The document summarizes bicycle traffic plans and initiatives in Helsinki. It discusses goals to increase bicycle transportation to 15% by 2020. Key actions include developing a network of separated bicycle paths and lanes, improving winter maintenance, and expanding bicycle parking. A pilot project tested different winter maintenance methods on bike paths. Preliminary results found brushing and new de-icing solutions were effective but costly compared to salt. The city aims to improve guidelines, marketing, and education to further promote cycling.

1. Bicycle traffic in Helsinki
City of Helsinki
City Planning Department
pyöräliikenne.fi
14.4.2016
Pihla Melander

2. Outline for presentation
1. Bicycle traffic in Helsinki
2. Cycling in a key role in enabling growth
3. Developing the network
4. Winter maintenance pilot
5. What next?

3. Bicycle traffic in Helsinki
Strategy and key figures

4. From strategy to kerbstone

5. Why does the city want more cyclists?

6. Number of cyclists on the rise

7. The Goal 2020
– Increase the modal
share of bicycle
trips to 15 % by
2020
– Strategy
programme:
Promote walking,
cycling and public
transport

8. Bicycle traffic action plan
Source: Pyöräilyn edistämisohjelma

9. Most important actions for the City:
1.Straight and smooth routes, with good
arrangements for crossing, pedestrians and
cycling quality-separated
2.More and better bicycle parking spaces
3.High-quality maintenance all year round
4.Clear-term and high-quality worksite traffic
5.Marketing and communication

10. Cycling in a key role in
enabling growth

11. Enabling growth
By 2050:
• the City of Helsinki +250 000 people
• Greater Helsinki Region +600 000 people
The new Helsinki City Plan proposes:
Expansion of the inner city as a major part of
the growth

12. New City Plan
1. Creating a Public
Transport Network
City
2. Expansion of the
inner city
3. Infill development of
important nodes
4. Improving the green
network city

13. How can we achieve this?

14. Space
40 bicycles vs. 40 cars

15. Health and Environment

16. Time benefits

17. Helsinki’s Urban Mobility Strategy
1.Pedestrians
2.Bicycle traffic
3.Public transport
4.Goods transport
5.Cars
http://www.hel.fi/hel2/ksv/julkaisut/esitteet/esite_2016-1_en.pdf

18. Developing the network

19. Where do we need bicycle paths?
http://www.mobilitymodeling.com/try-it-out/

20. Baana-Bicycle highways

21. Part of Baana -highways already exist

22. More is detail planned every year

23. Bicycle Network for city center 2025
• One directional
bicycle paths at
city center

24. Part of the network is already built

25. Winter maintenance pilot on
cycle paths
2015-2016

26. Current quality standards
Bike paths:
– Plowed by 7 o’clock:
410 km
– Plowed by 10 o’clock:
1 200 km
– Plowed by 12 o’clock:
860 km
Plowing has to start,
when the layer of snow is
more than 5 cm.
Photo: Jari Aho

27. Why are we developing winter
maintenance now?
Increase the number of cyclists
Find out the winter maintenance quality
standards needed to increase the number of
winter cyclists
What are the costs of better winter
maintenance?

28. New route-specific winter maintenance
methods
Baana – Helsinginkatu (3,1 km)
– Brushing
– New de-icing solution Granlux
– Potassium formate-liquid Eco-Melter
Helsinginkatu – Oulunkylä (5,6 km)
– Brushing
– Salt Kuva: Reetta Keisanen / KSV

29. Preliminary results
Granlux and Eco-
Melter
• More eco-friendly
than salt
• Costs tenfold
compared to salt
• Make snow stick
to the bike
Anti-skid using salt
• Needs to be applied
often
• Costs bigger compared
to gravel
• Works well in near-
zero-temperatures
• Good maintenance
level at very low
temperatures
• Negative
environmental effects
Brushing snow
• Brushing
essential to
achieve better
quality
• Slower than
plowing snow
• Machines big
and have little
other use

30. Summary
Better winter maintenance quality is clearly more expensive than
current quality.
Brushing is in central role.
The pathway is to be built with high quality, drainage needs to be
well executed.
No considerable differences in the quality of the winter
maintenance between the two methods.
Pilot to be continued with salt due to cost-efficiency

31. What next?

32. New guidelines for bicycle traffic
and parking
www.pyöräliikenne.fi

33. https://issuu.com/helsinkisuunnittelee/
docs/pyorailykatsaus_2015_en_issu
Bicycle account 2015

34. Marketing strategy for bicycle traffic

35. City Bikes, opening party 2.5.2016

36. Bicycle traffic in Helsinki -exhibition
14.4. – 1.10 in Kamppi,
Helsinki.
Events & education
about the guidelines
More:
http://laituri.hel.fi/en

37. Thank you!
Pihla Melander
Traffic and Transportation Engineer
pihla.melander@hel.fi
City of Helsinki
City Planning Department