Brno Parking

Since 2018, Brno uses a "flower" model for parking in the city.  A person's residential, or a business address, is the flower's centre and the neighbouring areas are the petals.  The city is  divided into three different zones: A, B, and C.

Zone A is the historic city centre.  If you don't have a residency permit then you can't drive in the area or park.

Zone B is a sign around the city centre.  Visitors can park here for for one hour free.  After the first hour it costs 40 Kč (~$2) for every hour after.

Zone C, where I live, takes effect next effect next week.  Parking during the day is free, and on weekends.  On workdays from 17:00 to 06:00, visitors can park for free for the first hour.  Then it's 30 Kč for every hour after.

You have to register your vehicle at the parking metre or via an on-line app in order use the free first hour.  Except for weekends and holidays when you don't have to register for free parking.

A resident parking permit costs 600 Kč ($30) per year for the first vehicle.  It's another 15.000 Kč ($726) for a second vehicle and another 30.000 Kč ($1,450) for every additional vehicle.

Residents can allocate "visitor hours" to guests and tradespeople.  If you live in Zone A or Zone B then you can issue 200 hours per year for free.  You have to pay for additional hours.

For Zone C, it's 100 hours per year for free and additional hours are paid.

Claudia is coming for a visit next week so I registered her German license online so she will be able to park near my flat for 100 hours for the next year.

Going Back to Cali

Yesterday, we drove from Prescott to Irvine.  Well, Dad did all of the driving.  

The trip took 7,5 hours and thank goodness for air conditioning because it was wicked hot.  It was 45,5 ℃ (114 ℉) at the Arizona-California border.

I was one happy Mexican when we got to my sister's house because she had a feast waiting for us. #fatandhappy 

I need to make sure that I don't put on 5 kg while I'm on holiday. 

EU vs. Internal Combustion Engines

Tomorrow is the beginning of Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union.  The EU has a Green Deal goal of climate neutrality by 2050.  This means that action is required now as 20% of the EU's CO² emissions comes from road transportation.  The European Commission has proposed that as of 2035, all new cars and vans should yield zero emissions.  It's been approved by the European Parliament.  The finalisation of the new rules will be negotiated during the Czech EU presidency.

©France24

Škoda is the largest employer in Czechland.  All of the company's Czech plants already make electric cars or components.  In 2019, it introduced the Citigo-e iV, its first electric car.  By 2030, Škoda wants 50-70% market share of all-electric car sales in Europe.

Hyundai has a factory in Nošovice.  In 2020, they started producing the Kona Electric and they also want a big piece of the European electric car market.

Toyota is the country's third-largest automaker with a factory in Kolín.  The Kolín factory currently produces two models, both with internal combustion engines.  The company wants all of its luxury cars running on electric by 2030 in Europe, North America, and China.  All of its cars should be running on electric by 2035.

The EU has also proposed legislation that will require public charging points no more than 60 km (37 miles) apart from each other on major roads by 2025.  The outlook is for 3,5 million public charging stations by 2030 and 16,3 million by 2050.

Update:  On 26 August, legislation passed that all new vehicles sold in California by 2035 must be either electric or electric hybrids.

©France24

Velorex

Velorex was a company that produced a three-wheeled car in Czechoslovakia from the 1950s to 1971.

After WWII, the Czechoslovak auto industry couldn't keep up with demand so there were quotas and long waiting periods.

It was like a reverse tricycle, so two wheels in the front and one in the back.  The frame was welded steel tubing with vinyl stretched over the cage and attached with turn button fasteners and the whole thing basically ran on a motorcycle engine.

It had a maximum speed of 30 km/h (18,5 MPH) and in Czechland you only needed an A license which is a motorcycle license.  Since 2000, you need a B1 license but I heard that you can drive them at 17 instead of 18.

A little over 15.000 units per produced.  I don't know how much they cost but about half of them were exported to Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria and East Germany.

Veolorex has kind of a cult status and there are a few clubs throughout the country.  I've never seen one.  At least not yet.

