Senior couple traveling city bus together smiling

IKÄKETJU

Project information

Project	IKÄKETJU
Duration	1.1.2026 – 31.1.2027
Partners	City of Riihimäki, Häme University of Applied Sciences
Funders	Traficom
Budget	30 000 €

Through the IKÄKETJU project, we support older adults’ use of public transportation and their confidence in traveling by creating a scalable model for senior mobility.

According to Statistics Finland’s population projection, approximately 25.9% of Finns will be 65 years of age or older by 2030. At the same time, the largest age cohorts will be centered around the age of 80, which increases the need for safe, accessible, and supported public transportation. The goal of the IKÄKETJU project is to support public transportation use among people over 65, enhance travel confidence, and improve the usability of digital services.

During the project, we will organize various workshops, bus companion training, and guided demonstration trips, and we will produce a guide in plain language as well as accessible instructional videos. Our goal is to increase the use of public transportation among older adults and strengthen their ability to navigate public transportation by creating a senior mobility model that promotes the use of public transportation, which can also be utilized in other municipalities. In addition, we are exploring the possibility of leveraging the peer expertise of experienced passengers and digitally compiling it for future use.

The main implementer of the project is the City of Riihimäki, with Häme University of Applied Sciences serving as a co-implementer. The project will implement the 2021 Sustainable Mobility Plan for Riihimäki and the 2040 Traffic System Plan for the City Center and Access Roads.

Target group

The target group consists of older adults (aged 65 and over) and various organizations.

Operating area

The project is being carried out in the city of Riihimäki. The operating model developed in the project can also be applied in other municipalities in the future.

Project objectives and results

OBJECTIVES:

Increase the use of public transportation among older adults and improve their ability to navigate public transportation.
Improve digital accessibility and confidence in using route guides.
Create a permanent network of bus buddies and peer mentors.
Produce materials written in plain language and designed for accessibility.
Gather the tacit knowledge of experienced public transit riders and utilize it in creating an operational model for senior mobility and in the content of materials.
Examine the possibility of developing an AI-guided senior guidance app as a follow-up project.

The result will be a scalable senior mobility model that promotes the use of public transportation by older adults.