Experts are exploring the potential of the Dnipro to improve the capital’s transport system
This is reported by Kyiv24
In Kyiv, about half of the residents live on the left bank, while 80% of jobs are located on the right bank of the city. This leads to daily transport congestion, as residents of the suburbs are forced to use surface and underground transport to reach the city center. Although river transport could be part of the solution to this problem, it is currently hardly used for passenger transportation.
The Dnipro: An Underrated Transport and Public Space in Kyiv
“The Dnipro is hardly used either by city residents or as a public or tourist space. We need to think about its potential,” says architect Alina Holovatiuk.
According to experts, the capital has two main ways to address transport issues: expanding infrastructure capacity through the construction of new interchanges, bridges, and tunnels, or developing river transport. The director of the company “Pro Mobility,” Dmytro Bespalov, notes that water transport can significantly reduce the load on bridges and roads, as it is not necessary to build new engineering structures to connect the banks; it is enough to organize convenient river routes, for example, between Osokorky and Vyshhorod.
Economic and Environmental Benefits of Water Transport
In addition to passenger transport, the Dnipro can also be used for freight transport. This is not only more economically viable than transporting goods by road but also significantly more environmentally friendly. River transport contributes to a fivefold reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to road transport. One river convoy capable of carrying 5,000 tons of cargo can replace 230–250 freight trucks on highways.
In conditions where Kyiv still lacks a completed bypass road, the use of river transport will help preserve road surfaces from damage caused by trucks. Experts emphasize that the experience of many cities around the world proves the effectiveness of integrating river transport into the urban transport system.
More about the current state and prospects for restoring transport infrastructure on the Dnipro, as well as how river boats can become an alternative to traffic jams and overcrowded metro, can be found in a special episode on the YouTube channel.