Traffic jams in the capital have become as much a symbol of Kyiv as chestnuts on Khreshchatyk. Despite constant repairs, new interchanges, and control cameras, the city stands in traffic jams every day. According to architect and urban planner Oleksandra Naryzhna, the root of the problem lies not in the roads, but in habits and systemic solutions. About this writes RBC-Ukraine.
The main reason for traffic jams in the capital of Ukraine
Naryzhna explains that Kyiv has entered the top 30 most congested cities in the world according to TomTom data. The main reason is an excessive dependence on private cars: Kyiv residents use cars even for short trips because public transport remains unpredictable and not always convenient for transfers.
Additional factors of daily traffic jams in Kyiv
Several additional factors also complicate the situation:
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the increase in the number of cars with unchanged road capacity;
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a shortage of parking spaces, which forces drivers to circle in search of a spot;
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additional traffic from couriers, trucks, and construction equipment;
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outdated traffic light schemes and weak development of pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.
What will help to eliminate traffic jams in the capital
Simply expanding the roads, according to the urban planner, does not solve the problem - new lanes quickly fill up, creating the effect of "induced demand." Only a systemic approach can be effective: the development of public transport, clear pricing policy, parking reform, and restrictions on freight traffic during peak hours.
Cities around the world have long gone this route. In London, after the introduction of paid entry to the center, traffic decreased by 15–20%. In Paris and Vienna, increasing parking costs helped - drivers switched to the subway and bicycles.
Kyiv, in the expert's opinion, already has the necessary basis - electronic tickets and three zones of paid parking. If these tools are improved, traffic jams can be reduced by 10–15% within 2–3 years.
"It's not just about punishment but also about comfort: fast transport, convenient transfers, understandable tariffs. As long as getting to work without a car is a quest, the situation won't change," Naryzhna concluded.
Earlier, we wrote that Kyiv will have six new metro stations. The Department of Transport Infrastructure of the Kyiv City State Administration reported plans to expand the metro on the Podilsk-Vyhuriv direction.