As part of the international seminar HackYourDistrict 2025: Open Data and Open Tools for a Net-Zero Urban Transport, BRIDGE Research Coordinator Illia Tkachenko presented the experience of our project, sharing insights from the preparation of the Citizen Assembly in Zhytomyr.

The seminar took place on 18–22 August at the Technical University of Berlin, a partner of the BRIDGE project, and brought together researchers and practitioners from universities across Asia, Europe, and Latin America working on sustainable mobility, open data, and citizen science.

Presenting BRIDGE’s work, Illia emphasized the growing willingness of Ukrainian citizens to take an active part in decision-making, as well as communities’ commitment to democratic governance and innovation. In particular, he shared:

• how deliberative democracy can help address complex issues in urban mobility – an approach that impressed many participants, as it represents a unique experience globally;
• how the agenda of a citizen assembly is formed and which subtopics have already been identified;
• why trust and citizen engagement are key to making sustainable decisions on the most conflict-prone mobility issues.

Participation in this event provided an opportunity to discuss the draft agenda of the Zhytomyr assembly with international experts and lay the foundations for new partnerships in the fields of mobility, open data, and urban planning.

We thank TU Berlin and all the organizers of HackYourDistrict 2025 for the invitation and for creating a space for collaboration!

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.