at the next meeting of the country’s presidency, Szijjártó said.

He said the lesson was that Europe should talk to the Western Balkan countries instead of talking about them, and then there would be greater hope for their swift EU integration.

Attention: Large part of Budapest city centre closed on Saturday

Andrássy Avenue

On Saturday, 8 July 2023, there will be traffic changes in the centre of the Hungarian capital. The Budapest Police Headquarters informs drivers that the following traffic regime changes will take effect in the capital this weekend.

According to police.hu, the following locations in Budapest will be closed in sections and temporarily:

  • From 9 AM to 12 PM, the Carl Lutz quay between Dráva Street and Szent István Park driveway in District 13;
  • From 11:20 AM to 12:00 PM, the id. Antall József quay between Dráva Street and Eötvös Square in Districts 5 and 13;
  • From 11:20 AM to 12:00 PM, the Jászai Mari Square – Margaret Bridge driveway – Margaret Bridge – Margaret Boulevard – Széll Kálmán Square – Szilágyi Erzsébet alley (fasor) – Budakeszi Street in Districts 2, 12 and 13.

It will be forbidden to stop on 8 July all day:

  • On both sides of the Olof Palme Promenade between Heroes’ Square and Verona angyalai (Verona’s Angels) Street, also in front of the Műjégpálya (Ice Rink).

The following locations will also be closed on 8 July from 6 PM until 12 AM:

  • Andrássy Avenue between Oktogon and Heroes’ Square,
  • Dózsa György Street between Podmaniczky Street and Damjanich Street,
  • around Heroes’ Square in a circle,
  • Róbert Károly Boulevard to Állatkert Boulevard,
  • M3 entry section, the overpass on Kacshó Pongrác Street towards Kós Károly Promenade,
  • Kós Károly Promenade,
  • Olof Palme Promenade between Heroes’ Square and Asztana Street,
  • Zichy Mihály Street,
  • Dvorák Promenade,
  • Állatkert Boulevard between Gundel Károly Street and Heroes’ Square,
  • Vajdahunyad Promenade between Paál László Street and Kós Károly Promenade,
  • Paál László Street between Vajdahunyad Promenade and Zichy Mihály Street,
  • Ocskay László Street.

Budapest’s popular 100E airport shuttle bus will cease operation?

Budapest airport shuttle travel 100E Airport Express

The opposition leadership of Hungary’s capital, Budapest, and the Hungarian government have been quarrelling since 2019. Now it seems their conflict might reach another milestone. If Budapest decides not to pay its taxes, the government may terminate to transfer its allocations for the capital. And that may result in the collapse of Budapest’s public transport system, including even the 100E airport shuttle line.

Budapest’s public transport system is unique since it gains its revenues from at least three sources. The first one is obvious, the income after the ticket and pass sales. Meanwhile, the second and third ones are the contributions of the Hungarian government and the city council. The former has been problematic.

Budapest citizens chose an opposition leader in the local government elections in 2019. Even though PM Viktor Orbán highlighted the importance of cooperation, conflicts began to develop quickly. One is the traffic system of Hungary’s symbolic and renewed Chain Bridge. Karácsony would like to preserve it for the taxis, buses, and pedestrians, while the government insists on letting cars back on the overpass.

The latest dispute is about Budapest’s contribution to the state budget. The name of the tax is ‘solidarity contribution’ and the leadership of the city wants to withhold it because they believe it is too high. Budapest began a court trial against the Hungarian state treasury concerning the issue and does not want to pay the tax until it is finished. The answer of the government is to halt state budget payments Budapest receives, telex.hu wrote.

Ambrus Kiss, Budapest’s deputy mayor, said that provided the government ceases to transfer financial supply, Budapest would no longer finance the operation of MÁV, the Hungarian State Railways and Volánbusz, the country’s main bus service provider. Mr Kiss added that the contribution of Budapest for the two companies is worth HUF 548 million (EUR 1.469 million) per month. That money is spent on the public transport service between the suburbs and the city, including, for example, the 100E airport shuttle bus. Budapest Airport is not in Budapest but between Vecsés and Üllő, two suburbs, small cities close to the capital.

In return, the state budget pays approximately HUF 1 billion (EUR 2.68 million) each month to support Budapest’s public transport system. Answering a question whether that could result in ceasing Budapest’s public transport, Kiss said they prepared for that scenario in the city’s budget. Therefore, they will pay all salaries and operate the buses, trams, and the underground system.

According to a bill submitted by Fidesz, Orbán’s party, a local government indebted to the Hungarian state treasury could not get money from the treasury until the extent of its debt. There would only be two exceptions: vis maior and extraordinary allocations.

Budapest’s standpoint is that the government’s solidarity contribution calculated for Budapest is HUF 25 billion higher than the law allows. Therefore, they started a court trial and did not want to pay the tax until the process ends. Meanwhile, the municipal council raised Budapest’s credit line this week from HUF 25 billion to HUF 40 billion (EUR 107.2 million). They said the measure was a precaution, a safety net provided the government does not pay. Mr Kiss said the Orbán cabinet owes them the expenditure on trolley buses and some utility allocations, and the government did not pay for the Chain Bridge revamp. Furthermore, several government institutions owed them HUF 4.7 billion in May (EUR 12.6 million).

