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This spring, about half of last year chose public transportation. Now the trips have increased.
– We see greater mobility in society, and it is clear that this is reflected in our traffic. So we really don’t know where it will go. Will it level out to this level? What will happen when the weather gets worse? says Lars Backström, CEO of Västtrafik.
However, the current level does not mean normal travel levels. Instead, Lars Backström believes that roughly 35 percent fewer people travel with Västtrafik, compared to the same weeks in 2019.
Although he claims that there is no line where the trips are as great as last year, the trips are at more normal levels in several places in Gothenburg. Among other things on lines 6, 7, 9, 11 and 60 and at stops such as Brunnsparken and Stenpiren.
READ MORE: Fewer and fewer people believe in traveling by bus, tram or train in the future
More people walk and bike
Congestion continues to occur in Gothenburg, which is considered a problem for the spread of covid-19. To counteract this, Västtrafik, among other things, invested in informants at stops and distributed cloth bags that can be placed on the next seat.
Did you notice any direct effects when you implemented these measures?
– We see an effect of more people walking and cycling. So I don’t think it’s 100% because we campaign for it, absolutely not, but it’s very positive to see it.
– So we have to remember that only 40 percent, I think, of the healthy population in Sweden can work from home. Many people have to be at work for a certain period of time and need to take that bus or streetcar for that outing, and it’s hard to change those patterns.
Worse weather can mean even more congestion, says Lars Backström: “If we have a difficult winter, and those who walk and bike now can’t or won’t, we’ll see an increase in travel.” Photo: Anders Ylander
Strengthen public transportation
Västtrafik has installed permanent reinforcement traffic on some 70 lines.
– Sometimes it can be relatively easy to get a booster, sometimes it is a bit more difficult. If it is a booster line with a bus that takes a quarter of an hour longer, it may not be competitive enough for you as a traveler to choose that alternative.
Do you have other actions you can take or do you just trust the public?
– No, but we continue to push for walking and cycling, we have contact with schools and the business community, so we try to work on all fronts that we can.
READ MORE: Now the Västtrafik app urges you to go
READ MORE: Long lines for additional buses
READ MORE: Therefore, cloth bags can end up on Gothenburg trams and buses.
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