The 9 km bike path will stretch northward from the Käpylä district to the Vantaa border, mostly next to an existing commuter rail line. A rendered photo illustration of the planned Pohjoisbaana, seen here at the Tapanila railway station. Helsinki City Council approved on Wednesday the construction of a nine-kilometre bicycle highway at a projected cost of nearly 30 million euros.
The cycling path, known as Pohjoisbaana (roughly translated as northern road) will stretch from the Käpylä railway station to the city of Vantaa’s border, mostly running parallel to an existing rail line.
"More detailed planning on the Pohjoisbaana will begin later this year," said Ville Lehmuskoski , the director of the City’s urban environment division.
According to Lehmuskoski, one of the priorities in urban planning is to ease and increase cycling in the city. Finns Party: Too costly
The decision by the council was preceded by a lively discussion as the Finns Party pushed back against the project.
Characterising the project as expensive, the Finns Party did not believe the project would increase the amount of cycling as expected. City councillor Laura Korpinen proposed to reject the project.
"The same trip can be made by train," Korpinen said.However, Movement Now councillor Mikael Jungner praised the initiative, arguing it is important to encourage a healthy lifestyle."It’s great to be doing this together," Jungner said.Helsinki Mayor, Juhana Vartiainen (NCP), said that the city’s strategy also promises to promote cycling."It’s good to see that this is moving forward," Vartiainen said.The proposal to reject the project, put […]
Continue reading the original article at: yle.fi