Exploring The Barriers To Urban Cycling Adoption In The City Of Kyiv

Modern cities are grappling with significant transportation challenges. Rapid population growth, increased level of urbanization, and complex commuter behaviors call for fresh perspectives on urban transport solutions, especially in the emerging countries. A pressing issue in many major cities, including Kyiv, which had almost 3 million in population (according to the State Statistics Service of Ukraine) and was one of the largest cities in Europe in 2022, is traffic congestion. For instance, as reported by TomTom Traffic Index, residents of Kyiv spend an alarming average of 207 hours or 8.6 days per year in traffic jams. Such delays not only reduce economic productivity but also contribute to mounting environmental issues through excessive greenhouse gas emissions. This research seeks to identify the primary barriers that discourage daily cycling in Kyiv. By focusing on Kyiv's unique context and interacting with local participants, this research brings new insights to the matter of urban cycling. Through understanding city residents' views, attitudes, and habits, this study aims to provide insights that can guide businesses, urban planning authorities and policy decisions to make Kyiv more welcoming to cyclists.