Kiev traffic and driving attitude is shocking, truly shocking. The only place I have cycled with such an atrocious driving attitude and bad roads is Hungary – yup, you wont catch me on a bike there again.

Here in Kiev, the bigger, crasser and more dangerous to the pedestrian the better.

Pedestrian crossings and traffic lights with a pedestrian cycle are not safe avenues to traverse junctions, merely places where the drivers will pay the pedestrian a little more than their mobile phone, the locals dash across, I saunter while impaling the driver with my best 1000yard stare, there is a good chance that this behaviour will land me in hospital after a sound thrashing but Im sticking to my principles -  at least until it hurts too much.

In Belarus, I was used to sharing the hard shoulder with various slow moving vehicles. Here in Kiev, the pavement (sidewalk for those of you unfortunate enough to only speak American) provides both a secondary approach to your destination and around junctions but also serves as parking – pretty handy.

Inspired by “Jack and Jill vs. the world”, I have a plan to print STUPID stickers and start attaching them to large ugly American cars/ SUVs parked on the pavement.

All that said there is a small group of brave cyclists who unlike me stick mainly to the pavements. This is Ivan he is a Disc-jokey here in the city and I met him on my way in.Once I have a route planned I hope to have a beer or two with him, but until things are a little clearer I wont be able to relax.

Being a big city Kiev suffers from the usual city maladies, however most of the people Ive met are understanding and helpful. This group I have fallen in with here are great. There is a sub group of Western Ukrainians and I must say we all get along very well.