The #BikesForUkraine campaign, launched in 2022 in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, aims to increase the mobility of volunteer workers during the war by providing bicycles to deliver urgent humanitarian aid, food and medication. As of 1 December 2024, the initiative delivered 2642 bicycles to over 85 Ukrainian communities and brought together more than 80 ambassadors across multiple countries. Bicycles have been provided to volunteers, youth centres, social workers, medical staff, local governments, internally displaced persons, and children.
For 2025, U-Cycle aims to double the number of bikes delivered to meet the incoming requests. To achieve this, the organisation calls for continued donations and support from the broader cycling community.
Velohromady (left) and the Girls' Bicycle Ride (right), source: U-Cycle
In addition to #BikesForUkraine, U-Cycle has been active on many fronts, reaching important milestones for cycling in particular and reconstruction efforts in general.
For the first time, in partnership with the Bike City consulting project team, U-Cycle held the all-Ukrainian open competition "Velohromady" (Cycling Communities) for the free development of a bicycle route project as part of the National Transport Strategy of Ukraine until 2030. The Mykolaiv City Community was declared the winner with their proposal for a bicycle route between a remote residential area and the city centre, integrating bicycle transport into the overall urban transport system.
Furthermore, U-Cycle held the 11th edition of the Girls' Bicycle Ride, for the first time with a charitable purpose and during a full-scale war. Held simultaneously with the True Trail event in the framework of the fundraising project #VeloPPO (#CycleForAirDefence), the initiative raised 90,022.29 UAH (approx. 4,600 USD) in support of the air defence forces of the Kyiv region.
U-Cycle also developed government recommendations for bicycle-friendly schools. The recommendations pertain to infrastructure, education and promotion. They are meant to be integrated into national reconstruction plans, adhering to the "Build Back Better" principle and complying with the European integration processes.
The recommendations also consider the successful experience of U-Cycle’s Bike2School campaign, which aims to integrate bicycle safety education into Ukrainian school education since 2021. As part of the annual campaign, the first edition of the challenge “Cycling May” was held in 2024. The challenge involved participating schools appointing a cycling ambassador, encouraging students and teachers to cycle to school during May, counting the number of bicycles near the school daily, and cycling mentors conducting traffic safety classes for schoolchildren. The challenge saw 225 secondary schools from urban and rural areas of different regions participate, with 101 reaching the final!
Bicycle-friendly schools recommendations (left) and the Girls' Bicycle Ride (right), source: U-Cycle
For more information on U-Cycle and the activities described in this article, please visit their website.
Source: U-Cycle
For 2025, U-Cycle aims to double the number of bikes delivered to meet the incoming requests. To achieve this, the organisation calls for continued donations and support from the broader cycling community.
| How can you help? You can donate via the following bank details: Kyiv Cyclists’ Association (EUR) Correspondent Bank: Commerzbank AG, Frankfurt am Main, Germany SWIFT/ BIC code: COBADEFF Account in the correspondent bank: 400886700401 Beneficiary Bank: JSC CB “PRIVATBANK”, KYIV, UKRAINE SWIFT/ BIC code: PBANUA2X Beneficiary Name: Kyiv Cyclists’ Association IBAN: UA903052990000026006016232591 Purpose of payment: Non-refundable financial assistance (charitable assistance) Kyiv Cyclists’ Association (USD) Correspondent Bank: Citibank N.A., NEW YORK, USA SWIFT/ BIC code: CITI US 33 Account in the correspondent bank: 36445343 Beneficiary Bank: JSC CB “PRIVATBANK”, KYIV, UKRAINE SWIFT/ BIC code: PBANUA2X Beneficiary Name: Kyiv Cyclists’ Association IBAN: UA433052990000026000026236572 Purpose of payment: Non-refundable financial assistance (charitable assistance) Or via PayPal (EUR, USD) [email protected] Purpose: Bikes For Ukraine All ways to support the campaign can be found on the #BikesForUkraine page. |
Velohromady (left) and the Girls' Bicycle Ride (right), source: U-Cycle
In addition to #BikesForUkraine, U-Cycle has been active on many fronts, reaching important milestones for cycling in particular and reconstruction efforts in general.
For the first time, in partnership with the Bike City consulting project team, U-Cycle held the all-Ukrainian open competition "Velohromady" (Cycling Communities) for the free development of a bicycle route project as part of the National Transport Strategy of Ukraine until 2030. The Mykolaiv City Community was declared the winner with their proposal for a bicycle route between a remote residential area and the city centre, integrating bicycle transport into the overall urban transport system.
Furthermore, U-Cycle held the 11th edition of the Girls' Bicycle Ride, for the first time with a charitable purpose and during a full-scale war. Held simultaneously with the True Trail event in the framework of the fundraising project #VeloPPO (#CycleForAirDefence), the initiative raised 90,022.29 UAH (approx. 4,600 USD) in support of the air defence forces of the Kyiv region.
U-Cycle also developed government recommendations for bicycle-friendly schools. The recommendations pertain to infrastructure, education and promotion. They are meant to be integrated into national reconstruction plans, adhering to the "Build Back Better" principle and complying with the European integration processes.
The recommendations also consider the successful experience of U-Cycle’s Bike2School campaign, which aims to integrate bicycle safety education into Ukrainian school education since 2021. As part of the annual campaign, the first edition of the challenge “Cycling May” was held in 2024. The challenge involved participating schools appointing a cycling ambassador, encouraging students and teachers to cycle to school during May, counting the number of bicycles near the school daily, and cycling mentors conducting traffic safety classes for schoolchildren. The challenge saw 225 secondary schools from urban and rural areas of different regions participate, with 101 reaching the final!
Bicycle-friendly schools recommendations (left) and the Girls' Bicycle Ride (right), source: U-Cycle
For more information on U-Cycle and the activities described in this article, please visit their website.