Here's a television commercial which was filmed in 1961 but it never aired.

The 1981 Czech comedic film Vrchní, Prchni! featured the main character driving his Velorex and show how awkward the vehicle was.  Here are a few scenes that I found out on YouTube.

My New Driver's License

I applied to renew my driver's license in August, coincidentally, on the very same day that my my old license expired.  It was surprisingly easy.  I had an appointment, showed my old license, signed some documents, and that was it.  I didn't need to take a new photo and it didn't cost anything.  I was given a piece of paper that said I applied for my renewal on 17.8., and I was told that my new license might be ready for pickup in two weeks but definitely within four weeks.  I would just need to make an appointment to pick it up.  

I wasn't really worried about how long it would take to get my new license.  It's not like I need it to ride the tram.  Since I knew that I'd be in Germany last week I had scheduled an appointment for yesterday.  

Again, it was very easy.  When I made my appointment online I was given a four-digit PIN that I entered today when I arrived.  I waited to be called up to the window where the clerk took my old license and gave me my new one.  I didn't need to pay anything and I was in and out of the place in ten minutes.  Awesome!

I did like my old license better.  Well, at least the photo was better.  For my new license they automatically used the photo they had in the system from the last time I was here to renew my ID, when I had my good experience at the Foreign Police.  The old license also had a second photo in the bottom right corner but my new license doesn't have it.

With my new license I'm legal to drive here for another ten years.

Road Trip to Poland

This weekend was the first time I've left Czechland in over a year.  I was in Germany in July 2020 and since then I haven't left the country.  Not having left the country in a year is unbelievable especially considering I had planned on 20 countries in 2020.  But that's the way things shook out.

This weekend was a quick road trip, with Jitka and Geetha, to Wrocław, Poland.  Besides a being a quick getaway we went to visit our friend and colleague Arek.

Arek was a great tour guide.  Geetha had never been and it had been a many years since Jitka was there.  I've been there more times than I can count.

We had a great time just running around the city.  Of course, no visit to Wrocław is complete without checking out the dwarves.

Driver's License Renewal

I got my Czech driver's license back in 2011 which was good for ten years.  To be honest I haven't driven much anyways.  I don't have a car here in Czechland and I don't need one thanks to the great public transportation system here.  To be honest I can't remember the last time I even drove in the past 8 or so years.

There was plenty of information on online about applying for a Czech license but nothing about renewing an existing one.  At least not in English.  I went online last week and managed to book an appointment for today right before lunch time.  I was provided a code and when I got there, I entered the code into the ticket machine and waited to be called.  

Once called I showed the clerk my license.  She printed off some forms, I double checked the data and signed the form.  She told me that I could make an appointment to pick up my new license in 2 to 4 weeks.  That was it.  I didn't have to give them a photo.  No fee and I kept my current license.  

My license actually expires today but I suppose that with this little paper I could theoretically keep driving until I pick up my new license.  I guess in Czechland. I wouldn't want to test this driving outside the country.

The best part was that I was in and out of the office in only 7 minutes.  Awesome!

New Driving Test Law

A new law was just passed here in Czechland that limits the number of times you can take a driving test.  Previously there was no limit.  Now, under the new law, if someone fails any part of their driver's test they are allowed to repeat it two more times.

If they don't pass it after the third time then they have to repeat the relevant training again.  The candidate then gets another three tries to pass the test.  If they fail all three times then they have to repeat the entire driving course again.

Another change is that the driving school instructor is no longer required to accompany the candidate and the examiner during the driving test.

It's been almost ten years since I received my Czech driver's license.  I need to see what I have to do to renew it.

Suchej únor

Czechland ranks third in the world for alcohol consumption.  The Czech Statistical Office, ČSÚ, reported that in a year the average Czech consumes 292 beers, 100 glasses of wine and 175 shots of hard spirits.  According to the World Health Organization the average Czech drinks 14,4 litres (38 gallons) of pure alcohol every year.

