Moped riders to protest in Helsinki over tensions with police

Several hundred moped riders are expected to join a demonstration in central Helsinki on Saturday, Yle reports. The procession will gather in Tattarisuo and travel under police supervision to Kansalaistori, where the main protest will be held.

The demonstration is organised by Mopoilevat nuoret, a Vantaa-based association representing young moped riders. The participants want to find a constructive solution to growing tensions between moped enthusiasts and police, agree on shared rules and establish legal moped meets in the Helsinki metropolitan area.

Yle will broadcast live from the demonstration online from 3.45pm, with reporter Saara Hirvonen at the scene.

Police to direct traffic

Police expect the procession to cause traffic disruption. The riders are expected to travel at between 30 and 40 kilometres per hour.

The procession will leave Tattarisuo at 3.30pm and follow Tattarinsuontie, Tattariharjuntie, Pihlajamäentie, Viikintie, Koskelantie, Ratapihantie, Nordenskiöldinkatu, Mannerheimintie, Töölönlahdenkatu and Eero Erkon katu before arriving at Kansalaistori at around 4pm. It is scheduled to leave the square at 5pm.

Police will direct the procession and traffic at intersections. Senior Constable Jere Roimu of the Helsinki Police Department said officers would focus on the riders’ safety and prevent other vehicles from entering the procession.

Association calls for cooperation

Mopoilevat nuoret says moped meets could be planned together with authorities, as they are in Turku and Oulu. The association says the cooperation model used in Turku should also be adopted in the Helsinki metropolitan area to reduce confrontation between young people and police and prevent dangerous situations and disturbances linked to unauthorised meets.

According to the association, a working group in Turku includes police, the rescue service, the Finnish Road Safety Council, Turku Motorcyclists, the Finnish Red Cross and the young people who organise the meets. The group meets regularly to agree on arrangements, including dates and how the meets will move between locations.

Roimu said Helsinki police were willing to discuss the issue with moped riders. So far, however, a meeting has been agreed only on arrangements for the demonstration.

The demonstration follows an incident in Tuusula last weekend, when police forced a young rider into a ditch after the rider failed to obey an order to stop.