Voi expresses disappointment over Turku’s winter scooter use ban in Finland

Voi, an electric scooter company, has expressed disappointment over Turku’s negative stance regarding winter use of scooters. The company has approached the city to request permission to continue scooter rentals in the downtown area during winter months. However, the city plans to reject this proposal, citing significant safety concerns associated with winter scooter usage. The city’s environment committee, set to meet next Tuesday, argues that riding scooters in winter poses notable risks on icy and slushy roads.

Hannu Oskala, who oversees community relations at Voi, disagrees with the city’s reasoning. He points out that the company already operates year-round in Stockholm, where conditions are similar to those in Turku. “Last winter, there were only a handful of days when scooters weren’t in use. We see winter operation as a possibility in Turku as well,” he stated.

While it appears that the initiative may be blocked in Turku, Oskala could not confirm if similar proposals would be made to other cities. “We had hoped Turku would take a bold step forward with us into winter,” he remarked.

The city also highlighted challenges related to winter maintenance as a reason for the decision, explaining that snow leads to immediate road clearing needs. Voi, along with other companies, has proposed a plan to relocate scooters to parking areas within 48 hours of snowfall in order to facilitate street cleaning. However, Turku believes this timeframe is excessive. Oskala acknowledged that while the collection of scooters usually occurs within the first 24 hours, adjustments to the removal schedule could be discussed.