Helsinki’s new “Low Line” (as opposed to NYC’s High Line) opened on June 12, 2012, providing pedestrians and cyclists with a 1.3 km long connector between the Western Harbour area to Kamppi and Töölö Bay. It’s called the Baana.
It runs through the city centre, providing a safe bicycle route to many points in the city. There four ramps along the way to get back to surface level, as well as entry points at each end. On average, the Baana is 15 m wide, with 34 m the widest point. There are also facilities along the way like basketball, table tennis and petanque and lights and benches have also been placed there…
copenhagenize, 19.06.12.
there’s a cycling counter, too! definitely copenhagenizing.
Baanasta tuli toiseksi vilkkain pyöräreitti
The Baana becomes the second busiest cycling routeViime viikon tiistaina avatusta, Ruoholahden ja Töölönlahden yhdistävästä Baanasta tuli jo ensimmäisen toimintaviikkonsa aikana Helsingin toiseksi vilkkain pyöräilyreitti. Kanjonin kautta on reitin avaamista seuranneina päivinä kulkenut noin 5 000 pyöräilijää vuorokaudessa.
Last week on tuesday opened, connecting Ruoholahti and Töölolahti the Baana already became in the first week Helsinki’s second busiest cycling route. The route through the canyon from start to following days had about 5000 cyclists passing through each day.
hs.fi, 18.06.12.
yeeah Finnish practice! too bad hs.fi now has a digital susbscription thing like nytimes, and I can’t read any more articles (after only one??!). :[
I remember walking through the areas and seeing construction going on, while I was staying in Ruoholahti this past winter around New Year’s. Ruoholahti is 1.5m (about a mile) west of Helsinki city center. It’s got the old port there, along with the ships departing to Tallinn. There’s a been a lot of new development there: nice apartment buildings, a little canal thing with a little bridge to make it feel a little like Amsterdam. And when I was there, the overpass designed to look like waves was just finished, with stone plates or whatever with a cyclist symbol imprinted on the ground. So I guess this new Baana goes from Töölö, north of city center, where the Olympiastadion and new music hall are, then southwest through city center to Ruoholahti.
The new overpass thing for cars and buses above, and ped-bike under. Ruoholahti, Helsinki. 12.2012.
My couchsurfing host was looking forward to this new route. I’ll have to ask him what his experience has been on the Baana. :]
The article ends saying that in 2013 more bicycle lanes and paths will be constructed.
Gotta visit Finland again? :)
