Creating a website for optimal trip planning

Summary

By providing comprehensive trip planning information in a user-friendly online format, Stockholm aimed to promote smarter transport choices and reduce congestion on the city’s roads.

Implementing sustainable mobility

As part of the city’s efforts to improve its public transport system, attract more passengers and achieve a shift away from private car use, a web page was created to optimise trip planning.

At the time of measure implementation, www.trafiken.nu was a well-used and appreciated website, covering the entire road network as well as public transport services and cycling. The TRENDSETTER project contributed to its development and improvement by increasing inputs to the system and attracting new users. Importantly, the site provides information on all transport modes, since many passengers switch between means of transportation in the course of their journeys. Data are received from the traffic management centres of Stockholm Transport, the City of Stockholm and the regional branch of the Swedish Road Administration, as well as the police.

Specific objectives were to:

• facilitate smart choices concerning mode of transportation;
• encourage people to consider alternative modes of transportation for their daily travel needs; and
• provide real-time information on traffic conditions in the greater Stockholm area.

Progress

Measure activities were carried out in order to:

• introduce information on road maintenance and road works, major accidents on the road network, major traffic disruptions and available parking places;
• provide real-time information on public transport services;
• make information available online and via mobile phone; and
• continuously evaluate the website.

The Swedish Transport Administration developed the services for the website, including augmentation of the current system with information about the public transport system, the bicycle network, and available parking spaces and fees.

The trip planner was launched and personal digital assistants (PDAs) were tested to provide data input to the system and to provide drivers with information.

Outcomes

The improvements made to the website www.trafiken.nu during the TRENDSETTER project, in terms of content, design, structure and usability, enabled a greater number of people to obtain better information on which to base their travel decisions.