Public transport fares must remain student-friendly in Jyväskylä. JYY’s survey on urban services conducted in 2023 showed that more than 57% of respondents would significantly reduce or stop using public transport altogether if the student-priced ticket were abolished. In addition, public transport emerges as one of the most important urban services highlighted by respondents. The message is clear: the importance of affordable public transport for students is perceived as crucial.
Public transport in Jyväskylä must take into account the locations of concentrated student accommodation and the location of the campus areas, as well as the connection between them. Timetables should also serve the needs of students. For example, increasing the number of shifts in the evening would better enable students to use other city services. By taking into account the needs of students when planning routes and timetables, public transport can ensure that students are able to move around Jyväskylä. Students are an important vitality factor in Jyväskylä and mobility is one of the prerequisites for said vitality.
“The most important factors for students are the price of tickets, reasonable routes and timetables. These must be implemented to ensure meaningful public transport,” says JYY’s board member responsible for municipal affairs, Aukusti Heilakka.
The importance of students as a vital factor in the city’s vitality must also be recognised in decision-making on public transport. The Student Union of the University of Jyväskylä demands that ticket prices are kept student-friendly and that the needs of students are taken into account when planning routes.
Aukusti Heilakka
Board member for municipal affairs
aukusti.heilakka@jyy.fi