There's a cost to all of this drinking.  The 292 beers alone cost about 8.800 Kč ($405).  The government spends more than 56 billion Kč (~$2,58 billion) on alcohol-related health care.  Heavy drinking kills about 7.000 people each year here.

The National Institute of Mental Health, NÚDZ, reported that men drink 4 times more than women.  Due to COVID-19 it looks like Czechs are drinking about 60% more than before.

I'm actually drinking less.  Way less.  Our last virtual pub night was back in November.  I had wine with my virtual Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners but I haven't had a drink since.  It's not like I'm trying to become a teetotaller it's just I don't really see a point to drinking alone during a global pandemic.  

This year is the 9th annual Suchej únor challenge.  I don't expect that the Dry February challenge will be too difficult since I haven't had a drink since December.

But full disclosure...I'm for sure looking forward to the next lad's night at the pub.  Hopefully sometime this Spring.

Czech Citizenship Exam: Socioeconomic Background

Here are the 10 study questions for the Czech Citizenship exam from section 22:  Socioeconomic Background.

1.  In which region is the Temelín nuclear power plant?

In the South Bohemia Region.

2.  Which of these cities connects the D1 motorway?

Prague and Brno.

3.  What is the name of the famous Czech company that makes pianos?

Petrof.

4.  Traditional brands of trucks are manufactured in Kopřivnice.  What is this brand called?

Tatra.

5.  Which brewery produces Pilsner Urquell beer?

Plzeňský Prazdroj.

6. Hops are an important raw material for beer production.  Where are hops grown?

Around the town of Žatec.

7.  Which of these materials is mined in the Czech Republic?

Brown coal.

8.  Which power plants produce the most electricity in the Czech Republic?

Coal.

9.  Which brand of cars is manufactured in Mladá Boleslav?

Škoda.

10.  The traditional Czech brand is Becherovka.  In which city is this alcoholic beverage produced?

In Karlovy Vary.

Czech Citizenship Exam: Transportation

Here are the 10 study questions for the Czech Citizenship exam from section 2:  transportation.   

1.  Which of the following is not part of public transportation?

Taxis are not part of the public transportation system.  The metro, trams, and busses are.

2.  Mrs. Svobodová rides her bicycle to work.  In which situation does she break the rules of the road?

a) She rides her bike on the sidewalk. - Against the law.

b) She rides the bike on the right side of the road.

c) She rides her bike in a row behind her colleague.

d) She rides her bike and gives a hand signal to change the direction of travel.

3.  Mr. Svoboda wants to drive a car.  What type of driver's license does he need?

Driver's license type B.

4.  How many alcoholic beers can a driver drink according to the law while driving a car in Czech Republic?

None.

5. Which means of transportation has priority over a pedestrian at a crossing?

Trams

6.  What is mandatory car insurance called?

Povinné ručení - Liability

7.  Who is obliged by law to wear clothes with reflective elements?  

A person who goes out of the village at night by road.

8.  How does a child smaller than 150 cm have to travel in a car?

The child must sit restrained in a child car seat.

9.  From what age can children ride a bicycle on the road without the supervision of other people?

From age 10.

10.  Which of the following is piece of mandatory equipment of a car?

First-aid kit.

Great Ocean Road Tour, Australia

On Saturday, we did a tour of the Great Ocean Road.  It's a must do trip when in Melbourne and it's Australia's version of Route 66.  The route is 540 km (336 miles) which is about eight hours worth of driving.

We booked Melbourne Small Group Tours and I'm so glad that we did.  I'm not a big fan of big motor coach tours so a small van with only seven passengers was perfect.  Our guide Travis was fantastic!  Highly recommended.

The two-lane road is 243 km (151 miles) runs between Torquay and Allansford.  It was built from 1919 to 1932 by servicemen and it is dedicated to the soldiers who died in WWI.  The Great Ocean Road is the world's largest war memorial.

Our first stop was about 1,5 hours southwest of Melbourne at a popular surf beach where we had tea and cake.  Then it was on to take some photos at the Memorial Arch.




