Bicycles could be donated at 25 collection points throughout Lithuania. The most active were the residents of Vilnius, having donated 145, Kaunas, having donated 79, and Klaipėda with 57 donated bicycles. Quite some bicycles were donated in Telšiai (29), Panevėžys (22), Marijampolė (20) and Rokiškis (19). 108 bicycles were donated in the rest of Lithuania.
Most of the bicycles donated throughout Lithuania are used, but in good condition. One third of all donations are bicycles for children.
“Every bicycle donated for #DviratisUkrainai has its own story. People of all Lithuania have created almost 500 such stories and we are extremely grateful to each of them. Such a result exceeded all our expectations, but most importantly, we once again proved that we are united and strong in helping our Ukrainian friends,” says Minister of Transport and Communications Marius Skuodis.
The kindness campaign #DviratisUkrainai once again proved not only the unity of the Lithuanian nation, but also the fact that the kindness and care of the people of the country are difficult to measure. For example, one Klaipėda resident, a bicycle enthusiast and collector, during the period of the initiative repaired and donated 20 bicycles.
A Lithuanian citizen in Germany did not have a bicycle that he could donate, but he actively spread the message about the initiative of donating bicycles on social media. A German couple intrigued by #DviratisUkrainai handed two bicycles to the Lithuanian citizen, which he carried by ferry to a collection point in Lithuania.
In addition to almost five hundred bicycles for adults and children, during the kindness campaign #DviratisUkrainai in Lithuania, many attributes necessary for safe and convenient traffic were collected — about 400 helmets, more than 300 reflective vests, 100 bicycle lights, more than 1,800 reflectors, dozens of bells, mobile phone holders, tires and pumps.
These bicycles will serve the citizens of Ukraine for daily travelling to neighbouring settlements and humanitarian aid areas, social and medical centres — as the occupiers are destroying the Ukrainian transport infrastructure, bicycles are becoming the most convenient means of transport in cities and settlements.
Forza, a Ukrainian public non-governmental organisation, which is a partner of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, will make sure that the bicycles reach those who need these vehicles the most.
The bicycles collected during the campaign will be brought into one main spot from all the collection points in Lithuania and technically checked. Each of them will be decorated with a sticker with the campaign logo and the slogan “With love from Lithuania”. The bicycles and their accessories are expected to start moving towards Ukraine around May. The public will be further informed about the logistics processes of the bicycles and their journey to the Ukrainians’ homes.
In recent years, similar initiatives took place in several countries in Europe. For example, Denmark sent 100 bicycles to Ukraine, while Belgium sent 450 bicycles. At the moment, a similar kindness campaign is taking place in Hungary, which has collected 150 bicycles.
We would like to remind you that since the beginning of the Russian war in Ukraine the Ministry of Transport and Communications has been organising and coordinating the logistics of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine of our country’s citizens.
