Most Young Tampere Residents Use Bus or Tram for School and Work

Most young Tampere residents commute to school and work by bus or tram. A spring 2026 survey of 389 people found 56% usually use bus or tram for daily trips, about 25% walk, 8% cycle and roughly 4% travel by car. Commute distances are short for many: nearly half have journeys under 5 km, about 29% travel 5–10 km and roughly one in five commute more than 10 km. The findings were published by the City of Tampere.

Leisure travel also leans toward public transport, used by 47% of respondents, while 22% walk and 13% cycle. Practical concerns drive mode choice: 63% cite speed, nearly half value directness and ease, and 46% point to reliability and safety. Cost matters to more than a third, and environmental concerns influence about one in five. Most said weather does not greatly change their travel choices, although winter rain and snow push some from cycling or walking to public transport.

The Mobility Mindshift project organised workshops, bike quick-service events and safety activities, reaching over 400 young people. Twenty survey respondents attended at least one event; of the 17 who commented on benefits, eight said they felt more motivated to cycle and four learned bike maintenance. Park experiments on Hallituskatu and Pyynikintori received mainly positive feedback. These experiments follow earlier summer trials of temporary seating and public-space installations on the same streets that drew calls for more plants, benches and shade. An exhibition of Hakametsä Sport Campus designs is on display in the city hall lobby until the end of November 2026.

"The data and methods produced in the project give city experts and decision-makers insight into young people's travel habits and support planning," project manager Maiju Juntunen said, adding that small, participatory events can boost young people's knowledge, motivation and belief in their ability to influence the future.