I live inside an area that is sometimes, scornfully, called ‘traffic jam Finland’ by Finns who live in less crammed regions of the country. Nevertheless, the situation is internationally speaking not particularly bad, mainly because of Helsinki's efficient public transport system. This does not (yet?) combine with road tolls, but these are certainly being discussed. A leading figure of the local green party, Osmo Soininvaara, recently made the remark that driving from Puotila – an eastern district of the city – to the city centre could take as long as 45 minutes during the morning rush hour in the late 1960s. The city has grown significantly since then, but nowadays Puotila dwellers can expect to reach the centre in about 20 minutes, whether driving or taking the metro. Jams became a memory of the past when bus lanes were introduced, followed by a metro line in 1982.

Interestingly, drivers argued as vehemently against the bus lanes as they argue against road tolls now. Soininvaara's point is to remind us that in the long run it may pay to accept a personal cost to achieve a common good: if efficient public transport leads to less congested roads, this is obviously a benefit too for those who prefer to drive their cars.