Lessons From Helsinki's Failed On-Demand Bus Experiment

Kutsuplus—an attempt to "reinvent carpooling for the algorithm age"—has failed in Helsinki. What can new systems, still operating in the United States, learn from its example?

1 minute read

March 12, 2016, 1:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell

Four years ago, Helsinki launched an innovative bus service as part of a long-term plan to make cars irrelevant," according to an article by Ollie Sulopuisto. The Kutsuplus system, as it's called, was "the best-known component of Helsinki’s and Finland’s intelligent traffic system," yet it picked up its last passenger on December 31, 2015.

Noting that the model created by Kutsuplus has inspired similar operations in cities like New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Kansas City, Sulopuisto treats Kutsuplus as a case study for lessons that might benefit the systems that carry on its legacy. Some of the most significant issues raised by Kutsuplus, according to the article, relate to scale, subsidies, and sector.

FULL STORY: Why Helsinki's innovative on-demand bus service failed

Friday, March 4, 2016 in Citiscope

Technology Transportation Europe United States Helsinki On-Demand Transit Pop-Up Bus Kutsuplus Bridj Transportation Network Companies Public Transit View More

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.