Vaasa will celebrate Cycling Day on Saturday 3 May – with special guest Mikko ‘Peltsi’ Peltola!

Mikko ‘Peltsi’ Peltola, known for his passion for cycling, will be at Vaasa Market Square to share his enthusiasm and cycling tips. Guests can enjoy a cup of coffee from a campfire kettle and chat with Peltsi, and at 11 and 12, he will take to the stage to share his best cycling tips and talk about his own biking adventures.

The aim of Cycling Day is to inspire the people of Vaasa to enjoy their hometown and the outdoors on two wheels. The event is a perfect opportunity to bring your bike out of storage, get it ready for summer, and gather inspiration for the new cycling season.

The theme of the event is ‘Get Your Bike Ready’. At the Market Square, you can check your bike’s condition for free and carry out minor maintenance with professional guidance.

Join a group bike ride with Peltsi

You may want to arrive by bike, as a group ride led by Peltsi will depart from the Market Square at 13.15, and everyone is welcome to join. The ride is about 5 kilometres long, and it will take approximately an hour. The pace will be relaxed to ensure that everyone can keep up. The group will make stops along the way to chat and take photos.

The bike ride will take you along beautiful waterfront scenery, offering a great opportunity to experience the city from a new perspective. Participants will have a say in the route selection, as a vote will be held on the City of Vaasa’s official Instagram account before the event.

Activities for all ages

Fun activities will be organised at the Market Square for the youngest family members and those who enjoy a bit of excitement. You can put your skills to the test at the pump track and skills course on your own bike, or borrow a kick scooter or skateboard. You can also test your throwing accuracy with an American football at the Wasa Royals’ stand, and Stadium will be showcasing their new children’s bikes.

There’s plenty for adult cyclists to test and explore. Local bike shops Salama Bikes, Cycli, and Viertola will be showcasing their latest models and offering test rides, while Vaasan maastopyörävuokraus will have electric bikes available for testing. Vaasa Trail Riders will be showcasing mountain biking opportunities and their club activities.

Vaasa promotes cycling

This summer, the City of Vaasa will be encouraging residents to cycle more through a promotional campaign. Promoting cycling is a key element of the City of Vaasa’s wellbeing plan, which seeks to enhance health, wellbeing, and safety for people of all ages.

– Promoting cycling and other forms of everyday physical activity is an excellent and cost-effective way to encourage an active lifestyle. It supports health and physical functioning, which is very important for all of us, says Hanna-Mari Joutsen, Health Promotion Coordinator.

A week full of cycling-themed action

Cycling Day is part of National Cycling Week,  which this year is celebrated under the theme ‘Cycling is for Everyone’. The aim of the week is to raise awareness about equity in transportation and mobility.

In addition to the main event at the Market Square, there will be a number of different cycling events throughout the week. For example, on Tuesday, a free breakfast is available to those cycling to work, and on Saturday, there will be a bike ride to Pilvilampi, where a café will be run by Vaasa Latu, and sausages will be provided for the first cyclists to arrive, courtesy of the City of Vaasa. See the full schedule for the week below.

Saturday, 3 May

Cycling Day for the whole family at Vaasa Market Square on 3 May from 10 to 15

• Meet Mikko ‘Peltsi’ Peltola over a cup of campfire coffee
• At 11 and 12, Peltsi will share his biking stories on the Market Square stage
• At 13.15, a group bike ride led by Peltsi The ride is about 5 kilometres long, and it will take approximately an hour. The pace will be relaxed, ensuring that everyone can keep up. To participate, you will need your own bike and a cycling helmet. All participants must adhere to traffic regulations.
• Bike maintenance point at the Market Square. Minor bike maintenance; spare parts are available for purchase.
• Bicycle inspections at the Finnish Road Safety Council Liikenneturva stand. Come and find out if your bike passes the inspection!
• Local bike shops Salama Bikes, Cycli, and Viertola will be showcasing their new models and offering the chance to test ride bikes. Vaasan maastopyörävuokraus offers electric bikes for test rides.
• Stadium will be showcasing children’s bikes.
• The Trail Riders Vaasa mountain biking club will showcase its activities.
• A skills course where you can use your own bike, or borrow one of the kick bikes or skateboards available.
• Pump track and play area
• The Wasa Royals’ throwing station
• Red Cross first aid station and Nalleneuvola Teddy Bear Hospital
• Representatives from Vaasa City’s Welfare Unit and Youth Services will bring along a kick bike and scooters to try out. Members of the Youth Council will also be available.
• ViaDia will be selling crepes and campfire coffee.

Tuesday, 6 May

Cycle to Work Day The City of Vaasa, Vaasa Finnish Parish, and Vasa Swedish Parish will offer breakfast to cyclists from 7 to 9, or as long as supplies last.

Breakfast stations:

• At Onkilahti Park, near the Paperisilta/Putusilta bridge
• At Kirkkopuistikko in front of Vaasa Church
• On Ruutikellarintie at the parking lot by the Monitoimiviheriö multipurpose field

Wednesday, 7 May

On ‘Cycle to School’ day, students, teachers, and other staff are encouraged to travel to school by bike. In Vaasa, schools have been encouraged to organise activities such as bike inspections and road safety education throughout the day.

Thursday, 8 May

On ‘Cycle to Hobbies’ day, sports clubs encourage people to cycle to their activities.

Saturday, 10 May

‘Bike Touring Day’ features a ride into nature to the Närvänmutka lean-to and Pilvilampi! Vaasan Latu will run a café at the lean-to, and the City of Vaasa will provide sausages from 10 to 15, or as long as supplies last. The time will be announced later.