A self-driving bus is offering free rides in the Kodulahe neighborhood, between Stroomi Beach and Paldiski maantee, from Monday to Friday until December 20.
Deputy Mayor Kristjan Järvan noted that autonomous buses have been tested in various areas of Tallinn before. “Public transport must also be accessible in new development areas. Unfortunately, many developments in Tallinn have previously been approved without fully considering public transport solutions—lacking stops or suitable spaces for city buses. To address this issue, we are testing an autonomous bus in the Kodulahe neighborhood as a ‘last mile’ solution to connect local residents with the public transport network along Paldiski maantee,” said Järvan.
Kaarel Variksaar, Chairman of the Management Board of Auve Tech, added that their next-generation autonomous vehicle, MiCa, which has operated in Japan, the United States, the Middle East, Germany, and Finland, is now carrying passengers in its hometown of Tallinn for the first time. “MiCa is designed to bring public transport closer to people in areas where the use of large buses is not practical, offering an alternative to those who currently rely on personal cars for transportation.”
The self-driving bus will serve passengers from December 2–20, operating Monday to Friday from 7–10 am and 4–7 pm. It will not operate on weekends. The route starts at the parking lot at the end of Lahepea Street, travels along Lahepea to Lammi Street, where it stops near the intersection. The bus then turns around, continues along Lahepea Street to Paldiski maantee, stops near Café Karmen, and returns via the same route.
This project, a collaboration between Tallinn Transport Department and Auve Tech, aims to explore the potential for autonomous buses in urban transport. For safety, an onboard operator will oversee maneuvers and intervene if necessary. The bus moves at a safe speed on the road and does not pose a risk to pedestrians.
Source: tallinn.ee