Public transport satisfaction and opportunities for a green transitionin the city of Kragujevac (Serbia)

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 challenges. 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 findings 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 social 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 research in the Western Balkan region are also discussed.