Kombinationsresor – cykel och kollektivtrafik
In autumn 2020, the then Public Transport Committee of the Västra Götaland Region decided to allocate SEK 5,000,000 to Västtrafik for the implementation of a pilot project on combined travel involving cycling and public transport during 2023–2024.
The project was led by Västtrafik in collaboration with the Västra Götaland Region and was carried out by the contracted consultancy firm Trivector, together with Point. Three pilots were tested during the project period:
- bicycles on Västtrafik trains,
- cycle lockers at Bohus station, and
- rental bikes in Bengtsfors and Bäckefors.
In recent years, regional public transport authorities have increasingly worked to integrate cycling with public transport. This development reflects a shift in policy goals – from simply increasing the modal share of public transport to promoting a broader increase in sustainable travel. In this context, the bicycle has been identified as a crucial link and complement to public transport.
When seeking to influence travel behaviour and change established mobility patterns, both public authorities and transport providers often use time-limited projects as tools. The pilot project Combined travel – cycling and public transport is one such example. However, previous research has highlighted several challenges associated with implementing change through project-based structures. The aim of the accompanying research project (follow-up study) was therefore to document and analyse the experiences from the pilot, with a particular focus on organisational learning and the governance of public sector projects.
The analysis was guided by the concepts of organisational learning and temporary organising. The empirical material consisted of digital participation in project meetings, interviews with individuals from Västtrafik, the Västra Götaland Region and Trivector – all of whom held roles within the project – as well as various documents that formed the basis for, or were produced during, the project.
The results of the study show that organisational learning was a central concern throughout the project. However, a key challenge lay in determining what the learning should focus on, how it should be achieved, and how the insights, solutions and outcomes could be retained – for example, how they might be integrated into regular operations.
Critical issues that emerged during the course of the pilot included differing interpretations of the project’s goals and purpose, diverging views on implementation, organisation and governance, as well as questions around Västtrafik’s mandate and the boundaries of its work related to cycling. Another key consideration was the tension between short-term project execution and long-term strategic ambitions – a balance with implications for financial planning, political priorities, and overarching policy objectives.