Branko Protić

Abstract

This study examines the prospects for a just and sustainable transition of the public transport system in Kragujevac, a mid-sized Serbian city facing increasing environmental, social, and mobility chal lenges. Positioned within the broader context of the Western Balkans’ alignment with the European Green Deal and Serbia’s decarbonisation commitments, the paper investigates how user perceptions, service satisfaction, and public acceptance influence the feasibility of introducing electric buses as a low-carbon mobility solution. Building on international and regional literature on just green transition and sustainable urban mobility, the study analyses primary survey data to evaluate users’ readiness for cleaner transport technologies and to identify service quality gaps that may hinder or facilitate this transition. The find ings demonstrate that public acceptance of electric buses is high, but that support for greener mobility is conditional on improvements in service frequency, reliability, comfort, and fare policy. These results underscore the need for an integrated transition strategy that combines technological innovation with so cial equity and service quality enhancements. The paper concludes by outlining theoretical contributions to just transition studies in mid-sized and post-socialist urban contexts, as well as practical implications for local policymakers, transport operators, and city planners. Limitations and directions for future re search in the Western Balkan region are also discussed.

Keywords: green transition, public transport, electric buses, questionnaire survey, service quality, travel satisfaction

Bojan Vračarević [bojan.vracarevic@gef.bg.ac.rs], Department for Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geography, University of Belgrade Studentski Trg 3/III, 11000 Belgrade: Serbia
Marija Jeftić [marija.jeftic@gef.bg.ac.rs], Department for Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geography, University of Belgrade Studentski Trg 3/III, 11000 Belgrade: Serbia
Velimir Šećerov [velimir.secerov@gef.bg.ac.rs], Department for Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geography, University of Belgrade Studentski Trg 3/III, 11000 Belgrade: Serbia
Aleksandar Đorđević [aleksandar.djordjevic@gef.bg.ac.rs], Department of Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Faculty of Geography, University of Belgrade Studentski Trg 3/III, 11000 Belgrade: Serbia
Branko Protić [branko. protic@gef.bg.ac.rs], Department for Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geography, University of Belgrade Studentski Trg 3/III, 11000 Belgrade: Serbia
Zora Živanović [zora.zivanovic@gef.bg.ac.rs], Department for Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geography, University of Belgrade Studentski Trg 3/III, 11000 Belgrade: Serbia
Teodora Nikolić [teodora.nikolic@gef.bg.ac.rs], Department for Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geography, University of Belgrade Studentski Trg 3/III, 11000 Belgrade: Serbia
Vladimir Popović [vpopovic.za@gmail.com], Faculty of Geography, University of Belgrade Studentski Trg 3/III, 11000 Belgrade: Serbia

Citation

APA: Vračarević, B., Jeftić, M., Šećerov, V., Đorđević, A., Protić, B., Živanović, Z., Nikolić, T., & Popović, V. (2025). Transport Satisfaction and Opportunities for a Green Transition in the City of Kragujevac (Serbia). Europa XXI, 49, 8. https://doi.org/10.7.7163/Eu21.2025.49.8
MLA: Vračarević, Bojan, et al. "Transport Satisfaction and Opportunities for a Green Transition in the City of Kragujevac (Serbia)". Europa XXI, vol. 49, 2025, pp. 8. https://doi.org/10.7.7163/Eu21.2025.49.8
Chicago: Vračarević, Bojan, Jeftić, Marija, Šećerov, Velimir, Đorđević, Aleksandar, Protić, Branko, Živanović, Zora, Nikolić, Teodora, and Popović, Vladimir. "Transport Satisfaction and Opportunities for a Green Transition in the City of Kragujevac (Serbia)". Europa XXI 49 (2025): 8. https://doi.org/10.7.7163/Eu21.2025.49.8
Harvard: Vračarević, B., Jeftić, M., Šećerov, V., Đorđević, A., Protić, B., Živanović, Z., Nikolić, T., & Popović, V. 2025. "Transport Satisfaction and Opportunities for a Green Transition in the City of Kragujevac (Serbia)". Europa XXI, vol. 49, pp. 8. https://doi.org/10.7.7163/Eu21.2025.49.8