City bikes

City bikes are shared-use bicycles that can be borrowed for a fee by anyone in central Helsinki. You can buy a daily, weekly or season pass. All passes cover up to 30 minutes of bike use per time. For an extra charge, you can use a bike for a longer time, maximum of five hours at a time. After the ride, the bike is returned to a bike station.

In summer of 2016, there are 500 bikes in 50 locations around the city. The bikes are available around the city center between Ruoholahti, Taka-Töölö and Sörnäinen. The bike stations are located at approximately 300-meter intervals. The area will be expanded in summer 2017 and more bikes will be added. The goal is for there to be 1,500 bikes and 150 bike stations by that time, within an area extending from the heart of the city to Munkkiniemi, Pasila and Kumpula.

The easiest way to take advantage of the city bike scheme is to register as a user. Once you have registered, you can pick up a bike whenever you need one.

For visitors, there are five bike stations with payment terminals, at which you can borrow a bike with a payment card without pre-registration. The stations are Kaivopuisto, Unioninkatu, Rautatientori/East, Kiasma and Hakaniemi Metro Station. At the stations with payment terminals, you can register as a user for one day or a week. If you register for a day, you can pay for 1-4 bikes at a time. 

Where can I register as a city bike user?

You can register on your computer or mobile device (hsl.fi/citybikes). If you need help, contact the City Bike Customer Service or visit the Kamppi Bicycle Center at Narinkkatori. For visitors, there are five bike stations with payment terminals, at which you can borrow a bike for a day or a week with a payment card without pre-registration. The stations are Kaivopuisto, Unioninkatu, Rautatientori/East, Kiasma and Hakaniemi Metro Station.

How do I register as a city bike user?

1. Select pass (day, week or whole season)
2. If you select a pass for the whole season, you need an HSL account to register. If you already have an HSL account, you can use it to log in. If you do not have an HSL account, you can easily create one using your email address and a password of your choice. In order to continue the registration, you need to confirm your HSL account using the link sent to your email.
3. Enter a four-digit PIN code of your choice as well as your contact details and accept the city bike service Terms of Use and Description of the File. You can give your consent to receiving updates, news and marketing messages by ticking the appropriate box. If you select a day pass, you can borrow 1-4 bikes.
4. Enter your payment card details. The following debit and credit cards are accepted: Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
5. Once you have registered, you will get a personal cyclist ID which you will need, along with your PIN code, to borrow a bike. The ID and instructions will be sent to your email.
6. If you selected a pass for the whole season, you can find your cyclist ID on your personal city bike page, where you can also see your ride history and other information related to the use of the service. On the page you can also buy another pass and manage your payment cards. To access your city bike page, log in at hsl.fi and select “City bike” on the menu at the top right.

What payment cards can I use?

The following debit and credit cards are accepted: Visa, MasterCard and American Express.

During registration, a message appeared saying that my payment card was not accepted. What should I do?

Try re-entering your payment card details or enter the details of another payment card. If your card is still not accepted, please contact the City Bike Customer Service.

Can I change the payment card used?

Yes, if you registered online and created an HSL account. To access your city bike page, log in at hsl.fi and select “City bike” on the menu at the top right. To add a new payment card, click the appropriate button.

How can I start using a bike once I have registered?

Go to a bike, press the green Enter button in between the handlebars and follow the instructions on the screen. To borrow the bike, you will need the cyclist ID given to you during registration and the PIN code you created. You can replace the cyclist ID with your Travel Card when picking up a bike at a bike station. After that, you will always be able to use the Travel Card rather than entering the ID.

Can I use city bikes with my Travel Card?

First you need to register as a user (hsl.fi/citybikes). Fees are always charged to your debit or credit card but after registration, you can use your Travel Card for identification when picking up a bike at a bike station. At the first time, you will need the 7-digit cyclist ID given to you during registration. If you want, you can replace the ID with your Travel Card at this point. In addition to the Travel Card, you will always need the 4-digit PIN code you created during registration.

How can I replace the cyclist ID with my Travel Card?

Using the device on the handlebars, do as follows:

1. Press the green Enter button
2. Select number 1.
3. Show your Travel Card to the reader.
4. Enter the PIN code you created and press Enter.
5. Select number 1 to answer 'Yes' to the question "Replace cyclist ID".
6. Enter the 7-digit cyclist ID given to you during registration.
7. Show your Travel Card to the reader once again.
8. When you hear a sound signal, remove the bike from the rack.
9. You can now use the bike.

After this, you will not need to use the 7-digit cyclist ID anymore. Just show your card to the reader and enter your PIN code.

Can I use the bike for as long as I want to?

The recommended time of use is maximum thirty minutes at a time. If you use a bike for a longer time, an extra charge will apply. You can use a city bike for up to five hours at a time. If you exceed this limit, you need to pay an extra fee of EUR 80, which is the same fee charged to those who travel without a valid ticket on public transport.

Can I ride the bikes wherever I want?

The area of use is limited to Helsinki. We have set the charges so that short journeys are favored, and we encourage people to mainly use the bikes within the bike station network. Ride the bikes only in areas intended for bikes, such as streets and cycle paths. Thank you!

Can I lock the bike somewhere else instead of a bike station, if I choose to go into a store, for example?

