About 25,000 commute by bicycle to centre of Helsinki in summer

Online journey planner introduced by YTV

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The number bicycle commuters in Helsinki has remained largely unchanged in recent years. On pleasant summer days about 25,000 people cycle into the centre of the capital.
      "We have not ascertained how many are specifically commuting to work, and how many are cycling just for the exercise, but I estimate that a rather large proportion are going to work", says Antero Naskila of Helsinki's City Planning Department.
      Naskila says that the popularity of cycling might gradually increase, but that the increasingly dispersed urban structure has an inhibiting effect on cycling. "We have estimated that during the summer period, nearly 200,000 Helsinki residents cycle on a daily or nearly daily basis.
      There are about 1,150 kilometres of bicycle paths in the Finnish capital, and each year nearly 20 kilometres are added to this. Most of the new bike paths are in new residential developments, such as Vuosaari and Latokartano.
      "This year there will be some upgrading of bike paths. For instance, paving will be repaired, and kerbs will be improved. New bike paths will also be set up in popular areas", Naskila says.
     
The number of bicycle accidents in Helsinki has remained largely unchanged in recent years. Each year about 130 to 150 accidents involving bicycles are reported to police. About ten of them are serious. Last year, however, there were 18 serious accidents, including one fatality. Matti Miekkoniemi of the Helsinki traffic police say that commuters tend to suffer more serious accidents than recreational cyclists do.
      "Most of the accidents involve cyclists colliding with motor vehicles. The most dangerous situations are when a vehicle turns right while a cyclist approaches it from the rear right-hand side", Miekkoniemi notes.
     
"Cyclists can reduce risks by planning their routes. Fairly often it is possible to influence how many street crossings there are on a route, and what in kinds of locations one crosses a road", Miekkoniemi adds.
      In the first four months of this year 15 bicycle accidents were recorded in Helsinki.
      "This year the number of accidents could increase from last year, because the cycling season started early. In addition, there are more mopeds on bicycle paths than before."
      Pasi Hartikainen cycles in the centre of Helsinki every day. He lives on Mikonkatu near the main railway station, and runs errands for his small music business by bicycle.
      "I cycle often when temperatures are above freezing, but not very long distances. I mostly move around in the centre. Sometimes when I go east, I take my bike onto the Metro."
      "Nothing has ever happened to me, and I am not afraid to move around in the centre of Helsinki. At times I have had to shoo pedestrians off a bike path, but I have done it in a friendly manner."
      Hartikainen believes that he can benefit from the online journey planner for cyclists which was introduced on Tuesday by the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council (YTV).


Links:
  Journey Planner for Cycling (YTV)

Helsingin Sanomat