In the autumn of 2023, the residents voted to implement the following minor enhancements to cycling and walking: illuminated road markings, clarifying the traffic arrangements on the city centre bridges, lowering the kerbstones at the intersection of Itsenäisyydenkatu and Tammelan puistokatu, and installing new bike stands for the Ratina shopping centre.
During the summer, the enhancements have been implemented at a quicker pace. The task of lowering the kerbstones at the intersection of Itsenäisyydenkatu and Tammelan puistokatu has already been completed.
Progress has also been made in clarifying the traffic arrangements on Palatsinsilta Bridge and Satakunnansilta Bridge, as traffic signs and other signage have been added. They provide further clarification on the areas designated for pedestrians and cyclists on the bridge. Road markings are scheduled to be improved soon.
Illuminated road markings will be tested in the upcoming winter at the northern end of the Hatanpää highway. When regular road markings are concealed by snow, pedestrians and cyclists will be guided to their specific zones by light-generated markings resembling traffic signs on the road surface.
New bike stands will also be installed at the Ratina shopping centre during the autumn.
Ideas for minor enhancements to cycling and walking were first sourced from residents in May 2023. Out of nearly 700 suggestions, the city’s traffic planners selected over 20 enhancements across the city to be voted on.
The vote ultimately included financially viable proposals in areas that were deemed significant for improvement. Interesting new openings were also chosen for the vote, such as the illuminated road markings, which received the highest number of votes.
A total of EUR 40,000 has been reserved for the implementation.
The ideas that did not win the vote have not been forgotten. Whenever possible, improvements will be carried out as part of other projects and basic work in areas such as road safety.
For example, during the spring, the main regional cycling route has been adjusted to grant cyclists the right of way over road traffic at the junction between Koulukatu and Hallituskatu. This was one of the desired changes.
