At Movita Ride, we believe that safer, smarter and more sustainable urban mobility begins with people and their experiences, their daily routes, their challenges. That’s why we came up with an idea to interview an everyday cyclist in Belgrade, especially with someone who has truly gone the distance.

We recently spoke with Dr Dennis Kaiser, the German Economic Counselor in Belgrade, who has cycled over 3,000 km across the city over the past three years, commuting daily to work by e-bike. As his diplomatic mission in Serbia comes to an end, we wanted to reflect with him on what it’s like to navigate Belgrade on two wheels.

This conversation is also part of our broader initiative: Movita Ride, a civic mobility project that is more than just another app. Currently in early development and submitted to the Danube Digital Accelerator (Interreg), Movita Ride aims to:

• Raise awareness about the lack of cycling infrastructure in Belgrade
• Create a community-driven platform for cyclists
• Crowdsource data on unsafe zones, street conditions and bike theft
• Promote and map local bike-friendly businesses, service stations and cafés
• Advocate for secure parking and accessible bike infrastructure

We believe urban cycling is not just about individual choice. It’s about collective action, visibility, and the right to safe movement in the city. This interview is a small step toward building that shared narrative.

1. Personal Cycling Experience in Belgrade

• You mentioned riding over 3,000 km by bike in Belgrade. What motivated you to start commuting by e-bike here?

I was living in Berlin before coming to Serbia and I cycled there every day. Berlin is flat and many routes are even faster by bike than by car. In Belgrade, I switched to using an e-bike because of many hills and because I am taking my daughter to kindergarten everyday by bike using a carrier. Also, I was tired of the daily traffic jams which can be circumvented easily by bike.

• How would you describe your day-to-day cycling experience in Belgrade?

I must say that every ride is an adventure in Belgrade. I need to stay highly concentrated as car drivers are not used to bikes on the streets. Positively, no one ever honked at me. Another aspect is that especially after work, the bike ride helps to come down mentally and poses a perfect break before entering the family obligations at home.

• What were the biggest challenges you faced as a cyclist in this city?

The cars are not used to cyclists and I was once hit by a car in Dedinje district. I was crossing a street by bike with a green traffic light for pedestrians and the car was supposed to stop. But the driver was very flexible in interpreting the green arrow when having a red light. Fortunately, I was not injured and I had already dropped off my daughter at kindergarten but it taught me a lesson to be very careful.

• How did the terrain and urban structure of Belgrade affect your cycling routine?

In Berlin, I could easily reflect on something while biking or even listening to music. But here, my routine has completely changed to ensuring safety for myself and my daughter. I usually enjoy riding fast, reaching up to 50 km/h downhill but here I changed to being on the safe side. And: I never forget my helmet. The roads could be better. You can already feel the bumps when you are in the car and now imagine how this must feel on a bike.

2. Infrastructure & Safety

• Beograd currently has less than 100 km of cycling lanes and under 1% of daily commuters use a bike. What are your thoughts on that?

That is really a pity because I am sure that more people would use the bike if there were more cycling lanes. This would benefit the environment, health and also reduce the number of cars on the streets. What is disappointing is that many buildings and highways have been finished during the last three years of my stay here while I have seen almost no new cycling lanes. And those that exist, are partly closed again, e.g. along the Sava river.

• Did you feel safe riding in traffic? Are there particular routes you avoided or preferred?

As I said, security is really an issue. I avoid the biggest streets such as Kneza Milosa street or the big Boulevards. I like going up to Dedinje because there is a continuous bike lane starting from Belgrade Central station. And I almost always never cross Sava River by bike because none of the bridges seem really bike-friendly to me. But going along the rivers, be it Sava or Danube, is fantastic.

• What would you suggest to improve cycling safety and encourage more people to cycle in Belgrade?

Belgrade could learn a lot from Berlin. There, entire streets have been blocked for regular car traffic and bike lanes are separated by poles/posts on the street. Moreover, the bike lanes are colored in green or red to signal to car drivers to pay special attention. To encourage people, a sharing system would be helpful or to incentivize purchasing a bike.

3. E-bike Specific Questions

• How was your experience with charging and maintaining your e-bike in Belgrade?

Charging was no problem but maintenance is an issue. I tried several bike shops which only maintained the mechanic parts and underlined that they have no expertise in the electrical ones. I will return to Berlin soon and I am curious what the specialized maintenance shops will say about the condition of my e-bike.

• Is there sufficient support infrastructure for e-bikes (repair shops, charging points)?

