site.btaNGOs Raise Concerns Over Police Operations Targeting Cyclists in Sofia Parks

Non-governmental organisations including the Bulgarian Association for Electromobility (BAEM), Veloevolution Association, the Environmental Association “For the Earth”, Critical Mass, Sofenhagen and the ManEko Foundation have expressed concern over recent police operations in parks in Sofia targeting cyclists and users of individual electric vehicles (IEVs). Their statemment was sent to Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev, the Sofia Municipality leadership, the Sofia Directorate of Interior and the media.

The organisations are preparing a protest outside the National Palace of Culture (NDK) on August 28 at 7 p.m. over what they describe as the “intimidation of ordinary people while those riding aggressively are allowed to run amok without interference.” They cite as reasons for the protest checks, warnings and threats of sanctions against cyclists in parks; the lack of sufficient connected, safe and convenient cycling infrastructure in Sofia; and the removal and failure to restore protective separators on key cycling routes, including those along Dondukov Boulevard and G. S. Rakovski Street.

According to the organisations, intimidating cyclists does not solve problems and only harms Sofia. “If you drive cyclists out of the parks, they will have to move onto the streets. This will not increase safety but will put their lives at risk,” the statement says. The organisations believe it is high time for Sofia Municipality’s leadership to decide whether it will work towards a city designed for cars or towards a clean and safe Sofia where cyclists are respected and cycling infrastructure is a priority.

“We recognise and support the efforts of the institutions to ensure the safety of visitors to the parks, and this should be a priority for all of us. But police officers handing out leaflets and threatening to fine all cyclists in parks ‘starting tomorrow’ do not improve safety; they create chaos. Scaring everyone because of a few people who ride dangerously is like having police stop all cars, hand drivers leaflets and threaten to fine them the next day because some car drivers drive drunk and kill people on the roads,” Radostina Petrova of Veloevolution Association said in the statement.

Representatives of the NGOs also point out that bicycles and individual electric vehicles have been proven to be part of the solution to the safety problem, as many of their users have switched from cars to this safer form of transport. They save Sofia parking spaces, reduce traffic congestion and cut harmful emissions. Another problem, according to the organisations, is the way in which good intentions to inform citizens about the rules can end up misleading them.

The leaflets distributed by law enforcement officers in the parks also contain incorrect information stating that electric scooters must be registered and have valid insurance. This is currently not true, as the procedure for their registration has not yet been established and such registration is not currently possible, the NGOs said in their statement.

A few days ago, Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev urged citizens to use bicycles and scooters while observing the rules to make travel around the city safer. “Don’t be afraid of the rules. They are not against our freedom. They protect everyone’s freedom,” Terziev said.