No need for an own car in 2025

Helsinki is already an excellent city to get around in by public transport, bike or even on foot. But the city's ambitions are bigger than that. The long term plan is to make privately owned cars completely obsolete.

And that vision is not too far in the future. Already 2025 this should be reality. For more information on those plans check out the article on Fastcoexist.

Cycling around the city

Helsinki is obviously the most beautiful city in the world. But for those who still have doubt, this video might give a good impression to convince you.


Hop on and join a cycling tour around the city.

Have a nice start into the weekend!

City bikes are coming back

Good news for all cycling enthusiasts - and even more those who don't have an own bike. Starting from May 2nd Helsinki will have a bike sharing system again.

You can then borrow yellow city bikes (called Alepa Fillari) at one of 50 stations around town. In the beginning around 500 bikes will be available. But until 2018 the number should be raised to 2000.

To borrow a bike you have to register to a season pass: 5 € per day/10 € per week/25€ for the whole season (until end of October). Once you purchased this pass you can borrow any bike at any time at any station and use it free of charge for the first 30 min. After that time extra charges apply. But let's be honest, who needs a bike in Helsinki for longer than 30 min?

To register to the service and find out more about prices, stations and other details, check out the City bike website.

Enjoy cycling and have a nice week!

The bike fixer

Nothing is more annoying than a broken tire during a cycling tour along the sea side. Luckily during the summer time there is help waiting. Right in front of Carusel you find the small caravan of the Bike Fixer. Here you can get all minor and major bike repairs done in short time.

The Bike fixer is open on weekdays from 17:00 to 22:00 and on weekends between 9:00 and 22:00. The caravan will still be at its place till the end of September. For more information visit the website (Finnish).

Everything for cycling in Helsinki

At Narinkka Square the Bycicle Center (Pyöräkeskus) is open again for the summer. Cyclist find everything they need here for exploring Helsinki by bike.

Not only can you can park your bike conveniently for a walk through the center. You can also get it fixed at the same time. Kampin Suutari takes care of quick bike maintenance such as lubrication, mending punctures and changing tires. Or just borrow all necessary tools for free and do the repair by yourself.

And for those who don’t own a bike there is of course also the possibility to rent one from Greenbikes. Prices start from 20 € for half a day.

For more information and special biking events check out the Pyöräkeskus website and Facebook page.

Helsinki by bike

Helsinki is trying to become more bike-friendly. Creating new bike paths and trying to make cycling saver for cyclist plays an important role for the city planners.

To discuss the topic in public an exhibition was put up on Helsinki by bike. It can be seen at Laituri next to Kamppi shopping center.

At Fiilari people living in the city tell about their experiences cycling in Helsinki. They are quite critical and address several problems the city has to solve. To get more information on the exhibition and on cycling in Helsinki you should also check Fiilari’s Facebook page.

Laituri is open every day except Mondays and the exhibition is free of charge. You can still see it till 04.08.

A bike for everyone

Finland is full of good ideas. Lots of great products have been invented here. Among them is the idea of building a bike that all people could use, no matter what sex, age, size or financial status.

That was the idea of Eero Helkama. Together with the industrial designers Eero Rislakki and Erkki Rahikainen he designed a bike that would fit everyone and started producing it, paying close attention to make it affordable for everyone. This bike was called Jopo (jokaisen polkupyörä = everyone’s bike).

Jopo became a big hit in Finland – and it is till today. Being pretty basic without gears or any fancy extras it is the perfect city bike. Due to its simple design it fits everyone. Jopo is available in various colors and now already produced in the third generation.

Meanwhile the variety of models is much wider and you can also get it with three gears or even with an electro engine. But the basic model is still the most popular. You get it for around 400 €. 

Those bikes are really wanted – unfortunately also by thieves. So don’t forget to lock them properly.

The new shortcut to the center

Right in time for Helsinki’s 200^th anniversary as capital of Finland the new cycling and walking street Baana was opened. It is a shortcut from Ruoholahti to the Main Station in the heart of the center. With a lot of construction work an old ditch could be turned into a way that allows cyclists and pedestrians to get to the center without being bothered by cars.

And the city did its best to make the new connection attractive for people. Along the way you can find sports facilities for skating, table tennis and basketball and you can also always stop at one of the many benches.

Baana is 1,6 km long and makes cycling and walking to and from the center a lot easier, more comfortable and more save.

The tandem experience

One way to explore Helsinki is of course by bike. If you want to cycle around the city with your partner or a friend and you don’t have your own bike you should consider renting a tandem. The restaurant and bar Iguana on Mannerheimintie rents them out during the summer. 

For 15 Euros you get the tandem for three hours. If you pay 30 Euros you can use it the whole day. It has to be returned latest at 10 p.m. That gives you lots of time for a big tour around the center and the seaside. 

But be careful. Even though Helsinki is trying to make the city more bike friendly and making new cycling paths you should still always keep an eye on the cars. If you happen to cycle in a street without a cycling path it is recommendable to rater cycle on the walkway than on the street. Most Finnish car drivers are not used to bikes on the street and don’t think they belong there. 

Still a ride with the tandem through Helsinki can be a very nice experience. Just don’t forget to carry a helmet!