School transportation
Students attending basic education in the City of Vaasa are entitled to free school transportation provided that the school trip in one direction is:
- more than three kilometres for children in pre-primary education
- more than three kilometres for students in grades 1–2
- more than five kilometres for students in grades 3–9.
Transport is provided to the student’s designated local school, and the route is calculated based on the shortest available route from the home to the school. The journey to school or pre-primary education is measured from the home address to the gate of the school or pre-primary unit, following the shortest publicly accessible pedestrian route or public road.
School transport is also provided free of charge if the total daily commute to and from school exceeds two and a half hours (or three hours for students aged 13 and over).
School transport is primarily arranged using public transport. In special cases, TeeSe school taxis or taxis operated by private transport providers may also be used. School transportation subsidy may also be granted for transporting the student or accompanying them on their journey.
Application for school transportation
There is no need to apply separately for school transport if the student meets the distance criteria for free transport. School transport is primarily arranged using public transport. The student will receive a bus card from the school once they become eligible for school transport.
An application for school transport only needs to be made if the grounds relate to, for example, a hazardous school route or health reasons.
School transport application with expert statement
An application for school transport only needs to be made if the grounds relate to, for example, a hazardous school route or health reasons. In such cases, the guardian can apply by contacting the school directly.
When applying for school transport on health grounds, an expert statement must be provided. This statement should be issued by a professional or organisation responsible for the child’s care. It cannot be written by a principal or teacher.
However, the expert statement does not obligate the city to provide transport; it serves as supporting information in the decision-making process. School transport based on an expert statement is usually granted for one school year at a time. The guardian may submit the expert statement to the student’s school.
Application for pre-primary transport
A child in pre-primary education is entitled to transport if the distance from their registered home address (as listed in the population register) to the pre-primary education unit is over 3 km.
Transport for children in pre-primary education is provided only during preschool hours (weekdays from 9.00 to 13.00). If transport is required, you can contact the child’s pre-primary unit directly.
Application for school transportation subsidy
An alternative to free school transport is a school transport subsidy. The subsidy can be applied for if the student has been granted the right to school transport, but the guardian prefers to arrange the student’s transport independently. The school transport subsidy and school transport are mutually exclusive. The application for the school transport subsidy can be submitted by email to koulukuljetukset@vaasa.fi.
Waltti bus card for students
In the City of Vaasa, Waltti bus cards are used for students’ school transport. The student will receive the bus card from the school when their entitlement to school transport begins. The card is automatically loaded for one school year at a time, or for a specified period.
The bus card does not need to be returned at the end of the school year if the student’s entitlement to school transport continues; instead, it is automatically reloaded for the next school year. If the student changes schools during the year or progresses to grade 7, the bus card will automatically become invalid, and the student will receive a new card at the new school.
The student bus card is personal, and students should always carry it with them. The card should be handled with care, as wear and tear can affect its functionality. Travel is not possible with a damaged card. If the card stops working or is lost, the school office must be contacted immediately. Please note that replacing a lost card may take some time.
The bus card is valid only on school days and entitles the student to two trips per day on Vaasa local buses. The card can be used between 6.00 and 17.15. If a student must change buses during the journey, the change must be completed within one hour of the start of the first trip. Students are advised to allow sufficient time for the transfer, as there may be slight discrepancies in the clocks of the readers on different buses.
Principles for organising school transport
Available in Finnish and Swedish in the ‘We Recommend’ section.