Ukrainian cities and NGOs look for 750 used buses from Europe before winter comes
Lviv, Ukraine, 20 June 2024 — Eighty communities across 23 oblasts of Ukraine are appealing to European municipalities, transport companies and non-governmental organizations for assistance in acquiring used buses. These buses will help provide mobility to millions of Ukrainians as a necessary replacement for electric trams and trolleybuses during the periods of energy shortages, especially in winter. This request comes in response to frequent electricity cuts resulting from relentless Russian attacks on the energy infrastructure of Ukraine.
The communities urgently need at least 744 buses to help alleviate transportation challenges, according to the results of a needs assessment survey. To facilitate the search for suitable vehicles and deliver them where they will work well, two Ukrainian organizations, NGO "Vision Zero" and the Association "Energy Efficient Cities of Ukraine" (EECU), have founded the Initiative "Buses for Ukraine." They are calling on European organizations to support and participate in this effort.
People are waiting for transport in winter in Kharkiv. Photo credit: Alltransua.
Cities such as Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, Poltava, Rivne, Chernivtsi, and Lviv have expressed readiness to take up to 428 buses into operation. These cities primarily need standard (12 meters long) or extended (18 meters long) buses. The buses will offer citizens mobility by replacing trams and trolleybuses during energy shortages. Once the energy disruptions are over, the used buses will be utilized to strengthen bus route operations, donated to other communities, or recycled.
Additional requests for used buses have been received from small and medium-sized communities. Some of these communities, such as Konotop, Trostianets, Chortkiv, Boyarka, Bucha, Kostopil, Haivoron, Horodok, Vyzhnytsia, and Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, already have operating transport companies and require the buses to enhance their services. Furthermore, half of the requests (41) have come from smaller, predominantly rural communities with populations ranging from one thousand to 25 thousand.
Chernihiv is one of the cities that needs used buses to counter electricity cuts. Photo credit: Alltransua
“Given the current situation in Ukraine, used buses—even those running on diesel fuel—are essential. Due to the aggression against our energy system, which has led to severe shortages, cities increasingly need buses to replace electric transport. Additionally, some cities must replace buses destroyed by missile strikes. We are striving to secure as many buses as possible for Ukrainian cities before winter arrives. We anticipate prolonged energy outages in winter, which could paralyze electric public transport," said Svyatoslav Pavliuk, Executive Director of the Association of Energy Efficient Cities of Ukraine.
The NGOs behind the initiative emphasize the importance of cities receiving buses they can maintain effectively. "Many cities have already received used buses from European partners, and we have learned valuable lessons. It is not ideal when buses come from different manufacturers and vary in size and condition. It is crucial to match the proposals with the needs of the cities, ensuring they receive buses that are compatible with their existing fleet and manageable in terms of spare parts and repair capabilities," commented Viktor Zagreba, chairman of NGO “Vision Zero”.
The Initiative “Buses for Ukraine” calls for municipalities, local governments, public transport companies, associations, foundations and NGOs to help Ukraine by helping us identify:
Possibilities to acquire used buses from 8 to 18 meters long, in EU/EEC county, free of charge or for a symbolic price;
Support in sharing this information with potential providers of the buses, relevant associations and municipalities;
Local and national NGOs in EU/EEC countries willing to become local contact points or representatives and look for used buses from local entities in the local language;
Foundations and philanthropists interested in covering the expected transportation costs to bring the public transport rolling stock to Ukraine.
If you can help with one of the requests, please contact the coordinators:
NGO Vision Zero, https://visionzero.org.ua/, office email: vision.zero.ngo@gmail.com
Contact person: Viktor Zagreba, Chairman of NGO Vision Zero, viktor@zagreba.com
Phone number in Ukraine +38 098 907 7365, Phone number in Germany +49 15 111 09 41 90.
