Swedish traffic systems
the inspiration for change
Bengt Holmberg, Professor in Traffic Planning at the Faculty of
Engineering at Lund University (LTH), is responsible Sida’s
international training programme on “Urban Transport”. During the three
years the programme has been running he has met participants from all
over the world. The training is designed to give new actual knowledge
but another important aim is to stimulate ideas by showing good examples
and solutions.
“Sweden is a pioneer in many areas connected
with traffic and transport. We have a lot to give in the field of
traffic safety. Another area is for example the organising of public
transport, where we have today reached a point that many others aspire
to reach, with central procurement from private suppliers, coordinated
fare and ticket systems etc.”
During the weeks of training
in Sweden theoretical education is mixed with study visits. Stockholm
Transport (SL) and a private subcontractor have been visited, as has the
Stockholm Traffic Information Centre. A lecture has also been given on
congestion charges and one of the city’s toll stations has been visited.
In
Copenhagen the participants studied how the building of the Örestad
Metro had been financed by selling land to developers, a solution that
may be practical in countries with limited financial resources.
In
Malmö lanes and safety solutions for pedestrians and cyclists were
studied, a subject that is of great interest in many developing
countries, where many of those killed or injured in traffic are
pedestrians and cyclists.
“The participants’ areas of interest
vary according to the needs of their respective countries but I notice
that they respond with a lot of ideas. What the participants learn from
each other is also a very important part of the education; many problems
recur even if the conditions differ between countries.”
Last modified 20 Dec 2007
Lectures and study visits alternate with study visits for four intensive weeks in Lund. The participants then present an idea for a project to be implemented in the participant’s own country.
Bengt Holmberg has been professor of traffic planning since 1994 and works at the Department of Technology and Society
Study visits to the Örestad and Copenhagen Metro.