At 9 a.m. there were more bikes than random passerby on the Poshtova Square at the subway entrance on the side of the funicular. Young guys and girls not only on bikes, but also with strollers or on crutches went down the stairs into the undercrossing and then climbed up on the other side, testing the site. Young bikers carried their bikes in hands. Obviously, this kind of movement is not convenient for both the bikers and regular pedestrians. But this is exactly the type of undercrossing, six meters wide and with ramps with a slope of 18 degrees, that is designed to be built here according to the project for renovating the Poshtova Square. That’s why young activists organized this flash mob early in the morning – they demand that the square should be reconstructed according to the needs of all people, not just car owners. “If they are going to do it anyway, why can’t they do it well?” wondered the activists.
A girl sits in a wheelchair and two guys are slowly pushing her up on the ramp: “You see, we managed to do it only together and it required considerable effort!” said one of the activists.
Anzhelika Rudenko with a stroller, where her 10-month-old son is sitting impatiently, goes down into the undercrossing – it’s a big challenge really. “When I became a mom, I realized that it’s a big problem to move around the city with a stroller: you either have to be physically strong, or you need to have a good person nearby at all times,” explained the young mother. “Undercrossings are not designed for mothers with strollers, there is no doubt about it and no one would argue.” It is true that nobody will rebuild the whole city, but if the authorities decided to reconstruct the square why can’t they do everything so that it would work for people?
Iryna Bondarenko, coordinator of the Association of Cyclists in Kyiv, came to the event on a green bike. She said that petitions and letters have been already sent to Kyiv City State Administration – now they are waiting for response. Cyclists have three key demands concerning the Poshtova Square: extend the undercrossing from six meters to ten, make modern comfortable ramps (six degrees slope) and cycle tracks with no stairs. Such undercrossing will be comfortable for everyone: for parents with strollers, for disabled people, for older people and children. “And bike lanes will have to be built eventually,” said Bondarenko. “The number of cyclists is constantly increasing and eventually the government will have to pay attention to them.”
Activists have another bonus-wish – they want to see trees growing on Poshtova Square. But this will be discussed later when it’ll be clear that everyone who wants and needs will be able to get to the square. Activists are sure that all flaws can still be corrected because the Square will be soon reconstructed. The main thing is to make the government listen to the suggestions, complaints, and ideas of the activists and respond adequately.
