Passenger numbers in local bus services have increased, especially in Jyväskylä where the Linkki transport had over 9.5 million trips in 2025, marking a 2% increase from the previous year.
In Finland, local bus services saw a significant rise in passenger traffic which had been impacted by a decline during the pandemic years. In 2019, major urban areas recorded approximately 263 million passengers, but this dropped to around 158 million during the two years of Covid-19. However, by 2022, the numbers began to recover, with many cities reporting record high passenger counts in the following years.
Helsinki’s regional transport authority, HSL, led the way with more than 170 million journeys in 2025, showcasing a growth of about ten million rides compared to the previous year. Notably, Oulu experienced the highest percentage growth with a 7.1% increase in passenger volumes. Other major cities like Turku, Lahti, Kuopio, Jyväskylä, and Tampere also reported growth in bus travel, highlighting a broader recovery in public transportation across Finland.
Specifically, Jyväskylä's Linkki transport system achieved 9.54 million trips in 2025, a 2% increase from the previous year, indicating a strengthening public interest in local bus services. This rise in passenger numbers, supported by the cold weather conditions, emphasizes the growing reliance on public transport and a shift back to pre-pandemic levels, signifying both a recovery and a potential increase in future usage.
