Drunk passengers harass young people on buses and at stops in northern Finland

A survey by Oulu Regional Transport (OSL) reveals that young passengers in the Oulu area frequently face harassment from intoxicated travellers, particularly during evenings and weekends. Some report being forced to sit on strangers’ laps or experiencing aggressive behaviour when drivers fail to intervene.

The findings come from a questionnaire targeting 13- to 20-year-olds, launched after multiple reports of young people feeling unsafe on public transport. OSL’s public transport manager, Helena Väliaho, told Finnish broadcaster Yle that the survey aims to identify the root causes of insecurity and improve services.

“They don’t even move when asked”
Several young respondents described incidents where drunk or high passengers cornered them in crowded buses or at stops. One student from Liminka recounted how her friend was trapped in a bus aisle by older men who refused to let her pass, even after being asked to move. Another, Sara Suvanto from Kempele, said intoxicated passengers had forcibly sat in her lap or invaded her personal space despite empty seats being available.

Nuorten mukaan kuljettajat eivät aina puutu häirintään, vaikka heiltä on pyydetty apua.
Young people also criticised bus drivers for ignoring pleas for help. Joela Seppälä, another respondent, said drivers had been asked to remove disruptive passengers but took no action. “They just leave you to deal with it,” he said. Others noted that drivers themselves sometimes created unsafe conditions—such as accelerating before wheelchair users were seated—adding to the sense of vulnerability.

Survey results to inform driver training
The data will be discussed in workshops with youth workers in August, with plans to train drivers in better conflict resolution and monitoring of passenger behaviour. Väliaho emphasised that drivers already have the authority to eject disruptive travellers but acknowledged that many young people are unaware of this.

Seela Ahola, a high school student from Liminka, argued that drivers should be obligated—not just permitted—to remove harassers. “The driver is the highest authority on the bus,” she said. “They should step in when someone’s being harassed.”

The most unrest was reported at stops in Oulu city centre, particularly during late-night services.