Free bus passes made a significant difference for residents in disadvantaged areas

The study, published in Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, is based on interviews with residents in the districts of Gottsunda and Bäcklösa in Uppsala – two areas where financial constraints affect people’s ability to travel in their daily lives.

“A lack of affordable public transport means that people are, in practice, confined to their local areas. Without a bus pass, many are forced to rely on walking – often long distances to places such as grocery shops or schools. In some cases, people also feel unsafe, which further limits their mobility,” says Thomas Höjemo, Architect and former Postdoctoral Researcher at IBF, whose work includes research on new mobility services and sustainable transport in urban environments.

Together with his colleagues Judith Kupersmidt and Fredrik Johansson at KTH, he has examined how access to public transport affects everyday life in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. The findings show that something as simple as a free bus pass can make a substantial difference – not only for mobility, but also for wellbeing and social participation.

Being restricted in how one can move around the city affects not only practical transport options, but also how people experience their freedom in everyday life. When participants in the study were given a free bus pass for three months, the researchers observed a clear change. Participants were able to travel more frequently, meet more people and take a more active part in society. Access to public transport was described as a form of freedom – not only physical, but also emotional. Participants associated increased mobility with feelings of safety, calmness, joy and spontaneity. One participant explained that she could now travel into central Uppsala and walk along the river “like a normal person”.

The study highlights the role of transport in issues of equality and social inclusion and may provide important insights for future urban planning. The findings show that access to affordable public transport can be crucial in addressing what is referred to in international research as transport poverty.

“We argue that investment in accessible public transport is not merely a technical issue of infrastructure, but very much a social investment. It has the potential to improve quality of life for individuals, as well as participation in society more broadly,” says Thomas Höjemo.

Ulrika Wahlberg