Otaniemi to be a Trial Area for Sustainable Mobility in May

During May, walking, cycling and the use of shared cars and public transport will be highlighted in Otaniemi through casual, inclusive and easily accessible events. The theme month brings together the region's higher education institutions, companies, public actors and residents. It invites you to come together and try out physical activities that support both wellbeing and the environment.

The events of the theme month are organised by key actors in Otaniemi, such as the City of Espoo, Aalto University and companies in the region. The project is coordinated by the EU co-funded SOLMU project, which promotes sustainable mobility solutions in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. The project is being implemented by the City of Espoo, the City of Helsinki and the innovation company Forum Virium Helsinki Oy.

“Otaniemi is an excellent place to test new ways of promoting sustainable mobility, as people here are active in everyday life and open to new experiments. Through the events of the theme month, we wish to make it easier to experiment with small changes that may have a significant impact,” says Katja Ojala, Project Manager at the City of Espoo.

The theme month consists of free events organised throughout May that are open to everyone in different parts of Otaniemi. The programme includes bicycle maintenance, walking and cycling trips, points related to wellbeing and safety, and a traffic-themed pub quiz.

You can visit the events(external link, opens in a new window) easily while working or studying, for example. The aim is to encourage people to try out small everyday mobility choices that support both their own wellbeing and the sustainability of the environment.

Otaniemi is known as an area where people are not afraid to test new solutions. The theme month strengthens this role and shows how the promotion of sustainable mobility and wellbeing is primarily based on cooperation between people.

During the theme month, Otaniemi as a whole will serve as a shared trial environment. A common time frame and shared theme enable several actors to promote the same goals from their own starting points. Simultaneous actions increase visibility and strengthen the sense of community in the region.

In addition to the open event, actors in the region are encouraged to implement their own ideas and highlight the viewpoints of sustainable mobility in their own communities. This way, the theme month is visible not only in events but also in the daily life of campuses and workplaces.

The Otaniemi on the Road to Sustainability theme month is an example of how public actors, educational institutions and companies can promote sustainable development together and make it a visible and accessible part of everyday life.