Cycling City of the Year 2015 awarded to Lappeenranta

Lappeenranta has been nationally recognised as a developer of cycling. The 'Suomi Pyöräilee' (Finland cycles) working committee granted the Cycling City of the Year 2015 award to Lappeenranta at the GoExpo Bicycle Fair in Helsinki on the 6th of March.

The award criteria included the goal-oriented development of the network of main cycling routes between the city’s districts and the way active cyclists have been consulted in the improvement of cycling conditions over the years.

In Lappeenranta, 29 per cent of trips of less than 20 kilometres are made by bike. How the city residents’ move around is monitored at regular intervals through travel surveys, which show that cycling continues to increase in popularity.

Accepting the award in Helsinki on behalf of the city of Lappeenranta were the Chairman of the Technical Committee Joonas Grönlund, City Engineer Pasi Leimi and Design Engineer Mauri Backman.

Pasi Leimi sees this national recognition as a sign of successful cooperation between the city and active cyclists, as well as the increasing interest in cycling, by the residents of Lappeenranta.

– Good interaction brings good results. A team of city officials and active cyclists has participated in the development work for several years now. Repairs and improvements can be implemented quickly when we are provided with up-to-date tips and wishes from active cyclists who move in different parts of the city on a daily basis, says Leimi.

Design Engineer Mauri Backman, who is in charge of developing the cycle paths, did more than draw the pedestrian and cycling routes on a computer screen – he cycled through the whole network of cycling routes with an action camera attached to this helmet.

– I wanted to personally experience every curverb, and whenever I get feedback from city residents I can refer to the footage I shot, says Backman and smiles.

Leimi and Backman both feel that the Cycling City of the Year award belongs to everyone in Lappeenranta who cycles, whether as daily exercise or part of fitness training. Tourists also hop on a bike during their holiday trips, because the Lappeenranta region has spectacular cycling routes with views of Lake Saimaa. In a border city like Lappeenranta, cycling is a transnational hobby that extends also to Russia: the Lappeenranta-Vyborg Friendship Bicycling Event has been organised every May since 1988.

The working committee of the network of cycling cities presents the Cycling City of the Year
award annually to a municipality or city which has promoted cycling in a goal-oriented manner.

The network of cycling cities is a cooperation network for municipalities, the State, companies, organisations and other actors, aimed at significantly enhancing the role of cycling and walking as sustainable modes of transport and forms of daily exercise. Municipalities and cities account for 47 of the network’s 77 members.

95 kilometres of main routes

During 2013, it was determined as to which of the main pedestrian and cycling routes in Lappeenranta were best suited for cycling and a main route plan was created on the basis of the findings. Usable year round and 95 kilometres in total length, the routes form a clear network through the city from all directions.

Phased improvement of the routes still continues on the basis of urgency; road kerbs will be lowered and road surfaces will be repaired. More lighting, signs and cycle parking will also be introduced.

In addition to cyclists, the large-scale sloping of kerbs in street corners has also benefited disabled people, older people and persons travelling with prams. As one recognition of these efforts, Lappeenranta’s Council on Disability granted an Access 2014 diploma to Pasi Leimi.

Designing the network of main cycling routes is linked to the local master plan for the urban area, the design of which takes into account the central development corridors for pedestrian and cycling routes, including allocating space for them. Cycling is also taken into account in the regulations concerning the local detailed plan.

Reducing private car use plays a key role in the climate programme for Lappeenranta, the objectives of which include reducing traffic emissions. Both the city of Lappeenranta’s strategy and the South Karelia region’s traffic strategy feature the key goal of promoting cycling.

– A clean living environment and sustainable well-being are our objectives in developing a green Lappeenranta. The Cycling City of the Year 2015 award is a major milestone in this work, Pasi Leimi sums up.

For further information, please contact:

City of Lappeenranta
Traffic Engineer Pasi Leimi
tel. +358 40 740 1643
pasi.leimi@lappeenranta.fi