Travelers in the Helsinki region like to combine different modes of transport

By MaaS Global • May 17, 2022

New data analysis shows the use of micromobility bundles has increased the use of public transport

E-scooters returning to the streets is a sure sign of spring. The gravel is gone, the sun shines (most of the time) and it’s time to hit the parks for some ice cream. And according to a data analysis conducted by the e-scooter giant Voi and mobility-as-a-service provider Whim, users like to combine e-scooters and other micromobility options with public transport to get around.

Adding Voi scooters to the mobility app Whim in 2021 has made building your own type of travel chains much easier, allowing you to choose the modes, route and time you travel. In turn, 30 and 60 minute bundles have increased the sale of public transport tickets among Whim users in the Helsinki region by 3.3% between July and October 2021. So the first and last mile problem – or how to tackle the last step from station to door – could well be solved with mobility-as-a-service solutions that help you plan, book and pay for the trips easier. Users have asked for bundles that combine public transport and micromobility, and Whim has responded to these requests.

“With Whim, users can use several modes of mobility with one app, and so it is important that they can create travel chains that fit their needs. E-scooters especially are an effective way to solve the first/last mile problem. Being able to use Voi’s e-scooters on Whim and combine them especially with public transport has allowed our users to do this more easily and efficiently. The 30 and 60 minute Voi bundles have been a great addition and clearly something that responds to our users’ needs. Whim Ten + Voi 60 bundle has recently been launched and we will be adding more bundles soon,” says Jarkko Jaakkola, Area Manager Finland and Baltics at MaaS Global (Whim).

According to the data analysis, multimodal travel in the Helsinki region is above average: 53% of Voi e-scooter rides are combined with public transport, and on Whim about half of the rides are combined with bikes. All in all during 2021, 2.8 million rides were made on Voi scooters. So, users want to utilize multimodality and combine micromobility options with one another as well as with public transport.

Voi continues to work for safe parking of their e-scooters by identifying the hotspots where the e-scooters are used the most through data analysis. Because of the large number of students and public transport concentration they have, these hot spots include Helsinki city center, Aalto university, Etu-Töölö and Ruoholahti.

“In nearly every city we operate in, the public transport concentration points are the most popular places to start or end an e-scooter journey. E-scooters and public transport benefit one another and decrease the need for private cars”, tells Voi’s Operations Manager, Max Thelen.

The Helsinki region has provided a perfect test bed for further improvement of what the two companies can do together. Today Voi can be used via Whim in Helsinki, Turku and Tampere, and the continued collaboration will make micromobility options and multimodal travel possible in other cities in the future.

About Voi

Voi is a Swedish micromobility company offering electric scooter sharing in partnership with cities and local communities. We believe e-scooters can play a central role in changing how people move in our cities in the future. And we want to make sure that the transformation happens the right way — through real innovative technology, open and transparent dialogue with cities and governments, and by adapting our products to local needs. Jump on a scooter whenever and ride wherever in the city in just minutes — completely carbon-neutral. Voi has been a carbon-neutral company since January 2020 and has adopted the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a guiding framework and has set a clear agenda for reducing and offsetting emissions.

Voi operates in 80+ cities across 11 countries. It is headquartered in Stockholm and employs 1,000 people. To date, Voi boasts more than 6 million users and has served 100+ million rides.

About MaaS Global and Whim 

MaaS Global is the world leader in the field of Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) and the company behind the award-winning Whim app that has revolutionized users’ travel habits in favor of more sustainable modes. Users can plan, book and pay for their trips in one app, use several modes of mobility as well as choose from pay-as-you-go tickets or monthly subscriptions.

MaaS Global was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland. The Whim app is available on Google Play store and Apple App Store.

whimapp.com

Press inquiries: 

Max Thelen, Operations Manager, p. 040 9123 762, max.thelen@voi.com

Johanna Sippo, Head of Communications, press@maas.global