The Tampere residents’ well-being survey examines, among other things, the lifestyles of residents, matters related to leisure time, and experiences of one's own residential area. The respondents also mark places of concern and importance on the map, which the city should pay attention to.
In 2023, 2,800 people responded to the survey, 72 per cent of whom were women and 25 per cent men. Most responses were received from residents of Hervanta, Kaleva and Vuores. The respondents made approximately 12,000 place entries.
– We would like to thank everyone who took the time to respond to the survey. We received a lot of responses to the survey, which is very useful. Resident experience data is used, for example, to monitor the implementation of the city's strategy and to develop operations, says Strategy Director Reija Linnamaa.
The results of the survey will be used extensively in the planning and development of the city's services. For example, in the design of the transport system, 42 locations have been selected from the data, where the speeds of cars cause inconvenience or insecurity. Speed display boards that show the driver’s speed will be installed in these locations during the latter part of the year.
According to the results of the well-being survey, residents of Tampere feel that their quality of life, financial situation and health are better than before. They also consider their own residential area safer and more comfortable than two years ago.
– On the other hand, for example, the experience of loneliness and the proportion of people who are psychologically significantly burdened have hardly decreased from the coronavirus years. However, the mental well-being of adults under the age of 30 has clearly improved, says analyst Katri Heininen.
Approximately one in three residents of Tampere feel that they have been discriminated against or treated unequally in the past year. Discrimination is most prevalent on the basis of age, gender, opinion, financial situation and health status.
The experience of well-being is socio-economically and regionally divided. In many respects, the experience of low-income, single or single-parent families of their own well-being is weaker than the average for the whole city.
The majority of residents are still satisfied with the services and transport connections in their home areas, although dissatisfaction with connections has increased throughout the city over the past two years. The reputation of neighbourhoods is perceived to be more positive than before, but there are still large differences between neighbourhoods.
In the survey, the respondents were able to mark their favourite places, green areas that support well-being, and unsafe and uncomfortable places on the map.
Tampere residents' favourite places are usually green areas or bodies of water, which are mainly located within two kilometres from home. They are especially valued for their beauty, natural values, tranquility and exercise opportunities. About 20 per cent of the favourite places were meeting and visiting places and cultural sites, such as libraries, markets, theatres and cafes. Positive emotions and thoughts increase in favourite places, and they are used to recover from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
– This year again, the well-being survey reveals that Pyynikki, Sorsapuisto and Hatanpää Arboretum are dear to Tampere residents. More than 18 per cent of the respondents have marked one or more of them as their favourite place, says analyst Joonas Nieminen.
More than 60 per cent of adults visit green areas that support well-being at least once a week, such as hiking trails, parks or forests. Green areas are closer than favourite places, as half of the entries in the survey are less than one kilometre from home. Green areas are perceived as safe and comfortable, and they are important especially in the middle of the densely built city centre.
Entries that raised concerns are most often related to traffic. Traffic disruptions are experienced not only in one’s own neighbourhood but also in the centre of Tampere. Compared to the situation two years ago, traffic disruption is more often caused by the behaviour of motorists.
– Traffic nuisance markings have decreased most in the Hervanta area and in the west of the city centre, and increased in the east of the Tammerkoski rapids and in Tammela and Etu-Kaleva, Nieminen continues.
According to the survey, many of the places considered unsafe are still located in the city centre and elsewhere, mainly in the vicinity of business clusters. However, the experiences of insecurity at Keskustori south of Hämeenkatu have decreased significantly compared to the previous well-being survey.
The most common hindrance to the comfort of the environment is untidiness or lack of care, as well as people behaving in a disruptive manner. Many unpleasant areas are also considered to be unsafe.
The well-being survey has been carried out with the help of various units in the city. The results of the survey have been presented to the city staff and distributed to the units that will continue to process and utilise the material.
– Some respondents to the survey stated in open-ended answers that they doubted whether their responses make any difference. Yes, they do. All responses are read carefully and the feedback received is taken into account. Quick corrections can also be made to the shortcomings presented by the residents, and feedback can affect, for example, the plans that will be drawn up in the next few years. Some feedback does, of course, require a bit more study and time, says Johanna Ahlgren-Holappa, Head of Knowledge Management.
