It’s the deliberate goal of many (usually European) cities to rid themselves of cars, in an effort to curb pollution and provide an environment that’s more suitable for human habitation. There are a few approaches and solutions to this issue, and the Finnish capital, Helsinki now wants its own.

The Finns’ idea is to have a very advanced and seamless transport sharing program implemented (world-wide car sharing up 28 percent since 2010) that would allow anybody to go anywhere in the city, at any time via a smartphone app. You’d think that we already have services like this in other cities around the world already at work, but where the Helsinki system would be different is in the desired end user convenience they want to achieve.

They want to eliminate the hassle of payment choices and minimize wait times, all while using as few resources as possible.

For instance, they’ve now implemented a unique minibus service called Kutsuplus which lets people plot the points where they are to be picked up and dropped off. Software then kicks in and calculates which route would be most efficient and quickest for all those who’ve placed requests and an optimal course to best suit all is the result.

It currently costs more than an actual bus ride, but at least it’s already working and providing data for future improvements, paving the way for cost-cutting, as well.

This is only an example of what’s being planned, but the basic idea is in-trend with what’s happening in the world at the moment, as we’re seeing companies that are now acknowledging the benefits of no longer providing products and switching to providing services through the products that they offer, instead.

EVs could be made more relevant through such programs, as well.

Apparently, even from where we stand today, it is feasible, according to The Guardian, for Helsinki to “make car ownership pointless” in 10 years’ time. So far it’s just plans and baby steps, but this is a growing trend and Finns are quite a progressive nation.

Note: Helsinki photo by Timo Noko via Wikipedia, Via Navigant Research