The annual European Mobility Week will be celebrated from 16 to 22 September 2025, encouraging people to reflect on their everyday mobility choices and their impact on the environment, society and their own health.
– Walking and cycling are good everyday exercise. It improves fitness and supports well-being in many ways. Moving more by muscle power is also important for the city's climate goal and for the use of space. Most journeys of less than one kilometre are made on foot, but for longer journeys the share of car travel starts to increase. For example, almost half of trips of 2–5 km are made by car. Many people could possibly cycle these distances, says Sanna Ovaska from Transport System Planning.
Leaving the car at home once a week supports the climate goal
The City of Tampere has set a target to increase the modal share of sustainable mobility – walking, cycling and public transport – to 69% by 2030. One of the key reasons is climate.
In terms of transport, meeting the emissions reduction target is most challenging because of Tampere's growing population and slow changes in mobility habits.
The mobility choices of the people of Tampere will play a big role in achieving the target. Even one day of for car per week makes a big difference: if every car-using Tampere resident left the car at home once a week, Tampere could reach the 2030 carbon neutrality target.
Laura Inha from the Climate and Environmental Policy Unit points out that one day is a good rule of thumb:
– Of course, different life situations affect our mobility choices and opportunities. But giving car a day off is a genuinely effective way to support the climate goal, as two-thirds of transport emissions are caused by car traffic. If everyone did the same, once a week would help to significantly reduce transport emissions.