Pedalling forward in Daugavpils: Towards a cyclist-friendly city

Daugavpils City Municipality, in collaboration with Latvian environmental organisation Green Liberty and Riga Technical University, presented their recent study examining the state of cycling in the city. It outlines the infrastructure challenges facing the city, identifies areas where improvements are needed, and proposes actions for promoting cycling among the residents of Latvia’s second-largest city. 

Expert insights and recommendations 

Riga Technical University researcher Antra Viļuma emphasised the many benefits of urban cycling: improved public health, less air pollution, a more liveable urban environment, and a reduced climate footprint. As well as showcasing positive examples from other cities, Viļuma shared the results of surveys conducted among Daugavpils residents along with the findings of an on-site urban assessment. 

She called for a gradual but consistent approach to developing cycling infrastructure, recommending that cycle paths be incorporated wherever possible as part of regular street construction works. While fragmented, this strategy, she argues, represents the most practical way forward in the absence of funding for large-scale, high-cost projects.  

She also highlighted the need for the municipality to establish a dedicated cycling coordinator, which would signal a commitment to increasing capacity and ensuring cycling-related initiatives are advanced as Daugavpils works towards becoming a more cyclist-friendly city. 

Tools for better decision-making 

Rūdolfs Golubovs, chairman of the City for People association, illustrated how other cities have upgraded their cycling infrastructure through relatively modest investments. He underscored the importance of volunteer involvement, and shared a number of useful methods for effectively conducting bicycle traffic counts to support more effective infrastructure development.  

One notable tool is the Strava app, which offers insights on cyclists’ habits by aggregating user data on routes and their intensity. This zero-cost platform could serve as an invaluable data resource for planners, helping them analyse traffic flows and identify priority areas for development. Golubovs also presented visual examples of how simple improvements in infrastructure or traffic planning could be rolled out in specific locations in Daugavpils. 

Local initiative shows the way forward 

Viktorija Kozlovska, representing local cycling enthusiasts from Sniegpulkstenīte tourism club, introduced the club’s contribution to the promotion of cycling culture in Daugavpils. She stressed the importance of information and education, calling on the municipality to place more focus on public involvement. The efforts of the club’s members exemplify the vital role that local residents can play in improving their city and local neighbourhoods. 

Featuring engaging and constructive discussions on the general principles of cycling infrastructure planning and offering concrete solutions for locations throughout Daugavpils, the event was organised as part of the LIFE-funded project ‘RePower the Regions: Ambitious and inclusive clean energy plans for repowering the just transition regions’.