Walking and cycling

Choosing walking and cycling for your daily travel is worthwhile, as they refresh you and promote health while reducing environmental impact and saving money. They improve fitness and well-being while reducing traffic emissions and noise. Furthermore, they make traffic flow more smoothly and make cities more pleasant and safer places to live.

On main and collector streets with heavier motor traffic, walking and cycling are usually directed to separate paths. If there is no cycle path or only a sidewalk at the edge of the street, cyclists must ride on the roadway. As an exception, children under 12 years of age are allowed to ride on the sidewalk. On pedestrian streets, such as Reska, cycling is permitted while showing consideration for pedestrians. On residential streets with little traffic, all users typically travel on the roadway.

Walking and cycling promotion program

The current Hämeenlinna walking and cycling promotion program was produced during 2021. Its goal is to integrate walking and cycling more clearly into travel chain thinking and to promote sustainable leisure mobility. The program helps to effectively implement various measures that promote walking and cycling. One of the most important goals is to increase the modal share of walking and cycling.

The main responsibility for the project lay with the urban structure unit, and the project had a steering group consisting of experts from various sectors, stakeholder representatives, and decision-makers.

The program will be updated during 2026.

Cycling routes

In Hämeenlinna, many nature and excursion destinations are easily accessible by bike, and cycling in the terrain is generally permitted based on everyman’s rights. The selection of routes includes options ranging from leisurely bike trips to more challenging mountain biking.

Walking and cycling measurement points

Five EcoCounter measurement points have been installed on Hämeenlinna’s walking and cycling routes. The measurement points are located on Turuntie, Viipurintie, Aroniitunkuja, and at two points along the waterfront route. You can monitor the volumes of walking and cycling at the measurement points on the EcoCounter website.

Electric scooters

There are companies operating in Hämeenlinna that rent out electric scooters, which you can find throughout the Hämeenlinna city center area. Renting an electric scooter requires an application to be downloaded to your phone. You can also see the rental prices and terms in the application.

Scooters must be used on cycle paths or, if no cycle path is available, on the roadway. Those traveling by electric scooter must follow the traffic rules intended for cyclists. The use of a helmet is recommended.

A company renting electric scooters needs a micro-mobility permit from the city for its operations. More information about the micro-mobility permit and how to apply for it can be found on the permits for public areas page.

Contact information