Winter does not slow down movement in Vaasa. The city invests in high-quality winter maintenance of pedestrian and cycle paths so that the main walking and cycling routes are safe and easy to use even in snowy and slippery conditions.
In winter you can also travel in Vaasa on foot, by bike or by fatbike on maintained winter trails. Vaasa Trail Riders maintains approximately 60 km of trail network in winter. Winter trails can be found in the Dägerträsk, Böle-Koskisuo-Metsäkallio and Pilvilampi areas. Winter trails are maintained according to the amount of snow.
Enhanced winter maintenance
Enhanced winter maintenance covers Vaasa’s busiest main walking and cycling routes that connect the city centre with residential areas, workplaces, educational institutions and key services. The routes are marked on the city’s cycling map.
The aim of enhanced winter maintenance is to enable year-round walking and cycling and to improve safety and the smoothness of getting around. A well-maintained network of routes encourages choosing sustainable modes of transport also during the winter months. On the enhanced winter maintenance routes, snow clearing and anti-slip measures are carried out quickly, enabling year-round walking and cycling.
Winter agents
Vaasa’s winter agents are volunteer residents who assess the quality of winter maintenance on the main walking and cycling routes during their everyday and leisure trips. They regularly provide feedback on the condition of the paths, slipperiness and passability, which helps the city and maintenance operators to develop winter maintenance to be more effective.
Winter agents are recruited annually, and their feedback is an important part of Vaasa’s enhanced winter maintenance. The observations received are used to develop and target winter maintenance more effectively to the routes and areas where improvements are most needed. The most active winter agents are rewarded with gift vouchers in recognition of their valuable contribution.
Walkers, cyclists and anyone else who moves around in winter can participate.