Helsinki’s ambitious plan to make car ownership pointless in 10 years
Finland’s capital hopes a ‘mobility on demand’ system that integrates all forms of shared and public transport in a single payment network could essentially render private cars obsolete
Urban mobility, rethought … Helsinki, Finland. Photograph: Hemis/Alamy
The Finnish capital has announced plans to transform its existing public transport network into a comprehensive, point-to-point “mobility on demand” system by 2025 – one that, in theory, would be so good nobody would have any reason to own a car.
Source: TheGuardian, read more.
Opinion:
All major cities should be following this example.
Eco-Crap 
Posted by Rachel M on July 11, 2014 at 3:59 pm
No! We definitely do not need private cars!
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Posted by argentumvulgaris on July 11, 2014 at 6:49 pm
>Rachel, absolutely agree, the original article talks about their necessity to travel to summer homes… solution, do you need a summer home? No, absolutely not. Two homes, two cars, two… it’s time for a major move in this paradigm.
AV
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Posted by Lindsay (treadingmyownpath) on July 12, 2014 at 1:54 am
That’s a really cool idea, I wonder how they’ll get on with it?! Car share schemes are gaining popularity, which is a good step, although here in Perth they haven’t taken off – people rely way too much on their cars. When we moved here almost 3 years ago we said we wouldn’t get a car, and people told us it would be impossible. Three years on we still don’t have one. We know quite a few others who don’t, but they’re all Europeans, or from outside Australia. Hopefully we’ll catch up here eventually…
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Posted by argentumvulgaris on July 12, 2014 at 5:28 am
>Lindsay, we have to change this car-dependant culture of ours because it will literally be the death of us. Being an ex-pat Kiwi, I was never without a car since my feet hit my first accelarator peddle at 15. Now living in Brazil, I don’t drive, haven’t for 22 years; the public transport system here is a shambles, but frequent. Wherever I’m going, there’ll be a bus along in 5 – 20 minutes, rarely is the wait as long as 20.
Loved your Tea Bag post, will be reblogging an intro with link on Monday.
AV
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Posted by Lindsay (treadingmyownpath) on July 13, 2014 at 6:13 am
Not driving for 22 years?! That’s great : ) I don’t know why governments are all still obsessed with roads, rather than investing in public transport infrastructure. Grr.
Oh, re the teabag post, thanks very much! I’ll keep my eyes peeled : )
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Posted by argentumvulgaris on July 13, 2014 at 8:57 am
The teabag repost is up as Monday Moaning
AV
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Posted by Lois Field on July 12, 2014 at 11:57 pm
We don’t need to be dependent on cars, I have never felt freer since giving mine away. My good news is that my state is usually way behind on new technology yet they are in the process of approving high speed rail to go between the two largest cities on the western part of the state. What’s really good about this is that it would take me from my hometown to my son’s and would give me an option over the bus.
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Posted by argentumvulgaris on July 13, 2014 at 8:59 am
>Lois, we have a new BRT (Bus Rapid Transport) system here in Rio, that is being expanded to cover many far-flung areas of the city, which is a better option than buses that use the roads, they have their own expressways.
AV
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Posted by Lois Field on July 14, 2014 at 12:01 am
AV, that’s great. Now maybe you will get your produce market back too.
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Posted by argentumvulgaris on July 14, 2014 at 2:54 pm
The little porduce shop that opened and closed, is about to becomea neighbourhood pizza place, due to open this week. 😦
AV
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Posted by Sartenada on July 13, 2014 at 4:17 am
Without my car, I never could have made my blog presenting Finland with photos (about 20000) from South to North and from East to West. All people are not living in big cities, there the idea works. What about people who has to travel to work daily on countryside about 100 kilometers.
So concerning Helsinki, why not.
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Posted by argentumvulgaris on July 13, 2014 at 9:04 am
>Sartenada, agreed, there are situations like yours. But the urban use of cars we can do without. I have seen your blog and the photos are wonderful.
AV
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