Lahti attracts new public transport users with free travel experiment

500 applicants will receive the chance to travel free of charge for 30 days in November

At the end of September, the Metropolitan Area COVID Coordination Group in Finland announced that the recommendation to work from home will no longer apply from 15 October. After this, people can begin working from the office once more.

As a result of this announcement, the City of Lahti decided to launch a new experiment to attract new users of public transport. That is, the Finnish city is inviting residents to apply for travel passes that allow them to use public transport for free in November.

Attracting new passengers

Transport Manager Katja Suhonen commented on the experiment, stressing that the end of the remote work recommendation is the perfect time to launch such a trial as workers will now begin to travel more frequently. Taking this further, Suhonen shared that the aim of the campaign is to attract new customers and give them the opportunity to see how they can benefit from using public transport.

What is more, the experiment is also connected to Lahti’s European Green Capital 2021 award as it seeks to promote sustainable modes of transport. With the experiment, it is hoped that more people will begin to consider the climate impact of mobility and opt for using public transport rather than personal vehicles.

Several municipalities are involved in the public transport experiment, as the City of Lahti reports that Asikkala, Heinola, Hollola, Lahti, Orimattila, Padasjoki and Sysmä are all participating.

Apply until 19 October

Lahti is now urging residents to fill out an application form online and apply for the chance to win 30 days of free travel. Applications will be open until 19 October. After this, the Finnish city will select 500 individuals who will receive a ticket to use public transport for free in November.