For more people who live in the urbanized areas of Ukraine, particularly Kyiv, the problem of burgeoning traffic is one of the most troubling problems, one that seems to defy solution.
In this month's Pub Poll, we queried a number of persons as follows:
I don't know that narrowing the sidewalks would help anyway. Drivers here seem to take advantage of all possible space they have to get through traffic - driving on sidewalks, against oncoming traffic, between lanes and cars, etc. I don't see any other solution at present than to encourage public transport use - perhaps investing more there - and increasing communications and perhaps improving safety within these systems."
Karolina Patocki, Country Director, Oxford Business Group In Ukraine five months. Interviewed at The Drum
I don't think that Khreshchatyk is the problem; traffic seems to move fairly well there. And reducing sidewalk space would mean that there would be even less room for pedestrians and the practice of parking cars where people are meant to walk will not go away. City Hall should take an example from London: Place a premium on bringing cars into the city and expand parking areas on the outskirts near Metro stations. They should also go ahead with plans to make grids of one-way streets on the larger arteries. However, the best would be to get everyone riding bicycles.
Steve Bandera, Editor, Kyiv Post. In Ukraine nine years Interviewed at The Drum
Of course not, as it would only be a temporary solution. Look at the growth rates in car ownership. Besides, we would loose all that prime parking space.
Mike Finko, Director, The Messenger courier service In Ukraine 10+ years Interviewed at The Drum
While the idea is a good one, it has limitations on streets other than Khreshchatyk. First of all, sidewalks are for pedestrians, even though narrowing sidewalks might help traffic congestion. Let's keep the [expletive deleted] off the sidewalks. Maybe drastic measures are needed because most of the problems are caused by those who have respect neither for the rules of the road nor the rule of law. We need a citizens' brigade that would simply destroy the property of those who drive on the sidewalks, hitting them where it hurts the most.
Vasyl Pawlowsky, Director/Partner, Info Analysis Dept, Danapro Ltd. In Ukraine eight years. Interviewed at The Drum
To be honest, I have mixed emotions on this issue. Whereas drastic measures are needed to address traffic in the city, that said, I would hate to think of the opening of Khreshchatyk at weekends as a solution to the Monday-Friday problems. Those in control need to look at tidal flow systems as a means of addressing this problem.
Dominick O'Reilly, Operations Manager, Kyiv Duty Free In Ukraine five years. Interviewed at O'Brien's Pub
To my knowledge, an additional lane would add to the congestion, not solve the problem. I would suggest better management of the routes entering and leaving the congested area that would ease the flow during peak hours.
P-J Samuels, Retail Interior Designer, Aer Rianta International In Kyiv two years Interviewed at O'Brien's Pub.
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