Wallets out! Busy Budapest car park becomes paid

kelenföld car parks őrmező

According to an earlier decision of the General Assembly of Budapest, as of Saturday, the P+R parking lots in Kelenföld, Budapest will continue to operate as guarded, paid parking lots, after five years of fee exemption.

Kelenföld car park subject to parking fees

From Saturday onwards, P+R parking spaces in Kelenföld will be subject to charges. With the introduction of the fee, these car parks will be able to perform a full P+R function, the phenomenon of long-term, non-P+R parking will be eliminated and it will be easier to find a parking space, according to the operator Budapest Közút (Hungarian Public Roads).

Between 6 AM. and 10 PM, you can use the P+R car parks for HUF 350 per hour. Meanwhile, at night (from 10 PM to 6 AM), you can park for HUF 105 per hour, napi.hu informs.

Five years without having to pay

The Őrmező P1, P2 and Etele tér P1, P2 car parks were built as part of the Metro 4 project in the area of Kelenföld railway station, with a total of 1453 parking spaces. The project was funded by the European Union, with the condition that the car parks would be free of charge for five years.

The maintenance period for the four P+R car parks started on 18 November 2017 and lasted until 17 November 2022. Afterwards, the restrictions on the possibility of charging were lifted.

The Kelenföld P+R car parks will be open 0-24 every day of the year. Thus, you will be able to use them day and night for a fee on weekends and public holidays. A camera system ensures the security of vehicles left in the car parks.

Many other places to have 0-24 tariffs soon

Budapest Közút also announced that night-time charging will be introduced from 1 July in the other P+R car parks owned by the capital and currently operated by the company. These are the following:

  • Köki Terminál;
  • Kőbánya-Kispest;
  • Hűvösvölgy P1;
  • Örs vezér tere (Örs vezér Square);
  • Pillangó utca (Pillangó Street);
  • Újpest-Városkapu.

Official: Huge changes coming to Budapest traffic, pay attention!

Budapest traffic travel European summer no-go zones visitor numbers

The General Assembly of Budapest adopted the Road Safety Strategy prepared by experts from the Budapest Transport Centre (BKK). As part of this, a city-wide network of traffic cameras will be built and a number of other changes will be introduced. Here is everything you should know.

Among others, new rules for scooters and new speed limits for cars would be introduced.

Budapest Road Safety Strategy

According to BKK, almost 500 people have died on Budapest’s roads in the last 10 years. Road traffic in the capital is more dangerous than in other cities of similar size, with proportionally five times as many people dying in traffic as in Vienna.

This is why the transport centre has developed the Budapest Road Safety Strategy, which aims to halve the number of road fatalities in the capital by 2030 and reduce them to zero by 2050, in line with the relevant EU directives.

Thanks to Wednesday’s favourable decision of the Assembly, the development of the action plan related to the strategy and the full implementation of the package of measures can begin, they add.

What to expect?

The strategy sets out measures to reduce road risks by bringing together the key drivers – people, vehicles and infrastructure. This is based, among other things, on:

  • setting up a network of 300 speed cameras, operating around the clock throughout Budapest;
  • setting speed limits adapted to function everywhere on the Budapest road and street network, i.e. reduce speed limits in the city centre and double the size of residential areas protected by 30-zones or residential-recreational zones;
  • the implementation of the pedestrian crossing renewal programme;
  • only allowing shared scooters to travel within the capital with a single digital speed limit (maximum 25 km/h);
  • fitting the latest safety equipment to large vehicles with significant blind spots, buses and lorries owned by the capital;
  • launching educational and awareness-raising programmes for adults and children.

The Road Safety Strategy was the result of a long preparatory process and consultation. During the preparation and finalisation of the technical material, BKK conducted several consultations, the statement concludes.

Hungarians still cannot pass this Austrian border by car

Traffic Jam Cars City

The border between Schattendorf (Somfalva) in northern Burgenland and Ágfalva has been closed to vehicles for over three months now. The construction of the pedestrian zone leading to the border and the sinking pillar to restrict traffic is still not finished. Although, it was originally planned to last 12 weeks. The mayor insists that the road should be used only under certain conditions.

Autószektor reports, that the situation remains unchanged at the Austrian border. Cordons are still blocking the middle of the road, leaving a narrow path where people can walk to the neighbouring villages. This is making life harder for Hungarian who are working in Austria and have to pass the border on a daily basis.

A temporary solution

Hungarian commuters have found a solution to this problem: they leave their cars on the Hungarian side, walk through that narrow path, and then continue their journeys with another car on the Austrian side. Of course, not everyone has two cars. The second option is taking a detour. The other route, to Klingebach/Sopron, is extended by around 40 kilometres if you want to reach the villages in the Nagymarton district.

