Imagine a triangle of asphalt and concrete between two tram stops – grey, stifling, filled with kiosks. Thousands of students of Lviv Polytechnic, Lviv residents and city guests cross this place every day, waiting for transport under the scorching sun or in the rain. No shade, no comfort – just a functional piece of pavement for changing lines.
Now this same location at the intersection of S. Bandery Street and General T. Chuprynky Street is a shaded space with trees, charging stations for electric transport, benches and a rain garden that absorbs water during downpours. The story of this place’s transformation is a story of how even a small change to urban space can become a step towards climate adaptation and a new culture of mobility.
A pilot project that survived the war
The idea of a micromobility hub was born back in 2021 as part of Lviv’s mobility programme. The initiator was the Department of Urban Mobility and Street Infrastructure, which, together with the Municipal Enterprise “Institute of Spatial Development” and the NGO “Plato”, worked on realising the project. The concept design and first solutions were implemented with grant funds from the organisation GIZ Ukraine, and overall everything was financed from budget funds.
The location for such a pilot project was chosen for a reason – it was a place where one could show how the integration of different types of ecological transport works: the crossing of two tram routes, proximity to the university, a large number of people every day. The idea was simple – to show how an integrated system can work: you arrive on an electric scooter, switch to a tram, or vice versa.
The civil society organisation “PLATO” joined the project; even before 2021 it had created the first rain garden in Lviv here and greened an old wall with climbing plants. This was the first example of such an ecological solution in the city, and the new project was to expand this idea.
There were critics, of course. Some members of the public were indignant at the very name “transport hub”, considering it too ambitious. Discussions raged between supporters and opponents of cycling infrastructure. But there was no serious resistance – on the contrary, when implementation dragged on, people asked: “When will you finally finish it?”
And it dragged on because of the full-scale invasion. The project started in 2021, and implementation fell in 2022 – the most difficult time for the city budget. It was unknown whether it would be possible to finish it at all. But changing the decisions or making them cheaper would have meant going back to the stage of design, approvals and expert assessments. And inflation was moving so fast that for the same money it might have been impossible to do anything at all.
Overall, the project was nevertheless completed, although some elements still remain unrealised because of limited funds. The wartime city budget forced a review of priorities.
Technical details: from asphalt to green space
The project envisaged creating a recreation area and infrastructure for renting electric transport. In a small area it was possible to fit:
- Places for renting bicycles and electric scooters
- Charging stations for private scooters and e-bikes
- Benches and stands for resting
- Modern lighting
- An information stand about micromobility
- Long public-transport stops covering whole platforms
- An expanded rain garden
- Biofountains
- Green plantings
The choice of plants was not accidental. Chanticleer pears were chosen for the trees – one of the most resilient species for the urban environment. Besides, there is an organ hall opposite, and historically Chanticleer pears also grew in this location, so it was logical to choose such an authentic species. They are resistant to the load of traffic and dust and withstand urban conditions well. They are also very beautiful throughout the year: in spring they bloom white, in autumn they turn yellow. They are short, so more of them can be planted in a small area.
In the rain garden that the NGO “Plato” laid out, sedges and fountain grasses were used – plants that withstand variable water saturation. At the stops and in the flowerbeds, Virginia creeper is planned, which is to twine around the structures.
The concept design was made with grant funds from GIZ Ukraine; all other financing came from the city budget. It is difficult to name the exact implementation amount, since various sources were involved – in particular, the funds for redeveloping the public space at the S. Bandery – General T. Chuprynky intersection were allocated as part of additional works on the reconstruction of S. Bandery Street.
Interestingly, some greening elements were implemented by Lviv’s ecology department within its own budgets. In spring, tulips appeared in the flowerbeds – a gift from the government of the Netherlands to Ukraine, a symbolic gesture of support.
The climate effect: when everything works as a complex
The main aspect of the project is the introduction of a comprehensive solution for arranging a modern public space where nature-based technologies work together. This is not only about comfortable green stops, trees and perennials, but also about popularising electric transport as an ecological alternative to the car and the very idea of easily switching between different types of transport.
Creating convenient infrastructure for bicycles and electric scooters, charging stations and comfortable stops encourages people to give up cars. Every trip on an electric scooter instead of a car means fewer CO₂ emissions and less air pollution.
Trees and green plantings reinforce this effect. The Chanticleer pears give shade, which is critically important during the summer heat – people can comfortably wait for the tram even on hot days. The greenery absorbs carbon dioxide, cleans the air of dust and traffic emissions, and lowers the temperature at the location by a few degrees.
Public-transport stops entwined with climbing plants will become not just functional objects but part of the green infrastructure. They show that such practical elements of the city can work for the benefit of nature.
The rain garden, which was enlarged during the project’s implementation, was a complement. The system works simply but effectively: the gutters from the surrounding buildings are led directly to the garden, where specially selected plants absorb the rainwater. The effect was noticeable immediately – the rain garden worked and still works fully, there is no flooding and the plants are doing well.
At a time when Ukrainian cities increasingly face intense downpours because of climate change, such solutions become critically important. Instead of water running into the sewer, overloading it, or creating puddles on the asphalt, it nourishes the plants and returns to the natural cycle. This reduces the risk of flooding and supports urban biodiversity.
The solutions implemented demonstrate how ecological transport can be combined with living nature, and urban infrastructure becomes part of a green system. It is precisely this approach that gives the greatest effect for adapting the city to climate change.
People and the environment: a space that came alive
When the project opened, the reaction was unanimous: people liked it. The location immediately attracted visitors: they stop, rest, take photos. Especially often you can see students there, who willingly spend their free time in this space. Although no one lingers for long, the place remains lively and full of people, which testifies to its success.
The location provides shade, and it has become pleasant to spend time here in the evening. Team members heard a lot of praise from surrounding communities, acquaintances and businesses working nearby.
As for micromobility, the situation here is more complicated. The e-bike rental operator left Lviv, so at present only electric scooters are available at the location. The city is working on introducing a municipal bike-sharing system, but that is a question for the future.
However, the location itself proved: it is possible to turn a public space into a place where people feel comfortable. Where there is greenery, shade, places to sit, convenient stops. Where urban infrastructure works not against nature but with it.
Conclusions: a pilot project as a tool for change
The micromobility hub on Bandery and Chuprynky was conceived as a pilot project for scaling across the whole of Lviv. The war changed priorities – the city is now focused on the medical sector and infrastructure around medical centres. However, the experience remains valuable. The team advises future initiators of similar projects to involve interdisciplinary groups – from civil society organisations to business. Before large-scale strategic changes, it is worth launching a small pilot project to check whether the solution will really work. And most importantly – think about the future, even small steps should be taken with future generations and the city’s future in mind.
The micromobility hub in Lviv is not just a stop with trees. It is an example of how cities can adapt to climate change with small steps, creating comfort for people and at the same time caring for the environment. It is proof that even a small space can become important for thousands of people every day.
And although scaling is postponed for now because of the war, the seed has been planted – both literally and figuratively. The Chanticleer pears are growing, the rain garden works, students relax in the shade. And when the time comes, this experience will become the basis for new green transformations of Ukrainian cities.