New Research Projects at K2
K2 conducts research on how collective mobility can contribute to attractive and sustainable cities and regions of the future. The research is carried out in close collaboration with stakeholders in the field of collective mobility and is characterised by a multidisciplinary approach. Nine new smaller-scale projects have now been approved for the 2025–2026 period.
Regulatory Sandboxes for the Mobility of the Future
Regulatory sandboxes offer an opportunity to test new technologies in controlled environments before legislation is adapted, potentially accelerating innovation in collective mobility. At the same time, they raise important questions about legitimacy, transparency, and inclusion. This project aims to map the use of such frameworks in the transport sector and provide stakeholders with greater insight into how sandboxes can be used to foster innovation while safeguarding public values such as safety, equity, and sustainability.
Project lead: Dalia Mukhtar-Landgren, Lund University
Budget: SEK 426,929
Happy Mobility
This project aims to reduce the need for specialised transport services for older adults and increase their ability to use public transport. It will develop educational materials to support older individuals in learning to use public transport, based on their own perceptions of service value. The goal is to make the learning process and exploration of new solutions a positive experience.
Project lead: Gunilla Carlsson, Lund University
Contributors: Michael Johansson (Lund University), Jonas Johansson (Svensk Kollektivtrafik)
Budget: SEK 641,300
Social Impacts of Free Access to Public Transport
This project investigates the social effects of free access to public transport, with a particular focus on low-income families with children in Malmö. It is based on a collaboration between Skånes Stadsmission and Skånetrafiken, where summer travel cards and single tickets were distributed to low-income individuals. Interviews with both users and representatives from the involved organisations will gather experiences and reflections on the initiative.
Project lead: Vanessa Stjernborg, Lund University
Budget: SEK 700,000
Integrating BRT with the Urban Environment
The project aims to identify the characteristics of BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) stations and their pedestrian connections that promote better integration with the urban environment, and to explore their role as social meeting places. Through observations and interviews at five stations in Malmö, the project will examine how the stations are used and perceived by passengers. The findings are expected to support sustainable urban development and inform Malmö’s ongoing and future BRT planning, as well as that of other Swedish municipalities.
Project leads: Hoai Anh Tran and Jeongmin Hyeong, Malmö University
Budget: SEK 526,287
Collaboration and Platform Building for New Knowledge on Social Sustainability in Public Transport
Previous research has identified a gap between research and practice in measuring social sustainability. This project will organise workshops where researchers and practitioners share knowledge on social impacts and participatory methods, deepen understanding of how to reach different citizen groups, and enhance knowledge of sustainable accessibility in urban and public transport planning.
Project leads: Lena Levin and Robin Nuruzzaman (VTI), Vanessa Stjernborg (Lund University), Karen Lucas and Joanna Barrow (Manchester Urban Institute)
Budget: SEK 302,000
Drivers Promoting or Hindering Sustainable Collective Mobility in Urban Planning
To reduce carbon emissions, we must rethink how we live and travel in cities, which requires a reassessment of urban structure and mobility. This project seeks to understand the drivers within urban planning that promote or hinder such change. A case study will focus on Biskopsgården in Gothenburg, involving stakeholders in mobility, land use, and digitalisation.
Project leads: Anders Larsson and Carey Curtis (University of Gothenburg), Russell Cannon (Lund University), Staffan Claesson (AB Framtiden)
Budget: SEK 348,000
Planning Tools for BRT in Small and Medium-Sized Cities
This project aims to identify collaboration challenges in BRT planning processes and assess how well existing Swedish BRT planning tools address these challenges. The results will be used to update and improve the planning tool.
Project leads: Joel Hansson and Jakob Allansson, Lund University
Budget: SEK 715,000
A Swedish Procurement Database for Public Transport
Currently, there is no established platform for public transport authorities to share information about their procurements and how these are structured. This project aims to assess whether a Swedish procurement database for public transport is warranted and how it could be designed. It will provide insights into expected benefits and costs, as well as stakeholder preferences.
Project leads: Ivan Ridderstedt and Roger Pyddoke (VTI), Helene Lidestam (Linköping University)
Budget: SEK 556,288
The Potential of Shared E-Scooters to Strengthen the Resilience of Sweden’s Public Transport System
This project aims to investigate and quantify the role of shared e-scooters in enhancing the resilience of public transport systems using a data-driven approach. GPS-based data on e-scooter trips and General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) data will be used to evaluate integration with public transport and measure network resilience at a detailed level.
Project leads: Pengxiang Zhao and Ali Mansourian, Lund University
Budget: SEK 714,050
Text: Ebba Wihlborg