Delayed roadworks

The roadworks was planned to last 12 weeks, about three months, but the road is still closed. The Mayor of Schattendorf, Thomas Hoffmann, says that the road was underwater for a long time, making it harder to finish the work in time. In addition to that, street lighting needs to be installed, as there is a pedestrian zone.

Traffic restrictions

Thomas Hoffmann is adamant about the traffic restriction despite the criticism he received from Hungarians. According to him, the village has the right to restrict traffic on its own municipal roads. Hoffmann also promised that the road will be open to “neighbourhood traffic” (Nachbarschaftsverkehr). People who want to use it will have to apply for a permit at the Schattendorf village hall.

It is still not clear who will have the right to drive through the pedestrian zone. There have been rumours about making the pedestrian zone open for the people living in the two villages, Schattendorf and Ágfalva. This initiative would mean a nightmare for Hungarian commuters. But the overwhelming traffic would not disturb the people living in the two villages anymore.

The rules are to be presented on the 27th of June. We can know for sure that there will be a toll. The Austrian village would charge EUR 160 for a two-year pass from drivers. Although, 140 euros would be immediately refunded in the form of vouchers. The vouchers will be redeemable at local businesses.

PHOTOS: Futuristic Danube Bridge to be built in Hungary

The new Danube bridge at Mohács

Even though Budapest’s southern districts could well use a new overpass to ease the intensifying burden of daily traffic, the government eventually decided to build that near Mohács, South Hungary. According to János Lázár, Hungary’s construction and investment minister, the bridge will be completed by the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Mohács. That clash marked the end of the Medieval Hungarian Kingdom and the beginning of a 150-year-long Ottoman rule spread over more than a third of the country.

According to index.hu, the need for a new bridge on that segment of the River Danube became apparent years ago. László Palkovics, Hungary’s innovation and technology minister, already talked about building a new overpass near Mohács in the autumn of 2020. The project was then believed to start within 1.5-2 years. However, it did not kick off as the planning phase took longer than expected. The final plans were accepted only this January.

According to our information, the costs will exceed HUF 100 billion (EUR 267 million). Rumour has it the minister was about to abort the project. However, Lázár finally gave the green light this week. But there is one more hitch. The government aims to cover the costs with EU funds, but Hungary has not received a penny yet.

Even Orbán supported the new bridge project

PM Viktor Orbán talked about the bridge in his February State of the Nation speech, during which he mentioned the need for the unification of Pannonia and Hunnia, the eastern and western parts. Part of that would be building a new bridge over the Danube near Mohács.

Gábor Pávkovics, the mayor of Mohács, said there was a chance to finish the construction by the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Mohács in 2026. Based on the Világgazdaság, the new bridge has been on the agenda for 30 years because currently, you can only cross the river by ferry. Thus, the new overpass could connect some of the most important southern regions and cities of Hungary.

According to the plans, the bridge will be 750 metres long. Its area will be 18,000 m2 and will have 2X2 lanes. There will be also a bike lane added as part of the EuroVelo system.

New payment system to be introduced on Budapest’s airport shuttle bus

Budapest airport shuttle travel 100E Airport Express

Budapest’s transport company, BKK, is to test a new payment system on the shuttle bus connecting the downtown of the Hungarian capital with the Liszt Ferenc International Airport, shortly known as Budapest Airport.

New payment system

Mastercard and K&H Bank are joining BKK in testing a brand new digital payment and ticket validation system, already successfully operating in several Western cities. The testing will only concern the Budapest Airport express shuttle bus nr 100E. The digital solution is contactless, and the testing period will start on 20 June, next Tuesday.

The change means you will not have to buy a shuttle bus offline or online ticket from 20 June. Instead, you can buy and validate your digital voucher with your bank or credit card, smartphone or smartwatch via a terminal. The voucher price will be deducted from your account immediately, 24.hu wrote.

London’s public transport uses a very similar system. You do not need to buy a ticket offline or online. Instead, you can acquire your digital voucher with your bank card. Furthermore, the British system monitors your daily travels and deducts only the fee of a daily ticket, regardless of how many times and how long you use the vehicles.

New buses, improved passenger experience

PCWorld, a Hungarian technology-focused media outlet, said nobody knows when the digital system will be introduced on the Budapest Airport shuttle bus line. The express bus began to operate in 2017 and was modernised several times. For example, from yesterday on, 150 brand new MAN Lion’s type buses serve the passengers getting to the airport or coming to Budapest from Hungary’s main airgate. BKK said those buses provide “premium” service for the users.

The 100E express bus commutes 24/7. Furthermore, in June, BKK raised its frequency. For example, on workdays, BKK reduced the follow-up time to only 7-8 minutes.

Prior to the testing period, you had two options to purchase a ticket. The offline solution was to buy it in a vending machine or customer service centre. HERE is a map of them. Moreover, you could use the BudapestGO app to buy an online ticket.