Responsibility

Towards a sustainable future

The task of the Southwest Finland ELY Centre’s public transport authority is to organise public transport in its area. Environmentally friendly solutions are a key consideration in our work. On this page, we explain what responsibility means to us and how it benefits passengers.

Public transport helps to reduce emissions

Using public transport is one way to reduce mobility-related emissions. Each journey matters – you can use public transport occasionally or purchase Seutu+ season ticket for regular travel. Did you know that commuting by car produces almost three times as much emissions as commuting by bus?

Move easily but in a responsible manner

Public transport makes your daily life easier. You save time when, instead of driving a car, you can work, relax or enjoy the scenery during the journey. And parking is not a problem either. With the Seutu+ season ticket, you can make basic trips between Turku and other municipalities in the region, and make an unlimited number of transfers in the Föli municipalities of the Turku region.

Competitive connections

We purchase public transport services running at frequent intervals for locations that are within easy reach of workplaces, places of study and services. However, at least basic-level services are offered for all key connections.

You can also travel by bicycle or on foot for part of the journey. We have built bike stands and bike shelters with provision for frame locking at bus stops. You can park you bike securely for the day.

Responsible purchases

We base our purchases of public transport services on the Euro regulations that are in compliance with the EU’s emission standards and that specify exhaust emissions from transport. When purchasing the services, we require that the vehicles used are less than 15 years old and meet at least the Euro 5 emission standard.

In 2023, we will introduce electric bus services on a trial basis between Turku and Parainen. This will be the first time when electric buses are used in regional services purchased by the ELY Centre.

Annual CO₂e emissions from travel

The upper picture shows a situation where a person doing partial remote work commutes on three days each week for one year. The lower picture shows a situation where a person doing in-office work commutes on five days each week for one year.

Bus: EURO V, occupancy rate 50%. The calculations are based on average CO₂ emissions of 39 g/passenger kilometre.

Passenger car: Average greenhouse gas emissions of a passenger car in Finland per kilometre. The calculations are based on average CO₂ emissions of 150 g/kilometre.

Source: LIPASTO information service 2022