#BikesForUkraine is an international campaign, initiated by six Ukrainian NGOs, providing bicycles for aid workers to deliver medication, food and humanitarian aid in Ukraine. To mark three years since the campaign began, we had the privilege of speaking with Svitlana Samikova from U-Cycle, who has been actively involved in organising the initiative.

Could you explain the origins of the initiative #BikesForUkraine, how it started and the overall aim?

#BikesForUkraine is an international humanitarian campaign that started in 2022, shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

I can tell you the story of how the campaign came into being. In the first month of the full-scale war, we had several online meetings with European partner organisations, such as the Berlin-based organisation ‘Changing Cities’. We held these meetings to spread information about the war in Ukraine, and they also became a source of emotional support. A feeling of being heard. In one of these meetings, we shared a request for bicycles from communities near the frontline area. ‘Changing Cities’ promised to look into it. From there, it just started to develop and expand. We very soon realised that bicycles could become a vital mobility solution for people in cities and villages throughout Ukraine who were suffering from the effects of disrupted public transport and fuel shortages. Together with other friendly NGOs we launched the campaign.

The aim of the campaign is to deliver bicycles to volunteers, social workers, doctors and people in need, helping them to be mobile. The bicycles help them to deliver humanitarian aid to places that are otherwise difficult to reach. The campaign has now been running for three years. Over 92 ambassadors have supported the campaign, donating funds and bicycles. We have delivered bicycles to more than 90 local communities in Ukraine, increasing social cohesion and serving as a truly important tool for psychological relief. For a lot of people on the frontline, there is also the important aspect of not being forgotten.

Could you talk about some of the challenges that #BikesForUkraine has faced so far?

There are of course many challenges that we need to cope with. I would firstly mention the difficulty of organising international logistics during wartime. It is quite complicated, because we need safe delivery routes using land transport only. We also need to handle customs formalities and report to different inspection bodies on the use of the humanitarian aid. And we need to do all this with the smallest team in the past 10 years at U-Cycle (Kyiv Cyclists’ Association), as most members of our permanent team are in the armed forces. We are very grateful to our ambassadors for helping us in handling the delivery processes before the bicycles reach the Ukrainian border.

Another challenge is maintaining communication with all the campaign stakeholders, particularly last year, when there were constant electricity and internet disruptions, not forgetting the missile and drone attacks. As you have experienced, these can affect some working processes [the interview was rescheduled due to an overnight attack on Kyiv]. Nonetheless, we Ukrainians continue to live, work and resist. The #BikesForUkraine campaign remains an important source of support and hope for a better future.

Could you give a couple of examples of how the donated bicycles have helped people?

Each bicycle we deliver makes a difference to ordinary people stuck on the frontlines and every story matters. They show how the humble bicycle is literally a lifeline. A good example is the volunteers who are currently in the Donetsk region, rescuing animals from dangerous areas and moving them to safer places, or just feeding them if they cannot get them out. Of course, there are also plenty of cases of medical workers helping individuals who could only be reached by bicycle.

Another story reflecting the important role that bicycles can play for Ukrainian communities relates to the time when the northern part of Kherson region was occupied. There were two towns separated by some agricultural fields. One of the villages was still Ukrainian and the other one was occupied. The occupiers stood at a checkpoint on the road between the two towns and they did not let cars through, no matter who was driving. Only bicycles or wheelchairs, for example, were allowed to pass by. Nowadays, the locals call this the ‘road of life’. It is a small stretch of road about three kilometres long and at that time it was dotted with bicycles, which were used to get through the checkpoint. The locals organised a bicycle shelter where people who evacuated by bicycle could leave them, so they could be used again by others for the same purpose. This is a story of the common bicycle becoming a symbol of the only route to salvation from the occupation. The local community is thinking about building a bicycle monument, to remember the lives that were saved by this simple form of transport.

How do you see the future for bicycles in Ukraine? Do you see cycling becoming a key part of the transport system in the future?

We believe that cycling will play a big role in Ukraine's transport future. In the short-term, bicycles are crucial in the de-occupied territories. Even after they have been liberated, these areas are often difficult to access or the infrastructure has been destroyed. The reconstruction process will take time. Receiving bicycles from our campaign is a big help for these communities in the process of recovery.

In the long term, we advocate for rebuilding cities with inclusive, sustainable mobility in mind. The war has shown how resilient bicycles are and that they are an especially effective response to the challenges we face. We hope the value of bicycles will be integrated within the ‘build back better’ principals of Ukraine's green post-war recovery. This is necessary for a greener, healthier and more resilient society. People tend to talk only about post-war recovery, but it’s also about recovery during the war. The war is still ongoing, but at the same time many places are recovering and rebuilding. We try to view this recovery, as well as further European integration, as a window of opportunity for implementing positive sustainable mobility changes in our lives and into our communities.

Is there anything you think the rest of Europe can learn from this experience, especially in relation to the mobility problems that you've had to face?

Our experience shows that even in the worst of times, communities can adapt and support each other with simple but effective tools like bicycles. They have played such an important role in strengthening solidarity and social cohesion within communities. This also proves that mobility is not a luxury; it is a basic human need. Access to transport underpins safety, dignity and resilience right now in Ukraine. I hope this can be somehow inspiring and empowering for other communities.

Lastly, is there any message you would like to send to people in Europe who may be wondering how they can help?

We see our campaign as a great opportunity for our ambassadors to show their solidarity with Ukraine, whether by donating bicycles or fundraising or simply raising awareness by amplifying our message. It all makes a huge difference and every act of support, no matter how big or small, brings us closer to building a stronger and more mobile Ukraine. Finally, it also gives us the feeling that we are not alone. I look forward to the day when #BikesForUkraine can invite everyone who has helped to come and visit us, and see a safe, peaceful and bicycle-friendly Ukraine. This thought keeps me going.

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Svitlana Samikova is an Administrative Specialist at ams OSRAM and has been a volunteer at U-Cycle, Kyiv Cyclists’ Association, since 2018.

To find out how you can support the #BikesForUkraine campaign, please visit the U-Cycle website page on the initiative, here.