What can we learn from the demise of Helsinki’s Kutsuplus?

A major aspect of the development of new mobility solutions is the testing and validation process. As with any new technology, not all initiatives succeed, but each can teach something new about what consumers want and what works.

Referred to by some as Uber-for-buses, Kutsuplus was launched in October 2012 by Helsinki City Transport (HSL) with the aim of offering an on-demand ride-sharing service that would see passengers matched with mini-buses heading in the appropriate direction. An example of flexible micro transport services (FMTS), Kutsuplus grew out of Aalto University research into alternative public transport, and was created as a response to unsustainable mobility solutions existing in Helsinki at the time.