In Slovakia, Walking Too Fast is Prohibited

In Slovakia, a new law aimed at improving sidewalk safety by imposing a maximum speed limit for all users, including pedestrians, has sparked ridicule and frustration among parts of the population, who accuse the government of restricting freedoms.

"At 6 km/h, it's hard to maintain balance, and even children aged 3 to 4 regularly exceed this speed on their bikes," joked Dan Kollar, president of Cyklokoalicia, a group advocating for soft mobility, in an interview with AFP.

The amendment, approved by the Slovak parliament at the end of October and set to take effect on January 1, aims to limit the speed of all sidewalk users, from pedestrians to cyclists and scooter riders, with a fine of 100 euros for violations.

However, the 6 km/h limit has triggered a wave of mockery on social media, including memes showing a speed camera flashing a pedestrian at 6.2 km/h and instructing them to "slow down" or a fake "walking permit."

The government is creating a situation where "children will break the law every day, and we will teach them that it's acceptable," lamented Kollar, who finds this legislation "absurd."

Another group of citizens called the "Worried Mothers" has urged the president not to sign the law.

Last year, 67 pedestrians and 22 cyclists or scooter users died in accidents in Slovakia, according to police statistics, which do not specify whether these accidents occurred on sidewalks or roads.

Since Prime Minister Robert Fico returned to power in 2023 in the Central European country of 5.4 million inhabitants, he has pushed through a series of legislative amendments aimed at limiting individual rights.

Slovakia has the highest car production per capita in the world.

AFP