A private car, the epitome of personal space—who would be ready to give that up? This is what Erkki Oikarinen, Risk and Sustainability Manager at Turun Teknologiakiinteistöt, reflects on in his blog post.
Turku Science Park is bustling with life and serves as a traffic hub where thousands of people arrive daily for work and visits. I myself have been commuting from Masku to Turku for over two decades, almost always sitting alone in my car—as I have visually observed almost all other commuters doing in the mornings and afternoons as well.
Recently, I have started thinking about what could be done about this. People's life situations, schedules, and needs vary greatly, and daily life feels impossible without a car. Remote work helps to some extent, but at least for me, two years in the 'corona bubble' showed that home is not a substitute for the workplace. I miss a physical office where I can meet colleagues, have face-to-face meetings, and exchange thoughts.
Private car ownership is a cornerstone of our current 'me-me' era.
For many of us who 'used to drive a petrol car even to Lapland weekly', resistance to change is strong. Carpooling for commuting only comes into question in extreme situations, such as when the car is being serviced or during office Christmas parties. Otherwise, the subject is hardly discussed. Private car ownership is a cornerstone of our current 'me-me' era.
Could the solution be found among those of us working in the Science Park? How about a car-free day or a carpooling week? Perhaps free parking in a garage for a car with four passengers for a day, or some other incentive? An application where you earn points by carrying passengers, which you then use to virtually pay for your own commute as a passenger?
Unraveling this larger knot requires functional public transport solutions and rail traffic to the surrounding areas as well. Things that will happen, but slowly. I personally live 300 meters from the Turku–Uusikaupunki railway and the former station building in Masku. Even this winter, I would have gladly left the car un-scraped and walked to a local train, if one had been available.
Erkki Oikarinen