You can lock the bike up somewhere else than at a bike station for a brief time. Once you have stopped, press Enter and follow the instructions. You can find a cable lock inside the handlebars, one end of which will be locked to the front fork of the bike. Wrap the cable lock around a fixed object, such as a lamppost or fence. The bike’s steering is locked at the same time, and the lock can be opened only by the same user who locked it. To open the lock, follow the instructions on the screen. Please note that it is usually better to return the bike to a bike station, since they are located at frequent intervals and someone else can then use the bike.

What should I do if I notice that the bike I have chosen at a bike station is broken?

Put the bike back in the rack. You can also contact the City Bike Customer Service. Our maintenance staff keep track of the condition of all bikes and repair or replace them as needed. Riding a broken bike is at the user's responsibility.

Can I return a bike to a bike station if the station is full?

If you are returning a bike and the bike station you have chosen is full, leave the bike right next to a rack, a maximum of 10-20 meters from the rack. Press Enter; the following text will appear on the screen: Return: 1 Break:2. Select ‘Return’ or number 1 and ensure that the handlebar is locked. After this, lock the bike by pulling the cable lock out from the handlebar and wrapping it around a fixed object, such as a pole or another city bike at the station, and snap it into place in the slot on the front fork of the bike. Once you have correctly returned and locked the bike, you will no longer be responsible for it. If the text ‘Return’ does not appear on the screen, the bike station is not full or the bike is too far from the station.

If you come to a bike station and there is a bike returned next to the station, you can pick up the bike in the same way as a bike locked to a rack.

You can return a city bike in this way only if all the racks at the bike station are full.

Do I have to wear a helmet when riding a city bike?  

When you ride a city bike, you must follow traffic rules. According to the Finnish Road Traffic Act, wearing a helmet is recommended. Please also follow other traffic rules. Traffic rules for cyclist are available here.

How do I pay for the use of the city bikes?

During registration, you enter the details of your payment card. The price of the pass you have selected is immediately charged to your card. Any additional charges and compensations will be charged as needed. The most common debit and credit cards are accepted.

I have forgotten my PIN code; how can I change it?

If you registered online and created an HSL account, you can change the PIN code on your personal city bike page. To access your city bike page, log in at hsl.fi and select “City bike” on the menu at the top right.

Where can I see my cyclist ID?

If you registered online and created an HSL account, you can see your 7-digit cyclist ID on your personal city bike page. To access your city bike page, log in at hsl.fi and select “City bike” on the menu at the top right. If you replace your cyclist ID with your Travel Card, you will no longer need the ID and it will no longer be shown on your personal page. Your cyclist ID has also been sent to your email address after registration

Who can I contact if I have problems?

If you experience problems, contact the City Bike Customer Service.

What happens if I use the bike for longer than the maximum limit of five hours at a time?

We will charge you 80 euros for the delay, which is the fee charged to those who travel without a valid ticket on public transport.

What if I do not return the bike at all?

If you do not return the bike within 24 hours, we will consider it lost and can bill you for 400 euros as compensation.

What if the bike is stolen?

If you have taken proper care of the bike and it is nevertheless stolen from you, contact Customer Services at once, file a report of an offense with the police within 48 hours and submit a copy of the report to our customer service. If this happens, we will not demand compensation for the bike.

What should I do if I have an accident when using a city bike?

Act as you normally would in case of a traffic accident. After that, contact the City Bike Customer Service.

I replaced my cyclist ID with my Travel Card, and now I have lost the card. How can I pick up a bike?

Contact the City Bike Customer Service.

I forgot something in the bike basket or at a bike station. Where can I ask about lost property?

Please contact Suomen Löytötavarapalvelu. The office is located at Mäkelänkatu 56 and it is open Mon-Fri 10am-6pm and Sat 10am-2pm. You can also call their customer service line on 0600 41006 (24h, subject to a charge). 

How many city bikes and bike stations are there?

In summer 2016, there are 500 bikes at 50 bike stations. By summer 2017, a further 1,000 bikes and 100 bike stations will be added and the network will be expanded to Munkkiniemi and Kumpula. Consequently, there will be 1,500 bikes and 150 bike stations in all by summer 2017.

Who is responsible for the system?

Helsinki City Transport (HKL) is responsible for the city bike system. In practice, the system is maintained by CityBike Finland, a subsidiary founded in Finland by the supplier consortium, Smoove and Moventia. Advertisement sales are managed by ClearChannel, and the official sponsor is HOK Elanto.

HSL is responsible for the city bike website at hsl.fi/citybikes and the city bike functionality of the Journey Planner. In addition, HSL and HKL are jointly responsible for the marketing of the system.

Who pays for the system?

The system is implemented by Helsinki City Transport but a significant proportion of the costs are covered by advertisements and sponsoring. User fees also contribute to the maintenance of the system, and they are intended to cover a similar proportion of costs as with other modes of public transportation, i.e. half of the costs. Who is the manufacturer of the bikes?

The manufacturer is Decathlon, a French sports retail giant. The bike was designed for Smoove to be used as a city bike, and similar bikes are used in their systems in other cities.

What happens if one station becomes either full or empty?

The maintenance staff monitors the status of all stations and transports bikes by car as needed. However, at peak times, a station may temporarily be full or empty. We apologize for any inconvenience in advance. Thank you for your understanding.