Helsinki denies cyclist compensation after bridge crash

Helsinki has rejected a cyclist’s claim for nearly 700 euros after she fell on the newly opened Kruunuvuori Bridge, saying she was riding too fast and braked sharply. Yle reported that the woman plans to appeal.

The crash happened on 22 April 2026, at an expansion joint near the bridge’s Laajasalo end. The cyclist, a woman in her thirties, told Yle that she noticed the gap too late and that her front wheel struck it, causing her to lose control. Her injuries were serious enough to require an overnight hospital stay.

She sought compensation for medical costs and bicycle repairs. The city said video footage submitted with the claim showed that she caused the fall by approaching the joint at excessive speed and braking hard with the front brakes. It said she could have avoided the crash by riding at a suitable speed and avoiding sudden braking.

Helsinki’s compensation team concluded that the city was not liable. The city said the bridge had no technical defect that could have caused the accident. It cited traffic law requiring drivers, including cyclists, to adjust their speed to conditions and remain in control of their vehicles.

After the crash, the city added traffic signs, yellow markings and rumble strips along the cycle path. It also made changes to the expansion joints in August. The city says it has rejected all four compensation claims it has received relating to bicycle accidents at the joints.