Does Espoo live up to its image as a car-centric city?
A common perception of Espoo is that people here drive everywhere. In the My Espoo on the Map survey, respondents were asked to mark on a map where and how they get around in their everyday lives. The results may provide an answer to the question of whether the most predominant mode of transport in Espoo really is a private car.
The table below shows the everyday places people travel to, the average distance to each destination and the means of transport used. The table also shows how many responses were received in each category. The number of kilometres is the distance in a straight line calculated using geographic information software, between the respondent’s home and the everyday location they have marked on the map.
The responses reveal that 45 per cent, almost half, of people in Espoo use a car at least for shopping. The car is also the most popular mode of transport from home to work and studies. A total of 38 per cent of respondents drive a car to these destinations. However, almost a quarter commute to work or studies by bicycle. Public transport is used for these journeys by 23 per cent of respondent.
Walking, on the other hand, is slightly more popular than other modes of transport on a few types of everyday journeys. A total of 37 per cent of people in Espoo travel on foot to run personal errands, and 39 per cent walk to their leisure time activities. A majority of 37 per cent also choose to walk when taking their children to school, day-care or club.
Therefore, the answers suggest that, when travelling longer distances, the car is still the most popular mode of transport in Espoo, being slightly more popular than public transport. For shorter journeys, the people of Espoo prefer walking and cycling.
From an urban planning perspective, it would be interesting to monitor how the division between modes of transport changes in the future. Will the completion of major new transport projects, such as the West Metro extension, Jokeri Light Rail, City Rail Link or cycling corridors, have an impact on the popularity of the car for longer journeys as well?
Juha Hiltula, special planner