Fossil-free passenger transport in sparsely populated areas - from a passenger perspective
Transport plays an important role in a sustainable society. Today, transport is a major emitter of greenhouse gases and it is urgent to get away from the use of fossil fuels. At the same time, the role of transport for social sustainability is important, transport enables access to, for example, services, schools and work. The difficulties are particularly clear in sparsely populated and rural areas where distances are often long and there are few or no alternatives to the car.
The focus of this project is to contribute to a transformation towards fossil-free passenger transport in sparsely populated and rural areas with regard to social sustainability. The project departs from Västerbotten and Norrbotten as case study areas and focuses on the preconditions of rural inhabitants, thus having a traveler perspective. Studies will address both barriers and enabling aspects of changing one's travel in rural areas. The project is a doctoral thesis.
Concretely, six settlements have been visited, and civil servants have participated in discussion meetings. Document studies and interviews of existing projects and initiatives in the regions are planned. It has been seen as important to include a variety of rural areas but also data sources.
The project focuses only on passenger transport and thus not freight traffic, but it is a comprehensive approach to all means of transport and fuels relevant for passenger transport. Examples of a few means of transport are public transport, sharing, walking & bike cycle, train and electric car. Examples of fuels are bioenergy, muscle power or electricity.
The first step is to identify travel needs. Travel needs are about the trips people make and why they are made, further discussed is how fossil freedom can affect these travel needs. Identifying travel needs is also about increasing understanding of the diversity of travel that takes place in sparsely populated and rural areas. This is important for understanding the role of transport in social sustainability.
The second step is to identify different solutions. Travel consists of many different types of travel, of which the solutions will also probably consist of many different solutions. Here we start from the various trips previously identified and discuss which trip / trips could be carried out fossil-free - while maintaining social sustainability.
The third step of the project involves not only identifying barriers but also seeking overarching themes or aspects that are crucial to enabling or strengthening the ability to travel fossil-free, regardless of the modes of transport. This focus on enabling aspects paves the way for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future of rural travel and still ensures a good life in rural areas with good accessibility.
Contact
Margareta Westin
- Research Assistant
- 0920-493805
- margareta.westin@ltu.se
- Margareta Westin
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