Eco-friendly transport starts with how you arrive at a destination and the ways you move around with a smaller carbon footprint. Sustainable transport also means how easily you can get from one place to another in the city on foot or by bicycle. Accessibility is an important factor for public transportation and city planning in terms of sustainability.
Arrive with a light carbon footprint
The easiest step towards sustainable travel for any Finnish traveler visiting Tampere is to sit back, relax and choose the bus or train over a car. All the roads, both paved and rail, lead to Tampere, which has turned the Manchester of Finland into a unique hub for travel. The train station and the intercity bus station are both located in the heart of the city, which makes it easy for visitors and locals alike to hop on a bus, step in a tram, get on a bike or walk on the pedestrian friendly roads.
Experience Tampere on foot
The ace in Tampere’s sleeve is its walkable city center. Trails along the Tammerkoski, beachside boulevards by the lakes Näsijärvi and Pyhäjärvi and the renovated Hämeenkatu main street have turned the tightly knit city center into a stroll, with all main sights and services in a walking distance from one another. Themed walking tours, green parks in the city centre and exciting walking experiences, like the rooftop walk on top the historical Finlayson area, make Tampere a pedestrian-friendly destination.
See more by bike
A bike can get you far in Tampere and it’s surrounding regions. City bikes are readily available around the city and are a leisurely way to get around in the summer. Download the app, get a bike from the closest rack, and you are on your way to Särkänniemi, Pyynikki or Rauhaniemi public sauna. The large network of bikes and low rental fees make the city bike into an ideal way to enjoy Tampere while getting around sustainably.
You can also take your own bike with you on the train or rent one from the many rental shops around Tampere. Lake Trails bike travel routes invite everyone on an adventure in the gorgeous Lakeland of Pirkanmaa. You can choose from a variety of route options, do a shorter day trip or try Bike & Boat services, hop on a steamboat and head up north on the historic Poets’ Way.
Check more tips and information about cycling in Tampere here.
Nysse – your local transport service in Tampere
Public transportation service provider Nysse takes you to the most important sights in town. “Tampere has a great public transport system. Nysse routes are designed to make the travelling experience and transfers as smooth as possible. Our customers also participate in route planning and provide us with customer experience via Nysse Labcustomer programme,” says coordinator Aila Mäkeläinen from Tampere public transport.
Tampere trams diversified the city’s public transportation and they are a great alternative for eco-friendly transportation.“The tram is a very efficient means of public transport. Using 100 % renewable energy, it is a great opportunity to reduce one’s carbon footprint. Swift connections and routes via city centre contribute to the convenience of the tram,” Tampere Raitiotie CEO Pekka Sirviö describes.
Accessibility is the core of trams. All tram stops are accessible with guidance stripes and inside the trams there are announcements at every stop. Accessibility is taken into consideration with disabled and visually impaired persons, as well as people with walking aids, wheelchairs and baby carriages,
Nysse public transport covers buses, trams, and trains from Lempäälä, Nokia and Orivesi. The easiest way to buy a ticket is to use Nysse Mobiili app or contactless payment. You can also buy a ticket at R-kiosks. Check out more information about Nysse tickets here.
Särkänniemi Theme Park by Nysse number 2
The easiest way to get to Särkänniemi Theme Park is to use Nysse number 2. The route takes visitors from Rauhaniemi through Tammela to Sori Square and continues through Keskustori Central Square and Hämeenpuisto all the way to Särkänniemi. Hop on the bus in the city centre and avoid traffic at the parking lots – easy and convenient!
Tampere – path towards a carbon neutral city
Tampere aims to be Carbon Neutral by 2030. Transit is a great carbon emissioner in the everyday lives and travels of the locals. Increasing the accessibility and availability of public transit and other sustainable forms of travel is a key component in lowering the city’s carbon emissions. Bettering of public transit is also going to benefit visitors and their low carbon emission visits to Tampere.
“On average, a Finn’s carbon footprint is 10 tonnes, and one third of it consists of transportation and travelling,” says Senior Advisor Satu Lähteenoja from Demos Helsinki. The key to reducing a citizen’s carbon footprint is to minimise gasoline-fuelled transport. “It’s good to reconsider if you really need a car for every trip. All trips made using public transportation, electric vehicles or muscle power reduces our carbon footprint,” says Lähteenoja.