A Million Trips in March!

The one-million mark has been approached before, but typically the coldest winter months have been the busiest for public transit. That’s why the March record was a bit of a surprise, since the popularity of walking and cycling usually starts to rise as summer approaches. In addition, flocks of electric scooters—which pose a challenge to public transit use—arrived on the streets of Jyväskylä this spring even before the migratory birds. Fortunately, many people have held off, waiting for better riding conditions, and have chosen to travel safely on Linkki. 

Popularity Is No Accident

The popularity of public transit in the Jyväskylä region did not come out of nowhere; rather, it is the result of determined efforts. 

- We revamped the Linkki route network in the summer of 2024 by introducing, among other things, new Super-Linkki routes on trunk lines to provide more comprehensive service. At the same time, our services expanded from the Jyväskylä–Laukaa–Muurame corridor to four new municipalities: Äänekoski, Hankasalmi, Petäjävesi, and Toivakka. Our aim has been to keep travel costs affordable, so Linkki’s ticket prices hold their own even in a national comparison. Going forward, our goal is to engage more actively with employers to improve commuter mobility and to collaborate with event organizers, says Kari Ström, Service Manager for Public Transportation at the City of Jyväskylä.

Customers give praise

According to surveys, customers also appreciate Linkki’s services. Ström explains that Linkki commissions three service quality surveys annually, each of which interviews 700 customers randomly selected from different routes. Customer ratings for the service have been consistently high for a long time, which, according to Ström, indicates that the operators and drivers have done an excellent job.

- The average rating for service on Super-Linkki routes was most recently 4.5, and 4.3 on other Linkki routes. The scale was 1–5, where 5 means excellent service. The Net Promoter Score (NPS), which measures customer satisfaction, was 61 on Super-Linkki routes in 2025 and 55 on other Linkki routes. The score indicates how likely customers are to recommend the service to others. NPS can range from –100 to +100. Scores above zero are good, and those above 50 are excellent.

Environmental friendliness is Linkki’s strong suit

More and more people are now considering environmental impacts when choosing their mode of transportation. According to a study by the Ministry of the Environment, people want to travel more sustainably to preserve the environment. The Climate Barometer (1/2025) reports that 39 percent of drivers plan to switch to more sustainable modes of transportation in the future. 

Using public transit for daily commutes or part of them is a clear and concrete environmental action. Linkki public transit runs primarily on electricity. In addition, biogas and renewable diesel are utilized, making the transport system zero-emission. Linkki’s range of green propulsion options is further complemented by Finland’s first hydrogen buses, which will operate in Jyväskylä’s city transport system during a two-year pilot project until the summer of 2027.