Khaberni - A new law in Slovakia aimed at enhancing safety on sidewalks by setting a maximum speed for all its users, including pedestrians, has sparked a wave of ridicule and public discontent, amid accusations that the government is restricting individual freedoms.
The amendment approved by the Slovak Parliament in late October and set to be implemented on January 1, 2026, sets the speed limit for all sidewalk users, from pedestrians and cyclists to electric bike users, at 6 kilometers per hour, under penalty of a fine of 100 euros.
According to the "Daily Mail", setting the maximum speed at 6 kilometers per hour has sparked a wave of ridicule on social media, where users shared images showing radar capturing a photo of a pedestrian walking at a speed of 6.2 km/h with a "Slow Down" caption, and another image showing a fake "walking license."
A group of citizens called "Concerned Mothers" has urged the president not to sign the law.
According to statistics from the Slovak police, last year 67 pedestrians and 22 cyclists or electric bike riders were killed in accidents, without specifying whether these accidents occurred on sidewalks or roads.
Since the return of Prime Minister Robert Fico to power in 2023, the government of this country located in central Europe, with a population of 5.4 million, has adopted a series of legal amendments that limit some individual rights.
It is worth noting that Slovakia ranks first globally in car production relative to its population.
