Rácalmás Bike Path Speed Limits Leave Residents and Experts Confused

Residents of Rácalmás, a town in Hungary, are baffled by the sudden appearance of 8 and 16 km/h speed limits on a local bike path, with no official explanation for their implementation. The signs, which first appeared in 2021 according to Google Street View, have left cyclists and local officials questioning their rationale.

The Confusing Speed Limits on Rácalmás’ Bike Path

The 8 km/h and 16 km/h limits are posted on the Kulcsi úti gyalog- és bringaúti, a bike path that was constructed in 2018. Locals who use the route report that the signs have been a source of confusion, with some cyclists unsure whether to obey them. A cyclist mentioned that they had seen the sign but were unsure if they should follow it, as they didn’t have a speedometer, according to Telex, adding that the rules don’t make sense.

The town’s local authority provided a vague response, stating that the speed limits were approved by the Fejér Megyei Kormányhivatal Székesfehérvári Járási Hivatala Műszaki Engedélyezési Fogyasztóvédelmi és Foglalkoztatási Főosztály Útügyi Osztály in 2018. However, no further details were provided about how the specific numbers were determined. The local authority cannot deviate from this, according to Györe Andrea, a local official, as reported by Telex.

The 8 km/h and 16 km/h limits are unusual but not illegal, according to Pető Attila, a traffic law expert. He explained that the KRESZ (Hungarian traffic regulations) allows for arbitrary speed limits on bike paths, as long as they are clearly marked. Pető Attila explained that the speed limit sign in the KRESZ is only illustrative, allowing any value theoretically, according to Telex. However, the expert admitted he could not explain how the specific numbers of 8 and 16 km/h were chosen.

Local Reactions and Confusion

Residents have expressed frustration over the lack of clarity. One local, who lives near the bike path, admitted that they drive a car and hadn’t noticed before, but now found it intriguing, according to Telex. Others speculated that the limits might be a response to reckless cyclists, with one rider suggesting that they speed at 50 km/h, referring to rollerbladers. However, no official confirmation has been provided.

The signs themselves have also disappeared in some areas, adding to the mystery. A reporter from Telex found that the 8 km/h limit near the Márkus utcai intersection was no longer visible, despite being marked on Google Maps. I check the map, and it should be here, but it’s not, the reporter noted.

The KRESZ specifies that on combined pedestrian and bike paths, the speed limit is 20 km/h, while on dedicated bike paths, it is 30 km/h. The 8 km/h and 16 km/h limits on Rácalmás’ path do not align with these standards. Pető Attila said that neither of these values appear in the KRESZ, but the law does not prohibit them.

Expert Analysis of the Limits

Experts have weighed in, clarifying that while the limits are unusual, they are not illegal. Pető Attila, a traffic law expert, explained that the KRESZ (Hungarian traffic regulations) allows for arbitrary speed limits on bike paths, as long as they are clearly marked. Pető Attila explained that the speed limit sign in the KRESZ is only illustrative, allowing any value theoretically, according to Telex.

However, the expert admitted he could not explain how the specific numbers of 8 and 16 km/h were chosen. He noted that similar limits exist in the U.S., such as on New York’s Mario Cuomo Bridge, where the speed limit for cyclists is 5 mph (approximately 8 km/h) when pedestrians are present. It’s possible that the local authority adapted a foreign model, he said.

Californian Huntington Beach also has a similar system: 8 km/h when pedestrians are on the path and 16 km/h when they are not. A source indicated that the long-named technical approval consumer protection and employment department’s traffic division implemented these values in Rácalmás, according to Telex.

Unanswered Questions and Ongoing Mystery

Despite the expert’s explanation, many questions remain unanswered. The Fejér Megyei Kormányhivatal (Fejér County Government Office) has not responded to repeated inquiries, and no official documentation has been released to justify the limits. It would be helpful if the authorities could clarify this, said a local cyclist, according to Telex.

As one local put it, a local expressed that they were now curious and would like to see the mystery resolved, referring to the mystery of the limits.