International leading researcher: "Reduce land use for car traffic and parking in Swedish cities"

Jeffrey highlights the importance of understanding the factors behind different mobility patterns, as this knowledge can help define the path toward a more sustainable transport system.

– The conclusion is clear – greater financial investment in expanding, improving, and maintaining public transport systems is strongly associated with higher public transport usage, explains Jeffrey.

He emphasises the difference between investing in the maintenance, expansion, and quality improvements of public transport systems versus merely operating them. Investment expenditure reflects a long-term commitment and recognition that public transport systems are essential for the functioning of cities.

– Whether cities invest small or large amounts to maximise the role of public transport ultimately comes down to one simple question: how much do we believe in the future of public transport compared to the future of private motorised transport? says Jeffrey.

In addition to the ten Swedish cities included in his study of travel patterns and investments across various transport modes, Jeffrey has similarly studied mobility patterns in 84 cities worldwide. His findings show that urban density plays a critical role in reducing car usage. However, Swedish cities exhibit lower car usage than expected given their relatively low density.

– Compared to cities with similar densities in other parts of the world, Swedish cities have more extensive public transport systems and, on average, significantly higher public transport use. Moreover, Swedish travellers walk and cycle relatively more than their counterparts in other similarly low-density cities, notes Jeffrey.

Jeffrey’s studies also reveal that Swedish cities have a relatively high provision of high-speed roads. His advice to Swedish policymakers is to aim for greener, denser cities while reducing land dedicated to driving and parking cars.

– Swedish decision-makers might consider decommissioning parts of the road network currently reserved for car traffic, suggests Jeffrey.

Read more in the K2 report Understanding Mobility Patterns in Ten Swedish Urban Regions.

*The quotes in this article are translated from Swedish to English.