Нещодавно весь світ відзначав «День без авто». Люди відмовлялися, принаймні, на якийсь час від автомобілів та навали перевагу велосипедам. І якщо жителів багатьох європейських країн таким кроком важко здивувати, то українці поки що не поспішають пересідати на ровери. Recently, ‘The Day Without Cars’ was celebrated by people from the entire world. They refused cars in the preference of bicycles at least for a short time. This step would scarcely surprise the residence of many European countries, but Ukrainians still do not hurry to change their lives in the same way.
Dmitry Stepanenko replaced his Skoda car with a simple regular bike, while moving from Odessa to Poznan. The man confesses that he would not risk giving up the car in Ukraine, but in Poland it is convenient to travel by two-wheeled transport. Now, using only a bike, he does not worry about conflicts with motorists, firstly, because of the strict compliance with traffic rules and, secondly, thanks to wide bicycle paths and visible signs of directions.
Although Odessa’s bike-activist Peter Obukhov has traveled to various cities abroad a lot, he does not give up his bicycle in Ukraine. This man spends daily more than two hours riding a bicycle. He stresses that this kind of transport is both cost-effective and good for health. ‘I’ve been riding for 13 years. Cycling is twice as more effective than jogging. That is, you can spend less energy, but disperse to high speed. Also, the risk of heart-disorders is believed to be reduced by active riding’ as Peter Obukhov says . However, he agrees that unlike people in other European countries the majority in Ukraine prefers machinery. The problem is the absence of appropriate conditions for cyclists, as Peter Obukhov thinks. He advises Ukrainians to learn from foreign countries exoerience: ‘Amsterdam’s streets are narrow. If there are all cyclists, there will be a congestion. Therefore, the public policy promotes cycling. Exactly in Holland cycling-highways are placed between cities. I have never seen such things in other countries’.
The Latvia’s Mobile Applications, the Sweden’s Special Cards, the Netherland’s bike routes
Peter Obukhov liked rental system of bikes in Sweden and Latvia. Thanks to a special card in Stockholm or a smartphone app in Riga this transport can be taken at one place and left in another permitted location. ‘Being in Germany, I was surprised by the hundreds of people who cycled even in the rain. They drove up to a metro station and left their buckled-on bikes near’, – Odessa’s bike-activist said. In addition, Peter Obukhov stressed upon the importance of descents instead of borders, as in the Netherlands. However, the main condition for comfortable movement is the bike routes, in his opinion. It should be all over the city, not just in certain parts like in Odessa, Kamenets Podolsky, Lviv, Kyiv. He believes this will increase the demand of bicycles: ‘When I bought a bike, my mom was worried about my riding on a road. Sidewalks are forbidden to the cyclists. We should move on the right side of a road at the distance of one meter from the sidewalk. For example, in the Netherlands there are cycle-tracks next to or right upon sidewalks. In this case, a bicycle track is lower than a pavement… It is necessary in any case to separate the space for cyclists on the pavement by red color or columns’.
According to Peter Obukhov, recently the locals conducted the poll about local issues. Then the man proposed to add to the list the lack of bicycle paths. 5% of the population supported this option. ‘It seems that it is a small percentage, but it is 50 thousand people. If the other 95% had tried this piece of convenience, the percentage of the followers would be increased’, – the bike-activist added.
The Main Thing is Respect – Not Bike-routes
The head of Odesa’s bicycle-club Vladislav Malishev is against bike routes. He is convinced that conflicts on the roads will not exist when people start to follow traffic rules and respect each other, and when motorists realize that the car is not the indicator of wealth and a bike s never the lable of poverty, then the bicycle will be accepted as public transport in Ukraine as well. ‘If they draw bike routes, cars or even kiosks will stand there. We can see it in Kyiv. Just look at The Health Thrace, where, firstly, narrow cycle tracks are placed, and secondly, people walk and drive electric cars. Tracks can not be the problem solution. It is necessary to find the drivers who violate the rules. Currently, people are afraid to even move around by bicycles, because drivers often cut across, bring them down, do not let the cyclists pass at the corners & crossings. No one pays attention to it’ – Vladislav Malyshev is noticing.
The representative of cyclists also notes that in Odessa are some of the best roads in Ukraine, but they only need to solve the problem of stormwater drainage for cyclists not to spoil theirs vehicle wheels. It is necessary, first of all, to change the consciousness of a society, that a bike is not less prestigious than a car, to inform about traffic rules, provide a municipal renting service, which is already functioning in Lviv, motivate employees by employers to encourage people to drive the rover, according to Mr. Vladyslaw. ‘For example, a London banker goes to work by bicycle, because he understands all the advantages. There are always about 30-40 bikes standing near the buildings. Also there are indoor-showers and sport-active people have 10% bonus to the salary’. However, bike-activists believe that over the last six years the situation has been improved: the number of cyclists has increased, people have already started to realize that a bike is more useful than a car.
Germany: Bicycles Are the Kings of a Road
Bike-fan Gzhegorz Konopski also saw problems with bicycle traffic in his native Poland. Although its conditions are better than in Ukraine, but a car is still more popular than a bike. Currently Gzhegorz lives in Germany, where, he says, ‘cyclists are the kings of roads’. He concluded that his present residence is the ideal place for traveling by bicycles and that is where the bike is a public transport. ‘In Munster, the city I’m currently living in, any road has an alternative bike path and the “Promenade” can be used as a type of a highway for bikes and lets you get around the whole city in a flash. The cyclists are also very much tolerated and in case of an accident the law is always on the side of a bike user and car drivers really pay attention to their two-wheeled friends’ – Gzhegorz Konopski is telling. Also he is noticing that there is always a social benefits of such a cycling lifestyle. The cyclists often meet together and go on trips to the nearby towns and lakes. Gzhegorz is explaining, ’I can appreciate the wind in my hair and the smile of fellow-cyclists every day feeling safe while riding my bike. It is surely faster than walking and more Eco-friendly than a car. It should be more popular in more countries’.
