Hundreds of cyclists gathered in Independence Square in the morning. The “Bike to Work” campaign was holding its fifth event. Activists took a mass photo of themselves, had breakfast and drank coffee, with the organizers even bringing sugar in bicycle-shaped packs. The day also saw the award ceremony for the best businesses in the Cycling-Friendly Employer of the Year nomination. Most winners were IT companies, while the National Bank of Ukraine was the only public institution to rank high. Beyond Kyiv, the “Bike to Work” flashmobs gathered in Kryvy Rih, Lviv, Poltava, and Kharkiv. In the capital, the campaign’s coordinator was the Kyiv Association of Cyclists.
Kyivan cyclists are glad to see progressing construction of the Yevropeiska Square – Troieshchyna cycling route. Kyiv mayor’s cycling infrastructure development advisor Ksenia Semenova told us: “Soon, we will complete construction of the section of the route that was planned to be constructed this year. In particular, the section runs through Henerala Vatutina Avenue and Honore de Balzaca Street. This route’s cycling path is of better quality than Kyiv’s previous projects. It features good cycling crossways and layout, lowered curbs. Chaotic parking in the city is our common major issue. Cyclists have the right to use all roads, but illegal parking lots force them to move closer to the middle of the street sometimes, which is dangerous. If only our laws allowed the police to issue fines for illegal parking in the absence of the driver, the situation would improve. I also hope that all future renovations of streets and squares in this city will take into account the cycling traffic requirements.”
For now, Kyivan cyclists often use highways. “I have been cycling since August 2014. I use highways, because I am a driver myself and know how and where to go,” industrial designer Volodymyr Sosevych told us. “I am not going to use cycling paths. They are uncomfortable for me, since people walk and park their cars there. Meanwhile, drivers treat cyclists well as long as we do not create obstacles and do not make any sudden moves.”
As many as thirteen office buildings competed for the title of the best cycling-friendly employer. Volunteers of the Kyiv Association of Cyclists inspected the businesses. “The main criterion was availability of a bicycle parking facility or bicycle storage space in the office building. Some companies have showers. Management encourages employees to cycle sometimes, and some businesses hold sporting events for cyclists. Of course, the employees’ cycling propensity was a factor as well,” member of the Kyiv Association of Cyclists Daryna Pyrohova commented. “Number of businesses applying for the competition is not that high. Normally, it is IT companies and large business centers that are cyclist-friendly.”
The “Bike to Work” flashmob event was part of the European Mobility Week, held in more than 2,000 European cities from September 16 through 22 every year.