Most e-bikes can be charged using regular chargers for the socket/plug. My bike has a capacity of up to 100km if I am using the lowest support level, so I need to charge it once a week which I usually do on the weekend. Finding adequate repair shops is a problem, especially as there are none close to my work or home.

• Would you recommend e-bikes as a sustainable solution for urban commuting in cities like Belgrade?

Definitely! I am usually faster than taking the bus or car and it is also more fun. And I need to wear a suit at work so that it is no problem to take the e-bike for work related destinations. I once even went by bike to see a minister of the Serbian government with my boss.

4. Cycling Culture & Community

• Did you feel a sense of community among cyclists here?

At the beginning I felt like being the only cyclist in Belgrade but when I participated in mass-cycling events such as recently organized by the Dutch embassy, I really feel a sense of community. I also try to motivate my friends and colleagues to switch to (e-)bikes or go for joint bike trips. What I love is that many cyclists greet each other because there are so few of us compared with car drivers.

• Were there any organized rides or cycling events you took part in or enjoyed?

Yes, I attended some mass cycling events and some joint trips with friends. And after the Belgrade marathon in April 2024, we were in the city by coincidence just at the time when the marathon ended but before all the barricades were removed so we enjoyed empty streets. One car-free Sunday in Belgrade per year would be a great way to stimulate the usage of bikes. In the city of Medellin in Colombia, the entire highway is frequently blocked for cyclists and skaters. This would be unbelievable in Belgrade.

• How does the cycling culture in Belgrade compare to what you’ve experienced in Germany or other countries where you lived?

The culture is totally different. In Belgrade, taking the bike feels like something special whereas in Berlin it would be awkward to use the car to see your friends. Many of my friends in Berlin would cycle up to one hour (without e-bike) to see me. And the culture of wearing a helmet is much more common in Germany. There are many schools in Uzička street in Senjak and I see quite some children in the morning on the bike but without a helmet!

5. Urban Mobility Outlook

• As someone involved in diplomacy and policy, how do you view cycling as part of a broader sustainable urban mobility strategy?

Cycling should definitely be a core element of a sustainable future of Belgrade besides more public transport and maybe a subway. And I try to lead by example and not just talk about it. As part of my job, I was trying to stimulate some new developments but they interest among my counterparts was not enormous. But even in Berlin, the mentality has only changed a few years ago with the raising awareness on climate change. I hope that this will happen Belgrade soon, too.

• What role should city administrations play in promoting cycling and alternative transport modes?

The city administration has a key role. They are the ones deciding on mobility infrastructure and on budgets for roads, kindergartens, etc. And it is also about public signals from the top. I remember that Prime Minister Rutte from the Netherlands went sometimes by bike to the king of Netherlands to receive his inauguration or suspension certificate. If the mayor of Belgrade or higher representatives of the Serbian government would be actively using the bike, that would maybe motivate others, too.

• What kind of collaboration or support between embassies, local governments and civil society could be helpful?

I would be happy if the administrative staff of Belgrade and, for example, Berlin could participate in some kind of exchange to see what works and what doesn’t. Also, the German development cooperation GIZ supported the improvement of the European cycling lane along the Danube River (so-called “Eurovelo Route 6”). But the main impulse has to come from within Serbia.

6. Personal Reflections

• What did you enjoy the most about cycling in Belgrade?

I enjoyed most seeing the city from another angle. You are discovering totally different areas when you are forced to move outside of the large boulevards. Moreover, I receive a lot of positive reactions when going through the city by bike with my daughters, mostly one in the carrier and one on the back seat. That often made me smile, too.

• Is there a favorite memory or route that you’ll take with you?

My favorite memory will be going along Kneza Milsa and Ada bridge as part of the mass cycling event in May this year. My favorite route will always be along Sava River to Ada Ciganlija which we have been driving a lot during the summer months.

• If you could change one thing to make Beograd a better city for cyclists, what would it be?

Definitely, physically separated bike lanes on large boulevards to ensure a safer and smoother cycling experience. It may sound as a dream to most Belgrade’s but it is reality already in other capitals like Paris or Berlin.

7. Movita Ride and Beyond

• Movita Ride is a civic initiative focused on raising awareness, mapping challenges and encouraging everyday cycling in Belgrade. What kind of support or collaboration would you see valuable for such initiatives?

Movita Ride is a great initiative and I hope that you will positively change the attitude towards cycling in Belgrade. Financial support is very scarce at the moment but integrating such initiatives in “EU Green Week”, “German Climate Week” or similar events would be a great boost for the visibility and popularity of Movita Ride.

• Finally, what message would you like to share with aspiring cyclists in Belgrade?

Just try it but always drive safely!