Hop on Lifti for free on 22 September – Vaasa celebrates Mobility Week

On Car-Free Day, Tuesday 22 September, Lifti buses will be free to use for everyone from morning to evening. The offer applies to all Lifti lines except the service buses. Car-Free Day is a great opportunity to try using the bus and to explore timetables and routes for free.

– We want to encourage everyone to travel sustainably and give Lifti a try. Travelling by bus is an eco-friendly choice, and we hope more and more people will see the bus as a viable alternative to a car, says Pertti Hällilä, Transport Manager at the City of Vaasa.

Car-Free Day is part of European Mobility Week, held annually from 16 to 22 September. During Mobility Week, people are encouraged to reflect on their everyday travel choices and their impact on society, the environment, and health. During the theme week, cities and municipalities across Europe organise events and showcase initiatives that promote sustainable mobility.

Cycling challenge and group walks

In Vaasa, Mobility Week is also celebrated through cycling and walking.

The City of Vaasa is running a cycling challenge on its Facebook and Instagram channels, inviting residents to share photos of their bike rides for a chance to win Shopping Vaasa gift vouchers. The challenge runs until 22 September.

Walking groups for seniors meet for walks in the city centre, Palosaari, Gerby, Hietalahti and Huutoniemi. The groups are free and open to everyone, and no registration is required. For the groups’ schedules, meeting points and walk lengths, please visit vaasa.fi/kavele-terveita-vuosia (available in Finnish and Swedish).

– Promoting cycling, walking and other forms of everyday physical activity is an excellent and cost-effective way to encourage an active lifestyle. It supports health, well-being and physical functioning while enhancing everyday coping, which is very important for all of us, says Hanna-Mari Joutsen, Health Promotion Coordinator.

Sustainable mobility pays off

Even small changes in mobility habits can result in significant savings. Walking, cycling, and using public transport are good for the environment and the climate, as they help reduce fuel consumption. They are also more affordable options than using a car.

Vaasa, winner of the EU’s prestigious Green Leaf 2026 environmental award, wants to be carbon neutral by the end of the 2020s. Traffic is a major source of emissions in Vaasa, which we are working to reduce by promoting public transport, cycling, and walking.

Vaasa is a European Green Leaf City for 2026. The European Commission awards this recognition annually to cities that promote sustainable development and work actively to protect the environment and climate.