Unheard voices for the future of mobility in Sundsbruk

Gabriella Cardenas Generated/enhanced by AI

After a year of dialogues and workshops, the preliminary study FORMEL 1: Unheard Voices for the future mobility in Sundsbruk is now concluding. By visualizing desirable and undesirable future scenarios, an entirely new picture has emerged of how insufficient mobility affects living conditions, participation, and everyday life in the area.
– “Sundsbruk is a prioritized area, and at its core this work is about leveling differences in living conditions so that everyone, regardless of where in Sundsvall they live, can enjoy a good life and travel to both work and leisure activities. It feels very exciting that we can now take the next step and begin testing solutions based on the insights,” says Lisa Tynnemark (S), Deputy Chair of the Municipal Executive Committee and politically responsible for work on social sustainability.

A societal problem that must be taken seriously

In both the dialogue during the preliminary study and in the subsequent implementation project, the concept of mobility poverty has been central – a term describing a situation where individuals or groups have limited access to transport options, which in turn affects their ability to fully participate in society. This can mean difficulties in reaching work, education, healthcare, or social activities. The results show that this is one of the most critical challenges for many living in Sundsbruk, and that the consequences extend far beyond travel itself: poorer school attendance, worse health, increased isolation, lost job opportunities, and diminished belief in the future are risks highlighted in the undesirable scenarios. The vision is to transform mobility poverty into mobility wealth in various ways.

It has become clear that traditional methods such as surveys, statistics, and formal consultations do not reach the groups most affected. FORMEL 1 has therefore worked in entirely new ways to listen to the voices of young people, whose experiences are usually not captured.
– “Together we have seen how everyday mobility is linked to life opportunities. Survey responses and statistics say one thing, but the conversations on site in Sundsbruk gave another and much deeper picture of what is needed,” says Johanna Bouvin, project manager at Sundsvall Municipality.

A new knowledge base – through meetings, innovative dialogue methods, and future visions

Over the year, the project group from Sundsvall Municipality, Din Tur, and the research institute RISE has conducted surveys, interviews, and workshops with young people and parents in Sundsbruk, as well as conversations with youth leaders, associations, and other local actors. The work has been carried out using foresight methodology, where young people and parents living in Sundsbruk formulated both desirable and undesirable future scenarios for mobility in the area. These scenarios then formed the basis for dialogue between young people, parents, local actors, and decision-makers on how the undesirable future can be avoided and how the desirable future can be enabled.

Young people testified that sometimes it is easier to stay home than to try to get to activities, that evening travel often feels unsafe, that buses stop running early in the evenings, and that many crucial places such as school, training, friends, leisure, culture, and healthcare are perceived as difficult to access. At the same time, they described the freedom, security, and belief in the future that functioning and safe mobility would provide.

A central delivery from the project is therefore the roadmap that now shows which measures are most urgent for future choices. The work has also resulted in a book designed to spark conversations and broaden perspectives. The book contains pairs of AI-generated movie posters, where one poster visualizes an undesirable future and the other a desirable future, based on nine themes that emerged during the project: Accessibility, Cost, Freedom, Belief in the Future, AI & Digitalization, Class & Justice, Safety, Attractive Area, and Participation – a tool to keep perspectives alive in upcoming planning, citizen dialogue, and decision-making. For those who want to delve deeper and learn more about the process and implementation, there is also a summary report.

MOVE – the next big step forward

With FORMEL 1 now concluding, we move from analysis to testing solutions in reality. The newly launched project MOVE is a three-year implementation project financed by Vinnova within the national initiative Shift Sweden. The budget totals SEK 7.8 million, of which SEK 5.6 million is state funding.
– “Through the project we want to broaden the view of mobility, from being merely a transporter, to mobility becoming an enabler of fair living conditions in Sundsbruk. It is about responding to concrete needs in people’s everyday lives, and finding solutions that contribute to social, ecological, and economic sustainability,” says Johanna Bouvin.

An important part of Sundsvall’s work for equality and belief in the future

Sundsvall Municipality has long worked to strengthen social sustainability in Sundsbruk. Functioning mobility is crucial as it shapes both people’s opportunities in life and their sense of belonging in society.
– “For children, young people, and adults in Sundsbruk, access to functioning mobility is essential for managing everyday life. Ultimately, this project is about equal living conditions,” says Johanna.

From words to action

Through FORMEL 1, the project group together with residents has made visible the problems, needs, and opportunities. MOVE means that we now take the next step – and test solutions on site, in reality, together with those affected.
– “It is through collective effort that we can create a Sundsbruk where everyone has the opportunity to move freely, safely, and sustainably, on their own terms,” says Johanna Bouvin.