Helsingin jalankulkijat – Helsinki Pedestrians’ Association

  Finland

What we do

The association advocates for more space, safety and enjoyment for people in Helsinki. This means prioritizing people and walkable neighbourhoods in city planning.

Our Mission and Vision

• Recognition of walking as an important way of transport in the city. It should be raised to be equal to other modes of transport in budgeting, decision making and planning.

• Raising budgeting of walking to reflect the share of walking in transport. 44 % of trips are made by walking (Helsinki city website, 2023, in Finnish).

• Ensure new neighbourhoods and areas are planned from a pedestrian’s point of view.
• Older parts of the city have to be designed and developed to be better walkable areas, so that services are within 15 minutes of safe and physically accessible walking distance for people of different ages and capability.

Our objectives in city planning:

More space!

• Streets reserved for walking have to be bigger to increase safety, enjoyment and possibilities of street usage.

• There should be fewer cars in densely populated areas.

More safety!

• Speed limits in the city have to be reduced to improve safety and reduce noise pollution.
• The safety of all pedestrians has to be improved with physical constructs, such as barriers and speed bumps – especially near schools and other such areas.
• The physical accessibility and quality of winter upkeep has to be improved. Sidewalks have to be for walking and free from obstacles.

More greenery and enjoyment!

• The streets’ greenery has to be increased. More trees and plants have to be planted along the sidewalks to give shelter, protection and enjoyment. Streets have to have more benches and temporary furniture during the summer.
• There have to be more areas planned for children: playful and safe places that encourage movement and play.
• Minimum parking requirements have to be abolished. They force the city to plan and build parking in neighbourhoods that are accessible by public transport.
• The amount of on the ground parking has to be reduced and the existing parking turned into more enjoyable areas. Parking spaces can be rented for other uses – such as to entrepreneurs in the area.

Make the whole city walkable!

• The walkability has to be improved in neighbourhoods and suburbs, where most of the people live. This is achieved by creating accessible and straighforward routes for walking, while protecting and strengthening the greenery, among other things.