Helsinki......ize?

Many of you who know me will know that our second home is Finland (my wife grew up there). Over 30 years ago I discovered the network of separate bike paths and pedestrian ways. These, especially in the suburbs, will go beneath bridges to avoid crossing automobile traffic. They are well maintained and outlined on a map that seems to have more red (marking paths) than road.

City planning, as elsewhere in Northern Europe, creates fairly dense neighborhoods surrounded by forest so that most residents are never more than a few hundred yards from the trees. For the most part each of these suburban developments are well served by commerce, transit and bike/pedestrian paths.

In many places these two pathways are separate and just as often, combined where people seem to share them rather peaceably.

I was there for business in November and biked for my only mode of transportation. The picture below is of Bulevardi, a major commercial artery in the center of Helsinki. The bike path and sidewalk are separated by the row of trees and bikes traffic is controlled with lights similar to what control auto traffic, tram (on that street) and peds.

The video below is of a POV commute to/from the western (I think) suburban area of Helsinki. The path goes through Central Park and along the Espoo bound commuter rail line. The caption says the temp is 1 degree Farenheit and it looks as though fresh snow has fallen recently.

I'm posting it mostly because I like it but I'm also struck by the dearth of cyclists in the video. In many ways, Finland is the "home" of winter biking. Many of us in Minneapolis use Nokkian winter tires (or is that Tyres?). Oh the advantages of biking in a warmer year around climate. It so helps to increase mode share.

Anyway, please enjoy!