Skip to main content

Helsinki integrates new bike-share program with public transportation system

As part of its overall plan to promote cycling, the Finnish capital Helsinki has introduced a public bike-share program that is linked seamlessly with the metropolitan area's multi-modal public transportation system. Launched at the beginning of May 2016 with 500 three-speed, adult-sized bikes and 50 docking throughout the inner city, the program will expand to 1,500 bikes, 150 stations and to further city districts in 2017. The Helsinki metropolitan area public transportation system incorporates a
May 27, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
As part of its overall plan to promote cycling, the Finnish capital Helsinki has introduced a public bike-share program that is linked seamlessly with the metropolitan area's multi-modal public transportation system.

Launched at the beginning of May 2016 with 500 three-speed, adult-sized bikes and 50 docking throughout the inner city, the program will expand to 1,500 bikes, 150 stations and to further city districts in 2017.

The Helsinki metropolitan area public transportation system incorporates a subway, streetcars, commuter trains, buses, ferries, and now bike share. All modes of public transportation are included in the regional Journey Planner, which finds the optimal route from point A to point B using all modes of transportation. The Helsinki Travel Card, a smartcard used to pay for trips, can now be used for personal identity verification in the bike-share program.

Features of the bike-share program include online registration, digital control boxes on bike handlebars used to operate the bikes, fixed docking stations and renewable energy to power the system. The bike docking stations are powered by in-built solar panels. The bikes' control boxes are continuously charged through a bike hub dynamo system.

The Journey Planner indicates the locations of bike docking stations and, in real time, the number of bikes available at each station.

Related Content

  • Toyota invests in MaaS Global to develop integrated mobility solutions
    June 21, 2017
    Toyota Financial Services (TFS) and its insurance partner have announced a significant investment in the Finnish company MaaS Global, which was established in April 2016 to provide multi-modal transportation services.
  • Ride-hailing firm Lyft highlights new bike-share service
    December 5, 2018
    Lyft, the ride-hailing firm which rivals Uber, has shown off the distinctive, pink-tyred bicycles which it is to use in its new bike-share programme. The company has completed its acquisition of US bike-share giant Motivate, which was announced in the summer, and will branch into two-wheel journeys soon. The company says this represents a “natural extension of Lyft’s vision to improve transportation access, sustainability and affordability”. Lyft says that 80% of all bike-share rides in the US were co
  • Global moves drive EV infrastructure
    October 7, 2020
    Charge+ in Singapore, Total in the UK and Electrify America all have new plans
  • Kyocera and BYD to develop integrated energy system for EVs
    June 21, 2019
    Japanese manufacturer Kyocera has joined forces with BYD (Build Your Dreams) to develop an integrated renewable supply-demand energy system for electric vehicles (EVs). Kyocera will combine its solar power generating systems with BYD’s electric buses in a bid to reduce power losses and maintain a stable supply-demand energy balance. For the project, Kyocera is to develop the energy and charge management system to control the supply-demand balance between energy production and consumption by using ag