“Safety in Numbers” – Public Ride in Belgrade Calls for Safer Streets and Stronger Support for Urban Cycling

Belgrade, 31 May 2025 – To mark World Bicycle Day, the United Nations in Serbia, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the association Streets for Cyclists organized a group ride through central Belgrade to highlight the need for safer, greener, and more inclusive urban mobility.

UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia, Matilde Mordt, emphasized that city streets must work for everyone — not just motor vehicles.

“Everyone should be able to move through their city safely — whether they are walking, cycling, pushing a stroller or riding a wheelchair. That’s not the reality today in most cities. Unsafe infrastructure, lack of space, and speeding cars make urban mobility stressful and dangerous,” said Mordt.

“We need to rethink how we design our cities. Prioritizing people over traffic, and investing in cycling and bicycle lanes, is one of the easiest and most impactful steps we can take for improving urban mobility. And it is also a way of reducing pollution and promoting healthy lifestyles!”

 Dutch Ambassador to Serbia, H.E. Martijn Elgersma, reminded participants that cycling in the Netherlands is not just a cultural feature, but the result of years of civic action and sustained investment.

“The Netherlands has the largest amount of cyclists and bicycles, but it is also the safest country to cycle. We Dutch take this for granted, but it took quite an effort to get where we are now. It all started in the early 70’s when people were concerned about safety, requesting better protection for cyclists. Fifty years later we have a 35,000 km long cycling infrastructure. I think this is a good example how widespread cycling contributes to economic and environmental development of the country, and increased safety for all participants in traffic.”

In Serbia, conditions for cyclists remain far from ideal. According to Zoran Bukvić, from the Streets for Cyclists association, about 50 cyclists are killed and over 1,400 injured on Serbian roads each year, despite relatively low levels of daily cycling.

“These figures show there’s plenty of room for improvement. In most severe accidents, responsibility lies with motor vehicle drivers, not cyclists. But the issue isn’t only individual behavior — it’s the lack of safe infrastructure and long-term planning,” said Bukvić.

 “Cycling is a practical, healthy and affordable way to get around. If we want more people to choose it, we need to make it feel safe and convenient. Where there are more cyclists, roads become safer — for everyone.”

The ride highlighted a growing public expectation that cycling should be a safe, everyday choice — not a risky act of courage.