Bicycles and Green Infrastructure in Ecovillages

One of the strategic priorities of the NGO “Global Ecovillage Network of Ukraine” is the development of green infrastructure within communities, specifically the promotion of cycling culture inside settlements, between locations, for tourism, and as a foundation for local production systems.

Why this is important

A defining feature of Ukrainian ecovillages is distance. Many settlements are not only connected by poor roads, but also separated by 2, 5, or even 10 kilometers of difficult terrain to shops, schools, community centers, or even between neighboring households. As a result, distance often reduces cohesion, collaboration, and shared community life.

Another key factor is the presence of internally displaced persons hosted in these locations. These are often women with children and elderly people, most of whom do not have access to personal transportation.

These conditions led to the launch of a bicycle collection campaign. With the support of Taras Prystavskyi, Anastasiia Martynenko, and the Danish Ecovillage Network Landsforeningen for Økosamfund, more than 100 used bicycles were received from Denmark and the Netherlands. The bicycles were repaired and distributed to more than 35 locations for the needs of internally displaced persons and local residents.

Why bicycles matter for green infrastructure

• Environmental impact: bicycles and e-bikes are zero-emission transport, significantly reducing the carbon footprint of communities.

• Cost efficiency: they reduce dependence on fuel and transport services, require minimal maintenance, and do not require insurance.

• Health benefits: cycling improves cardiovascular health, muscular strength, and overall physical well-being.

• Tourism development: cycling routes can support eco-tourism and attract visitors interested in slow travel.

• Local economy: bicycle-related services (repair, production, accessories) create local jobs and stimulate economic activity.

Development of bicycle workshops

Within the LEVEL UP project, supported by the Danish Ecovillage Network Landsforeningen for Økosamfund and the Civil Society Development Fund CISU – Civilsamfund i Udvikling, bicycle workshops were established.

Four locations launched repair and production workshops:

• Svitanokove (Sumy region)

• Velesvit (Ternopil region)

• City of the Sun (Dnipropetrovsk region)

• Salyntsi (Vinnytsia region)

These workshops repair bicycles for local and neighboring communities and also produce electric bicycles. This creates both practical mobility solutions and economic activity within the ecovillages.

A film documenting the results of the project has been produced.