A stop at Teddy's Lookout gave awesome views of the coastline and the Southern Ocean.

At another stop we spotted some koalas in the trees.  The were doing what koalas do best...sleep.

At Apollo Bay we had an hour to walk around and grab a quick lunch.  Then it was back in the van as we continued our trip.  

Our next stop was at the Great Otway National Park where we had a 45-minute rainforest walk. 

 At Port Campbell National Park we got to see the Twelve Apostles, a collection of limestone stacks.  Although it is called the Twelve Apostles,  there were only ever eight.  Now seven as one collapsed back in 2005.

Another rock stack is the Razorback.  It used to extend further out in to the ocean but erosion has taken its toll.

About 3,5 km (2 miles) northwest of the Twelve Apostles is the Loch Ard Gorge.

On our way back to Melbourne we stopped in a small town called Colac where we had dinner at an Aussie pub.  It was well after 10 pm by the time we made it back to Melbourne but what an awesome day.

Czech Billboards

There's a new law in Czechland that took effect yesterday.  Apparently billboard advertising has been banned.  Billboards can not be displayed within 250 meters of the highway or within 50 meters of 1st class roads.

The thinking is that the billboards can pose a safety issue as drivers can be distracted by the advertising.  

The billboards must be removed by a certain time or pay fines up to 300,000 Kč (close to $14,000).  About 3,000 billboards across the country are impacted.

One company is fighting back and it has replaced the advertising with Czech flags.  Apparently state symbols can not be removed.

I don't know how long this will go on for but at least for a while you can see Czech flags all along the highway.

New Road Rules

There are some new road rules that take effect in Czechland on 20 February 2016.

A reflector on my backpack

Pedestrians must wear reflective elements that are visible to other road users when on a roadside or shoulder outside an urban area where there is reduced visibility or no street lighting.  So everyone is buying reflector bands and putting them on their backpacks or purses.

You can't drive a vehicle that has dirt, frost, or snow on it that obstructs the driver's view either to the front, side or behind the driver.  You also can't drive a vehicle that has ice on it or on its cargo that could endanger traffic on the road if released.

A driver can not endanger a cyclist crossing a road on a crossing for cyclists.  Cyclists now have a similar "right of way" on crossings for cyclists to pedestrians on pedestrian crossings.

Cyclists are allowed to use the entire width of the road in a cycle zone.  Cyclists must allow motor vehicles to drive in a cycle zone and drivers may not go faster than 30 km per hour.

When pulled over by a police officer, if a dangerous defect is found on the vehicle, (or a trailer being pulled), that threatens public safety then then police officer will confiscate the vehicle's certificate of registration.  The police officer will issue a confiscation document to the driver.

If a driver fails to stop when directed by an authorised person regulating traffic or supervising road safety, then the driver will lose his or her license from one to six months.

Czech License Plates

A = Prague
Image from Wikipedia

Cars in Czechland have two license plates, one of the front and one on the back.  The only difference is that the one on the back has registration and technical inspection stickers.

When you look at a Czech license plate you can tell where a car is registered by looking at the second character on the left.  The alpha character tells which kraj (region) the car is registered.

A = Prague
B = South Moravia For me, B = Brno
C = South Bohemia
E = Pardubice
H = Hradec Králové
J = Highland
K = Karlovy Vary
L = Liberec
M = Olomouc
P = Plzeň
S = Central Bohemia
T = Moravia-Silesia
U = Ústi nad Labem
Z = Zlín

B = Brno

As of last year, the plates are not changed if the vehicle owner moves to another region or if the vehicle is re-registered to a new owner in a different region.  New plates are issued if the plate is damaged, lost or stolen.

As of yesterday it is now possible to get a personalised "vanity" plate in Czechland.  The requested plate must have eight characters with at least one numeric character.  There are about 900 words deemed vulgar by the Ministry of Transportation which are not allowed.  No plates may begin with G, CH, O, Q or W.  The price for vanity plates is 10 000 Kč (~$400).