Promoting pedestrian and bicycle traffic in Finland. The JALOIN programme 2001-2004

The promotion of walking and cycling is of great importance. Conditions in Finland are not the best possible for this purpose, however. In particular, the country's fragmented urban structure is not the most conducive to increasing the modal share of walking and cycling. The promotion of walking and cycling has so far consisted largely of building pedestrian and cycle routes and facilities. The task of the JALOIN programme has been to make the various decision-makers more aware of the importance of pedestrian and bicycle traffic and to influence the future course of development. The JALOIN programme was based on the transport policy programmes for promoting walking and cycling drawn up earlier by the Ministry of Transport and Communications and was carried out in cooperation with all the main parties concerned. Through the programme, the ministries, administrative units, relevant municipal authorities and other organizations in the sector have worked with each other and have found an issue that they can promote collectively, despite being responsible for seemingly different functions. The work included consideration of the different means by which the status of walking and cycling can be promoted. The most important of these is the design of the urban structure. However, efficient promotion of non-vehicular traffic must rely on a range of effective and mutually supportive measures. Communication in different forms and at all stages is a key part of this, and international contacts are also important. The JALOIN programme included an extensive research programme aimed at promoting the status of walking and cycling to a level equal to that of other modes of transport. Research topics were chosen on the basis that they would fill information gaps, provide examples or assist implementation of the main methods chosen. The results have been put into practice and have been made available for application by the parties concerned. Model municipal practice in sustainable transport, new in Finland, has been planned to provide practical examples of the promotion of non-vehicular traffic and as an operating model for other municipalities. The first part of the report deals principally with a description of the JALOIN programme, the experience gained and evaluation of the results. Conclusions on the importance of further work and how it should be carried out are presented at the end of each chapter and at the end of the report. The most important of the further measures identified is the production of a transport policy document on walking and cycling to be drafted by the Ministry of Transport and Communications, which will guide its own actions and those of other bodies involved. The other partners in the programme have also set out their own objectives for promoting walking and cycling. The concluding section gives an overall evaluation and a general presentation of the further action to be taken. This report is available at http://www.mintc.fi or http://www.mintc.fi/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService%253Dlvm/cm/pub/showdoc.p?docid=1971&menuid=97&channelitemid=8390