The connection between Bratislava’s Nivy bus station and the historic centre has undergone major improvements

The natural connection between the Nivy bus station and the historic city centre has not been ideal for pedestrians or cyclists for a long time, and the drivers of cars have also faced several problems here. The lack of a crosswalk for pedestrians and cyclists on the busy Karadžičova ulica, the missing cycling connection between Ružinov and the Staré Mesto on a particularly dangerous section of Malé Mlynské nívy, turning cars blocking traffic, but especially a significant residential street loaded with transit traffic in the middle of the Staré Mesto – these are just some of the problems that existed in this area. At the same time, a number of problems the city was able to solve with one comprehensive project called “Safer Dunajská and Mlynské nivy”, the start of which was announced at the end of February this year, were also dealt with. The project’s aim was to principally increase the safety of vulnerable groups of street users through a series of alterations but also to increase the attractiveness of the public space.

The project was initiated and also implemented based on cooperation with the renowned American philanthropic consulting company Bloomberg Associates, which provides Bratislava with free professional consultations, namely in the area of organising transport, where the capital can draw on the experience and professional advice of the former New York City Commissioner for Transportation, Janette Sadik-Khan.

With this project, the city continued the already started revitalisation of the well-known Dunajská ulica, which it started in 2022. From taking part in the project of the City Borough Staré Mesto, it was known that up to 74% of residents perceived calming and slowing down traffic on this street as a key step towards improving the quality of the neighbourhood. A census of traffic also showed that up to 30% of cars moving in the direction from Mlynské nívy along Dunajská ulica were merely passing further on to Štúrova. Therefore, the basis of the project was the one-way street from the intersection with Rajská ulica in the direction of Mlynské nivy.

Together with this, however, the city also implemented several other important modifications on Dunajská ulica:

· a new parking strip and parking spaces were added in front of the Hungarian language primary and secondary school; they serve as a short-term stop for parents, especially in the morning and afternoon hours, so that they can drop off/pick up their children to/from schools; · the pedestrian crossing by the school was shifted to a safer position, so that cars do not enter the school premises; it was also made barrier-free; · a completely new elevated crossing, which was much needed here, was built near the puppet theatre; · the road surface has been repaired over the whole section; · the originally narrow sidewalk from Lazaretská to the intersection with Ulica 29. augusta has been paved and widened. Likewise, part of the pavement on the opposite side has also been repaired; · greenery and furnishings have also been added, including Bratislava benches; · and a safe and separate two-way cycling path has also been built here.

The city continued with the changes on Ulica 29. augusta, building a completely new left turn onto Cintorínska ulica. In the past, vehicles turning left from Ulica 29. augusta onto Cintorínska ulica blocked those who wanted to continue driving straight onto Štúrova. This issue was resolved with this change, and cars going straight can now easily pass by cars waiting to turn.

In addition, in this section:

· pavements on both sides were repaired and tiled, and an elevated crossing was built at the intersection with Ferienčíková ulica; · the road surface was repaired; · the continuation of protective cycling lanes was marked; · also, an old abandoned kebab stand was removed, thus resolving another issue that had been neglected and unresolved for years.

The Dunajská x Ulica 29. augusta x Malé Mlynské nivy intersection was also improved. Here, new traffic islands and traffic lights for cyclists were added; the roadway to the intersection with Karadžičova was repaired, and the traffic lights were completely modernised.

At the same time, since turning Dunajská into a one-way street meant only one lane of Malé Mlynské nivy in the direction of Ulica 29. augusta was needed, and a new separate two-way cycling path that connects the existing routes to Ružinov, Staré Mesto and Petržalka could be created in the freed-up space. This addressed a particularly dangerous section of Malé Mlynské nivy, where there was no cycling infrastructure that would safely connect the already existing frequented cycling paths in the area and where cyclists had to take the risk of meandering between cars.

The changes also affected the busy Karadžičova Street, where a new crossing – a so-called crossing point – was built as part of the project. Thousands of pedestrians who walk from the bus station to the city centre no longer must take a pointless detour through three crossings. Moving through the intersection is now easier and more comfortable for both pedestrians and cyclists.

Thanks to all these changes, Dunajská and Mlynské nivy are more beautiful, better, but above all safer for pedestrians, drivers, cyclists and residents. Simply put, for everyone!