Mikkeli committee votes to end pupils’ free bus cards

Mikkeli’s city development committee has voted to end free Waltti bus cards for comprehensive school pupils, a benefit that has covered school and leisure trips for nearly 10 years. Yle reports that the decision is not final and the city board will reconsider it on November 16.

The committee voted 6–5 on Tuesday to back a proposal by Mikko Kosonen of the National Coalition Party to abolish the cards. The vote overturned the committee’s original budget proposal, which would have kept free travel in place.

Pupils in Mikkeli have been able to use the cards on local buses in the evenings and at weekends as well as for school journeys. Mikkeli is one of a small number of cities where pupils can use the benefit for personal trips, including journeys to hobbies and friends.

Local pupils told Yle they would miss the cards if they were withdrawn. Veera Herttuainen, who takes the bus to school from her parents’ homes, said the journey is eight kilometres from her father’s home and one and a half kilometres from her mother’s. Hulda Seppänen’s bus journey to school is 25 kilometres each way.

Joonas Valjakka said some young people he knows use buses frequently and would be upset if the cards ended. He mostly uses the benefit in winter.

The committee’s decision will not be included in the budget proposal submitted to the city council. Mikkeli city manager Janne Kinnunen and city board chair Pekka Pöyry have both used their call-in authority, which transfers the matter to the board for a new decision. The board can uphold, change or replace the committee’s decision.

The possibility of ending the cards has prompted widespread discussion, including on social media. Families could face additional costs and would need to arrange transport for children’s journeys to hobbies as well as school.

Committee member Kerttu Hakala of the Green League, who was absent from Tuesday’s meeting, said she had not expected the proposal to pass. Her substitute, Anna Forsström, voted to continue the free cards.

Vandalism on Mikkeli’s local buses was a serious problem last summer, Yle reported.