Trip to Paimio on the day Föli came to town
On Monday 1 July, the Föli area was extended to Paimio. On the day, something very unusual was experienced on board the bus returning to Turku from Paimio: complete strangers were talking to each other!
In the full bus, the person next to me asked about the text on the badge I was wearing from the year when Turku was a Capital of Culture. This young woman who had sat down next to me also told me to say if I wanted to get off the bus before her. Usually, everyone on board sits quietly in their seat, perhaps even having placed a bag on the other seat to prevent anyone from sitting there.
On my way to Paimio, I had been on the same bus with Eerik Kajonen, a 13-year-old self-proclaimed fan of buses. Eerik was accompanied by his father. Kristiina, who was going to see her son, was also on the same bus and got off at the bus stop by Paimio Sanatorium. She told me she had been looking forward to Föli operating to Paimio for two and a half years, since the news about the future expansion of Föli were published in November 2022.
If Föli ever selects a bus passenger of the year, 13-year-old Eerik Kajonen will be a strong candidate.
When Paimio with its population of approximately 11,200 joined the regional public transport Föli, which already comprises Turku, Kaarina, Lieto, Naantali, Raisio and Rusko, the price of single tickets for the residents of Paimio fell from 6.10 euros to 3 euros and the number of bus services was increased. Using travel cards – season tickets and value cards – is even more affordable.
There was definitely an atmosphere of a great celebration on Paimio’s first day as part of Föli!
Paimio Electrical Museum participated in this celebration by organising an open day to mark the alliance of Paimio and the 10-year-old Föli.
A Föli pop-up service point had also been set up at Paimio Electrical Museum. At the service point, Eveliina and Pia from Monitori Market Square sold and charged Föli cards and answered questions from residents.
- Does a Föli service also run to Paimio summer theatre? - How does Föli affect internal transport in Paimio? - Will there be buses to Paimio Sanatorium more often now? asked three ladies who introduced themselves as friends of culture.
Jouko and Jenna (second from the right) from Paimio Electrical Museum and Eveliina and Pia from Monitori Market Square.
Eerik Kajonen, who travelled to Paimio on the same Föli service, in turn asked Public Transport Director Sirpa Korte and Public Transport Coordinator Jouko Tervonen some tricky questions.
Eerik was eager to know about electric buses and Sirpa told him that Paimio will also have elecric buses as soon as the buses move on from the Suez Canal, where the container ship carrying the new buses was stuck in congestion. Jouko in turn answered Eerik's questions about the competitive tendering of the Föli routes.
If Föli ever chooses a bus passenger of the year, young Eerik will be a strong candidate.
- We had already been thinking about going to Paimio on Föli, said Tuukka Frang, Nuutti Mialon and Otto Tammi, who come from Lieto, Turku and Kaarina. Otto Tammi had been messaging his friends about Paimio’s first day as part of Föli, which he had heard about both in the news and in the regional public transport advertising campaigns.
Three friends – Nuutti Mialon, Otto Tammi and Tuukka Frang – travelled on Föli to see Paimio.
The three friends also wanted to visit Paimio Sanatorium but it was closed on Monday.
- Next time, then. Today, we saw the ski jumping hill and will now have a walk here in the town centre. We’ll go for a meal and then visit the Electrical Museum, the smiling young men said.
Enthusiasm about Föli coming to Paimio had also caught Paimio Mayor Jari Jussinmäki, who was on holiday but came to the Electrical Museum to greet visiting residents and Föli passengers.
Jari Jussinmäki, Mayor of Paimio (second from the left), came to meet Föli passengers. The others in the photo are Jouko Tervonen, Sari Niemi and Sirpa Korte.
In addition to this, Urho Rantala, the summer musician of the Town of Paimio, performed at the Electrical Museum.
Paimio has employed a summer musician to play in the streets and at different events in Paimio this summer. And even at the end of the city council’s last meeting in the spring, explained the mayor and the musician.
Urho Rantala, the summer musician of the Town of Paimio, marked Föli’s arrival in Paimio with a performance at the Electrical Museum.
Thank you for a lovely day, Paimio – I will come and visit again! On board Föli, of course!
-Tanja Raunio
The author is the Food Ambassador of Turku and likes yellow buses, Fölläri city bikes and water buses.
All Föli ticket products enable you to reach Paimio, Paimio Sanatorium and events in Paimio on board Föli.
The regional flat fare and the two-hour transfer time included in the tickets are unique both in Finland and in the Nordic countries.