Bicycling in Helsinki

Experience Helsinki by riding a bicycle! Here are some tips for bicycling for both tourists and local residents.

“Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride,” as John F. Kennedy used to say.

The approximately 1,180 kilometres of bicycle routes in Helsinki ensure that bicycling in the city during the summer not only appeals to great men, but also to tourists and to local residents. The city looks and feels different when viewed on a bicycle, and in urban conditions, travel times by bicycle are often comparable to those of cars or public transportation.

Guides and route maps
The Internet provides different online services catering to various cycling needs. The Journey Planner for Cycling helps commuters find the best cycling route in the capital region. The planner can also be used for other summer activities – such as bicycle outings to the seashore or the banks of River Vantaanjoki.

If your planned journey becomes too long, you should keep in mind that transporting bicycles on local trains carries no fees outside peak hours, and on metros when there is space.
Home district routes offer routes that combine history, nature and culture with the fun of bicycling. You can print out the routes, go cycling, and choose the features of Helsinki’s different districts that you are the most interested in.

Tips for cyclists
If you do not enjoy cycling alone, and are interested in travel company, you should go online to the Fillarikalenteri site. It is a online service community for cyclists at all competence levels. With the service, you can find information on joint cycling outings, competitions, and other cycling-related activities.

The Finns have also introduced cycling to social media. Facebook, for example, has groups designated to cycling, such as Polkupyörä on pop! [Cycling is cool!] or Fillari Helsinki [Cycling in Helsinki]. In the groups, you can discuss topical cycling matters, or share your cycling trip stories, for example!
Choosing cycling over car driving is an ecological choice.

Cycling is environmentally sound and contributes to sustainable development. After going cycling, you can use the ecology calculator of Tapiola to calculate the gasoline litres spared and the amount of carbon dioxide that was not created – besides physical well-being, you also get a good conscience from cycling!

Cycling safety is especially important when children go cycling. It is essential that children are taught the key traffic rules and how to cross the road safely at an early stage. Visiting the Children’s Traffic Town is a fun way for everyone to revise the basics of traffic etiquette.

How to obtain a ride
You need not own a bicycle to enjoy the cycling routes of Helsinki. However, locating a bicycle rental outlet in Helsinki may be a quite challenging task for a traveller, but Greenbike on Bulevardi, for example, and Ecobike next to the Finnair Stadium, rent out bicycles.

Cycling at the City Planning Department website The Journey Planner for Cycling Home district cycling routes Fillarikalenteri cycling calendar (in Finnish) Children’s Traffic Town Greenbike Ecobike Fillari Helsinki on Facebook (in Finnish) Polkupyörä on pop! on Facebook

Text: Sanna Hellstedt
Photo: Flickr/ Martti Tulenheimo

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