Sustainable mobility

Walking is one of the most sustainable forms of transport. It improves physical fitness, reduces air pollution, and helps keep the city’s streets and sidewalks clean. Additionally, walking offers the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and explore the local area.

Walking can also be combined with other sustainable transport options, such as public transport. Did you know that bus passengers take about 1,200 more steps a day than car drivers?

Diesel buses emit less than 50% of the carbon dioxide emissions per passenger kilometre compared to private cars. These emissions can be further reduced as gas and electric buses become more common. In the Vaasa region, the Lift public transport network operates 22 gas-powered buses, which run on biogas produced by Stormossen.

In 2023, the number of passengers using Lift’s services increased by 50% compared to the previous year. That year, Lift transported a total of 1.8 million passengers.

Read more

• You can explore the public transport solutions implemented by the city of Vaasa, which support its carbon neutrality goal, here.
• Discover public transport routes and timetables here.

Vaasa is a bicycle-friendly city! Vaasa offers great cycling infrastructure with a total of 179 kilometres of cycle paths, making cycling in the city fast and convenient due to the short distances. Did you know that 80% of Vaasa’s residents live less than 5 kilometres from the city centre?

Commuting by bicycle

Often, work and school commutes of less than 5 kilometres are quicker by bike than by car. From an environmental and zero-emissions perspective, cycling is one of the best modes of transportation. Moreover, cycling is excellent for practical and everyday exercise.

Park your bike in the bicycle garage

A glass-walled bicycle garage built in front of Vaasa Railway Station offers a free and secure place to park your bike in the city centre! The camera-monitored garage provides a total of 156 bicycle spaces across two levels. Located opposite the railway station at the northern end of Asemanpuisto, it’s part of Vaasa’s pedestrian zone.

The garage operates automatically via a mobile app. You can find the shed’s usage instructions and rules here.

Get moving with a loaned bicycle

Did you know that the Vaasa City Library offers four bicycles for urban mobility, complete with helmets, available to borrow until the end of September? Well, now you do!

The bicycles are located in front of the Drama Hall at the main library and can be borrowed with a library card from the library’s Info desk. The bike should be returned to the front of the Drama Hall at the end of the loan period, and the key should be taken back to Info.

The maximum loan period for a bicycle is one week.

Find out more about the available bikes and terms of use on the Vaasa City Library’s website.

In 2019, approximately 64% of all trips in Vaasa were made by car. For trips under three kilometres, just under half are made by car in Vaasa.

If you choose to drive, you can save both the environment and your wallet by opting for car-sharing, carpooling, and more economical driving practices. According to the Finnish state-owned sustainable development company Motiva, economical driving can result in savings of around 5–15%.

Mini-Lifti Car Sharing

Mini-Lifti is a shared car for all Vaasa residents. The cars are available for city employees on weekdays, but in the evenings and weekends, anyone can rent them. During the summer season of 2024, Mini-Lift cars will be freely available for rent on weekdays as well. There are three fully electric, automatic cars available for rent.

Omago is responsible for the operation of Mini-Lifti, owning the cars and taking care of their maintenance, cleanliness, insurance, and the app used for bookings. Reservations and unlocking the car doors are managed via the mobile app.

Check out the detailed rental and usage instructions on Omago’s website.