#BikesForUkraine is an international campaign providing bicycles for aid workers to deliver medication, food and humanitarian aid in Ukraine. Given the lack of fuel and the devastating impact of the Russian military aggression on transport infrastructure, the bicycle has become the most reliable transport mode for delivering urgent humanitarian aid and medical supplies.
According to the United Nations, 6 million people have fled their homes in Ukraine to seek refuge in neighboring countries. Meanwhile, an estimated 6.5 million people are believed to be displaced within the country itself.
For those forced to flee to other countries, the European Union is offering key information in Ukrainian and Russian on how to best prepare and travel within the EU. However, for people that have chosen to remain in Ukraine to offer humanitarian aid to those who are unable to escape, a grass-roots campaign spearheaded by the Kyiv Cyclists’ Association (U-Cycle), Eco Misto (Chernihiv), Youth Association Extreme Style (Sumy), Urban Reform (Kharkiv) and FORZA (Uzhhorod) has emerged to increase the mobility of volunteers so that they able to reach those who need their help most.
#BikesforUkraine is an international campaign that calls on cycling community organisations, international and European institutions, and towns and cities for support. Among the many devastating consequences of the Russian invasion, Ukrainian mobility infrastructure and public transport have been damaged, making it almost impossible to travel within and between cities. As a result, the bicycle has surfaced as the main mode of transport and often is the only option for volunteers to deliver critical health and humanitarian services.
To ensure humanitarian aid is accessible in different Ukrainian cities, #BikesforUkraine is asking for help.
You can support by:
• Independently purchasing bicycles abroad or in Ukraine and transferring them to U-Cycle;
• Collecting and repairing used bicycles in your city and organising their transfer to Ukraine;
• If you are a cycling business – donating bicycles;
• Funding the purchase of bicycles in Ukraine via bank transfer or PayPal transfer to U-Cycle.
Bank transfer information:
Account number: UA403052990000026001006209584
Bank: CB PRIVATBANK Kiev
Bank code 305299
PayPal: nastia.makarenko7@gmail.com
Anastasiia Makarenko is an Executive Director of U-Cycle, Kyiv Cyclists’ Association.
Your donations will help purchase:
• 1 new bicycle – 250 euros
• 1 used bicycle – 100 euros
• 1/2 of a used bicycle – 50 euros
• 1/4 of a used bicycle – 25 euros
• Cable lock for a bicycle – 10 euros
By supporting #BikesforUkraine, you can help simplify logistics for vital humanitarian aid and support the Ukrainian economy. To help, fill in the form: https://forms.gle/66J2U5QBBo2ufRwf8
#BikesforUkraine also accepts requests for bicycles from organisations, youth centres and humanitarian hubs in Ukraine. Priority is given to cities and villages that are severely affected by hostilities and where public transport and infrastructure are inoperative. The initiative will also consider applications from cities accepting displaced persons. Apply for bikes here: https://forms.gle/M6Ago7zsCdhrHCDb9
Supporters of this initiative include the staff of the European Commission.