A draft decision to purchase “Berlin cushions”—traffic-calming measures designed to reduce vehicle speeds—has been submitted to the city council committees for consideration, according to the city council's press service.

The use of tactical traffic-calming measures is one of the recommendations put forward by the Citizens’ assembly on urban mobility, which took place in Zhytomyr in autumn 2025 as part of the BRIDGE project.

Unlike conventional speed bumps, “Berlin cushions” occupy only part of the carriageway. They slow down cars while allowing trolleybuses, ambulances, and fire engines to pass unhindered.

If city councillors approve the proposal, Zhytomyr will install 12 “Berlin cushions” at three unsignalised pedestrian crossings.

This is not the first recommendation from the Citizens’ assembly to be implemented. The city has already ensured the uninterrupted operation of 33 traffic lights, another priority identified by the Citizens’ Assembly.

In addition, the green light phase for pedestrians has recently been extended at the crossing on Peremohy Street near Lyceum No.6. Assembly members had identified this crossing as unsafe because the interval was too short.

We are pleased to see that the proposals developed during the Citizens’ assembly are gradually becoming part of real change in Zhytomyr!

Background: on 25–26 October and 1–2 November 2025, 64 randomly selected residents of Zhytomyr of different ages, professions, and using different modes of transport spent four days deliberating on transport infrastructure and sustainable mobility. Participants heard from experts, worked in small groups, and sought to balance the interests of people travelling by car, on foot, by bicycle, and by public transport.

The discussions resulted in a Citizens’ Assembly Recommendations Report containing 19 recommendations, 14 of which the assembly identified as priorities for implementation within the next 1 to 2 years. Read the Citizens’ Assembly Recommendations Report: "Transport Infrastructure and Sustainable Mobility".