#BikesForUkraine: DG MOVE’s initiative needs bicycles… and you

(from the Commission Staff Magazine)

#BikesForUkraine: DG MOVE’s initiative needs bicycles… and you

by Patrizio Fiorilli, CEND

12/10/2022 

What do the war in Ukraine and European Mobility Week have in common? Personal contacts for starters, and above all, bikes. Lots of bikes that are badly needed in Ukraine as Russia’s invasion leaves a trail of destruction in its ruthless wake. This is the interactive story of DG MOVE’s initiative to help, interactive because you can be part of it, as Madeleine Kelly in DG MOVE, explains.

​​When she appears on screen for this interview, Madeleine has the broadest smile ever on her face: “I am so happy we can share this initiative with colleagues across the Commission. We really need their support, for thousands of Ukrainian families living in cities half destroyed by the Russian army."

'This initiative' which Madeleine refers to has a name, and that name says it all: #BikesForUkraine. Launched by Ukrainian NGOs it has been officially endorsed by DG MOVE and has already attracted many colleagues from other services.

In the beginning there was European Mobility Week

Yes, it all started with European Mobility Week​. DG MOVE colleagues involved in the preparation of it collaborate with national coordinators across Europe, and that's when Lesya Loyko, the Ukraine coordinator, informed them of the existence of #BikesForUkraine. In a few words, the idea is to collect bikes especially for essential workers and for children's homes.

The bicycle has become the main way of getting around in the Ukrainian cities that have suffered most from the Russian military aggression: Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy and others. These cities are struggling with interrupted or non-operational public transport and a lack of fuel. The bicycle is often the only option for delivering humanitarian aid and moving personnel working on critical services. Requests for 700 bikes have already been registered by the Ukrainian partners.

The humble bicycle is the best way, sometimes the only way, to get around ​

Madeleine explains: “You have to picture it in your mind, hundreds of Ukrainian cities and villages have been maimed by the Russian invasion. Public services, including public transport, have suffered a lot. Russian shells and missiles have destroyed much of the infrastructure, especially roads. Yet, people still live there, they need to move around to get food, to reach a doctor, children need to go to schools, however badly damaged they are. In such daily nightmarish conditions, the humble bicycle is the best way, sometimes the only way, to get around."

“Lesya is the director of one of the NGOs that launched the campaign and she was also heavily involved in helping displaced Ukrainian families get housing, food, clothing and more," Madeleine adds. “She described to us the conditions in which many people are living, having fled from the Russian army, and she asked if there was any way we could support their initiative. We were moved to tears, all of us."

From then on, events unfolded rapidly. The DG MOVE colleagues involved agreed they simply had to help; besides, isn't the bicycle in tune with the spirit of European Mobility Week?

They spread the news within their DG first and were pleased to find so many colleagues spontaneously volunteered. “The whole DG came together as one, and the support from our hierarchy was simply fabulous. We are so grateful," Madeleine says. They also organised a cake sale yesterday which raised more than €1,400, with all the proceeds going to the initiative. And they contacted NGOs and sport shops in Brussels to garner more support. Even the EU Cyclists' Group was enlisted!

Yes, you can help!

As for the specific ways colleagues can help, Madeleine has a long list: “Obviously if you have bikes that you don't need any more and that are in working conditions, we would love to add them to our stock. We are also setting up a team of colleagues who are volunteering to check all bikes and make small repairs to those that are not in perfect condition."

Any type of bicycle is welcome, including for children, and also spare parts to help keep them on the road, but there are other ways to help: #BikesForUkraine needs donations of accessories such as trailers, helmets, lights, air pumps, saddle bags, or lock chains for instance. “Colleagues and supporters willing to dedicate time to repair donated bikes are very welcome. Cash donations too of course," Madeleine adds.

Bikes for Ukraine can be dropped off throughout October in the DG MOVE building, rue de Mot 28 in Brussels, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays Thursdays and Fridays, between 8:30 and 10:00, or by personal appointment via MOVE-COMMUNICATION@ec.europa.eu.​