The Espoo City Board decided, on 10 February 2020, that some of the West Metro’s park and ride spaces for cars will be replaced by high-quality bicycle parking in the vicinity of the metro stations. According to estimates, the number of bicycle commuters using the park and ride facilities at all of Espoo’s metro stations will total 3,100 in 2030 and some 3,900 in 2050, which is more than twice the number of passenger car commuters.
A review has been carried out of the possibility of adding park and ride spaces for bicycles along the West Metro, and design guidelines for the bicycle park and ride facilities have been drawn up by the City of Espoo. Länsimetro will build at least the bicycle and car park and ride spaces specified in the project plan and, where possible, carry out quantitative and qualitative improvements on bicycle parking also at the Espoo metro stations already in use.
The popular city bike service will not be available in the vicinity of the new stations at the time when the metro service starts. It will be possible to expand the city bike service in 2026 when the next agreement period for the city bikes begins. City bikes | espoo.fi
Construction work near the stations will affect commuting
Some of the park and ride spaces for cars and bicycles cannot be implemented until the other construction work being carried out in the vicinity of the metro stations has been completed in the next few years. The construction and development of the stations’ surroundings also has an impact on when the various metro entrances can be opened for passengers. In Kivenlahti, for example, passengers will have access to only one of the station’s two entrances – the Kivenlahdentori entrance – when the metro service starts. At the Finnoo station, the incomplete construction work near the station will affect commuting for years to come.
An electronic signage system will guide commuters to the park and ride facility, indicating the number of free spaces. The signs will be installed on the main roads: Länsiväylä, Soukanväylä and Kauklahdenväylä.
Länsimetro Oy is, however, preparing for future urban development by building the entrances so that the metro will cater to the needs of its users also in the future. Passengers must be guaranteed safe and accessible movement at all stages regardless of the construction work being carried out in the vicinity of the metro stations.
On West Metro’s website you can see the location of the stations’ entrances and the arrangements for moving at the stations, and the progress and schedule of the construction work. More detailed information on the arrangements for moving in the vicinity of the stations will be available as the start of the metro service approaches. According to estimates, the new section will be opened for traffic during 2023. The timetable will take shape as the testing phase advances.