Children’s Independent Travel and Public Transport Use – Experimental Initiative

The Pilot Project on Children’s Independent Mobility and Use of Public Transport, commissioned by HSL, aims to strengthen the ability of 10–13-year-old children to use public transport independently and safely. MDI is responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating the pilot in close collaboration with HSL. The project proceeds in four phases: project initiation and coordination, initial mapping, pilot implementation, and the development of a school visit concept.

During the initial phase, MDI will conduct four school visits in Vantaa and Espoo as well as a parent survey to gather insights into how children and their guardians perceive public transport and mobility. These insights will inform the design of a month-long school-based pilot, during which children will be encouraged and supported to practice using public transport independently. The impact of the pilot will be evaluated through follow-up school visits focusing on children’s experiences, confidence, and learning.

The project will culminate in the creation of a visually engaging and pedagogically grounded school visit concept that can be scaled and applied across other schools, both within and beyond the HSL region. Throughout all stages, the project emphasises child-centered design, age-appropriate engagement, and participatory methods such as Skididialogi (kids dialogue).