More perspectives are needed in the work on the transportation system to achieve social sustainability. That is the view of Christina Lindkvist, a researcher at Malmö University and the K2 research center. On October 6, Forum for Social Innovation Sweden is hosting Forum for Social Innovation Sweden Sustainable Mobility for Children’s Freedom of Movement.
A lack of access to transportation and public transit contributes to social exclusion and segregation. Certain groups in society—the privileged—can control their mobility. Others—the most vulnerable and economically disadvantaged, such as those living in suburbs of Stockholm or Gothenburg or in rural areas—face complicated commutes to work, school, and activities. They have no choice; they are dependent on public transportation and must spend a significant amount of time traveling.
– The injustices in transportation policy become very real and obvious when there are no buses or trains in certain towns, neighborhoods, or areas.
“To give one example, young LGBTQ migrants are placed in refugee housing in rural areas where there is no public transportation. They are unable to reach their social circles and are thus doubly excluded,” says Christina Lindkvist.
Christina Lindkvist holds a Ph.D. in human geography and economic geography and is an associate professor of urban studies at Malmö University. She helped establish the K2 research center, Sweden’s national center for research and education on public transportation. Now, together with Chiara Vitrano, she is focusing on equitable public transportation, including public transportation for residents of Bunkeflostrand and Lindängen. In collaboration with researchers at VTI, the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, she is conducting research on accessibility in more sparsely populated areas. This fall, she will publish, together with Malin Henriksson, a researcher at VTI , the anthology Public Transportation: Challenges for Socially Sustainable Accessibility. In the book, researchers from VTI, Malmö University, Stockholm University, the University of Gothenburg, and Lund University write about social perspectives on transportation.
“Incorporating a social justice perspective into transportation planning means prioritizing those who face the greatest challenges. This can involve route planning, schedules, pricing models, and complementary services,” says Christina Lindkvist.
: A Need for Multiple Changes There are several challenges, and multiple changes are required to achieve socially sustainable mobility. First, the way we view public transportation, passengers, and accessibility needs to change. Is public transportation a public good or a consumer good? Are passengers customers or citizens?
– Transportation policy has an inherent logic that favors the well-off. The built environment requires that people be able to get around in our society.
– There are also quite strong values associated with mobility. Being able to travel, to be mobile, to be able to move around has strong positive connotations. We should be able to travel far, to be on the go. This is intertwined with an idea of progress, development, and success. Whereas being tied to one place, immobile, almost implies being backward-looking and old-fashioned, says Christina Lindkvist. But it’s exciting now because the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we travel, she continues.
Transport planning needs to be supplemented with new perspectives
Second, conventional transport planning needs to be supplemented with other perspectives, knowledge, and methods. Qualitative analyses of the transport system’s significance need to be “translated” so that they can be used in the same way as quantitative measures and calculations, and more groups need to be included in consultations and have their voices heard.
“The transportation sector is highly technical, but it’s starting to incorporate social science expertise and other perspectives. It’s also important to draw on local knowledge about needs and preferences,” says Christina Lindkvist.
Alternative economic pricing models
Third, funding is needed, and financial priorities must be reviewed. Infrastructure projects are expensive, and public transportation must be funded. However, there are various attempts to explore new approaches to public transportation. In Dunkirk, for example, free public transportation has been introduced, and in Skåne, free travel passes for young people have been tested.
“There must be some way to make pricing more equitable and fair,” says Christina Lindkvist.