The transportation sector is currently undergoing major developments. A key focus area is the increased use of shared transportation services, which is part of the sharing economy. By sharing vehicles such as cars, bikes, and electric scooters, the available vehicles and space are used more efficiently.
Image by Lieselotte van der Meijs/imagebank.sweden.se
Shared transport complements the traditional public transport system, offering an alternative to individual car ownership for a more sustainable and efficient mobility model. In Sweden, several companies and research projects focus on shared transportation, such as bike-sharing and electric scooters.
However, new technical and digital developments in shared mobility are at risk of being slowed down by outdated regulations and policies. To overcome these challenges, fostering collaborative spaces is crucial. For example, Drive Sweden serves as a platform for stakeholders to engage in discussions, identify regulatory barriers, and facilitate collaboration and mediate to address these issues.
For this reason, spaces for collaboration are necessary to facilitate the implementation of innovative shared mobility solutions. For instance, Drive Sweden aims to be a platform for stakeholder discussion and collaboration for these issues to discover and mediate any regulatory challenges.
Mobility as a Service (Maas)
Mobility as a Service (MaaS) is a key part of new developments for shared transportation, where a unified system is implemented to allow the user to shift between public and private transportation systems with a unified ticket system. Such a system can gather travel data, which allows the transport system to be more efficiently developed. In Sweden, several governmental authorities are involved in a project to explore and develop measures for MaaS, specifically how it can be used to increase transport efficiency and safety. In addition, funding is given to several pilot projects and research projects that focus on the development of MaaS programs and the upscaling of the system.
A changing sector
Shared transportation is a trend that is not only seen in Sweden but is becoming common worldwide. There are currently major developments in the transport sector, and shared transportation systems are growing exponentially. By using the existing vehicles more efficiently, private car ownership can decrease while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Besides, shared transport can reduce the physical space needed for parking, since vehicles are more efficiently utilised. Sweden’s work on shared transport could inspire other countries and cities and, in turn, contribute to a more sustainable and efficient society.
