Cycling Week gives a glimpse into life without a car
The Cycling Week in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area on 5–14 May 2023 shows how to live a car-free life. During the week, there will be test rides with electrically-assisted cargo bikes – car substitutes, which your own housing company can also acquire. In the bicycle parking-themed orienteering, we will take a look at various quality bicycle parking solutions which reduce thefts and are great for housing companies, public spaces and shops alike. The whole family will experience the joy of cycling in a bike parade, at breakfast for commuter cyclists and on group trips where cycling trip plans will be made for the summer. The free and low-threshold events welcome cyclists and bicycle enthusiasts of all ages and levels. You do not need to have your own bike to participate, city bikes are an adequate option. There will also be plenty of events online.
Many of this year’s Cycling Week events are related to quality bicycle parking since, according to research, people can be encouraged to cycle by investing in secure bicycle parking. For example, quality bicycle parking near stations enables people to combine cycling and the use of public transport on the same trip. On the other hand, shortcomings in bicycle parking inevitably make cycling less appealing.
“A large portion of bikes currently being sold are electrically-assisted and many people are wondering how to store a bike securely and practically both at home and at work, for example. Many housing companies have realised that a traditional bike storage no longer serves its purpose in modern life where people cycle all year round with different types of vehicles of varying sizes”, says the Executive Director of Helsinki Region Cyclists NGO (Hepo) Henni Ahvenlampi.
The aim of both the Helsinki Metropolitan Area cities and the Cycling Week events is to encourage people to cycle and increase the use of bicycles in all travelling. We encourage people to consider their options when moving from one place to another. It is important to increase people’s awareness of the benefits of cycling and to enhance cycling’s position in our traffic culture. In terms of the bicycle infrastructure, we encourage building an environment where people of all ages with different types of bikes can both ride and park their bikes safely and with ease during all seasons.
The Cycling Week in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area is coordinated by Helsinki Region Cyclists (Hepo). The week’s events will be organised in cooperation with the cities of Espoo, Helsinki and Vantaa, Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority (HSY), Helsinki Region Transport (HSL), and other operators in the cycling sector. Hepo volunteers will also contribute to the event.
Hop on your bike to the Cycling Week events
Saturday, 6 May
Cycling Week Grand Opening and Bike Parade for the Whole Family
Hepo and its partners will hold the grand opening of the Cycling Week at Helsinki Kansalaistori Square next to the Oodi Library on Saturday, 6 May at 12:00–17:00.
The grand opening event is full of entertainment and fun activities for all! Come test ride electrically-assisted cargo bikes and the city bikes of Helsinki and Espoo on a dedicated test course. The highlight of the event is a bike parade for the whole family where we will experience the joy of cycling together. The trip may also make you realise how important safe and clear detours around construction sites are. The parade sets off at 13:30 from the Kansalaistori Square and returns to the same place after about one hour.
Of course, there will also be music as Trash Heroes DJs provide tunes between 12:00–15:00. Visitors also have the opportunity to have the condition and safety of their bikes checked free of charge by a bike maintenance professional from Haagan Pyörähuolto Ltd. Naturally, you can also meet representatives of Helsinki Region Cyclists. The Kansalaistori Square event will provide tips and information about both cycling and traffic rules.
Wednesday 10/5; Thursday 11/5
Breakfast for Cyclists and Bicycle Parking-themed Orienteering
Bicycle parking-themed orienteering of the Cycling Week comes out on Wednesday, 10 May. Bicycle parking-themed orienteering invites the whole family for an urban adventure in the Helsinki area. Go for a ride in the local surroundings while orienteering. See and experience new places this spring and summer. You can participate according to your own schedule, either with your own bike or a city bike. The orienteering destinations include the best public and private bicycle parking solutions in the Helsinki region.
On Thursday, 11 May, hungry cyclists and ones craving for coffee will be served in Keilalahti, Espoo by Laguuni. Hepo volunteers will serve breakfast to cyclists every day from 7:00 till 9:00.
Thursday, 11 May
Quality Bicycle Parking in Espoo Delights Local Cyclists
Come listen to a live feed interview on Hepo’s Facebook page(external link, opens in a new window) at 12:00 about functional bicycle parking solutions in Espoo Centre. A local cyclist will present two bicycle parking spots: heated bicycle parking at the S-market in Espoo Centre and bicycle parking at shopping centre Entresse. A recording of the live feed interview will be available later on Hepo’s Facebook page and a blog post based on it will also be published on Hepo’s website so you can read more about the subject later.
Programmes for the events can be found at hepo.fi/pyorailyviikko(external link, opens in a new window) and Hepo’s Facebook(external link, opens in a new window) events.
More information:
Taija Timonen
Producer, Helsinki Region Cyclists
+358 (0)50 +358 8 77877
taija.timonen@hepo.fi
Henni Ahvenlampi
Executive Director, Helsinki Region Cyclists
+358 (0)41 3191002
henni.ahvenlampi@hepo.fi