Smart commuting options attracted interest
Together with VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, we organised an event to showcase sustainable commuting options in Otaniemi on 10 April. Several companies were there to present their solutions for cycling, carsharing and other sustainable transport. Bicycle maintenance operators maintained visitors’ bicycles while they attended the event.
Many visitors were excited about the opportunity to test the different electric bicycles available at the event. Electric bicycles make cycling easier, which makes it possible to commute longer distances by bike.
Building a thriving and sustainable Espoo through cooperation
“Occupational wellbeing is an important part of VTT’s strategy, and the event was a concrete way to promote it. The sustainable mobility solutions presented at the event improve people’s physical and mental wellbeing. By cycling to work, you are well on your way to achieving the recommended daily activity levels, and you also get to start your day with renewed energy,” says Senior Researcher Merja Penttinen from VTT, who participated in organising the event. She herself lives an active lifestyle and cycles to work.
“I hope that our employees will make more use of Espoo’s excellent cycling and walking infrastructure while improving their own wellbeing by starting their day with a sustainable commute,” Penttinen says.
In line with Espoo’s strategy, the Espoo Story, building a sustainable city is a joint effort by the entire Espoo community. Cooperation with partners is important for achieving the city’s carbon neutrality goals. Espoo aims to become carbon-neutral by 2030.
“We are cooperating with companies to develop sustainable commuting in Espoo. In the future, we will also organise sustainable transport events with other business partners. Based on our experiences of the event and the feedback we received, we can develop new ways to promote sustainable commuting and adapt the concept to the needs of different companies,” says Veli-Pekka Korhonen, Senior Specialist in Sustainable Transport at the City of Espoo.
The event was organised as part of the Innovation Challenge Engine for Cities project, which develops solutions for the challenges of sustainable urban development together with companies, R&D operators, and universities.
