Umeå, Sweden

Umeå is the largest city in northern Sweden, located in the province of Västerbotten. The city breathes culture, history and natural beauty. Umeå Municipality has a population of roughly 130 000 and is known for Umeå University, which has about 35 000 students, giving the city a rather young population.

BATS Partner Umeå Kommun has environmental goals based on increasing the number of people travelling sustainably in the city and decreasing the number travelling alone by car. With several street reconstruction projects running throughout the city, new methods for civilians to travel around the city must be considered. The goal for Umeå’s activities throughout the project will be to encourage citizens to adopt more sustainable transport methods.

Within the BATS project, Umeå Kommun will run three main pilot experiments across the city.

Communication Systems, Winter Maintenance, and Winter Scouts

The city of Umeå witnesses a steep decline in the number of cyclists and pedestrian during the winter season, partly due to high levels of snow. Umeå Municipality believes that enhanced communication with the public regarding its winter maintenance can improve cycling conditions and see an increase in numbers during winter time. Useful information includes real-time information about which bicycle roads are being plowed first, allowing pedestrians and cyclists to see active mobility as a viable option and plan their journeys accordingly.

The BATS experiment will explore how this can be done through an app and/or website, which could also include information about YRAM in Umeå. This approach includes gathering information from citizens on the winter maintenance through “Winter Scouts” and developing real-time communication systems on snow maintenance via a new website/app/platform. Additionally, this experiment will contribute to development of the process for procurement of winter maintenance equipment that includes a commitment of those working with winter maintenance to involve citizens’ opinions to a greater extent.

The overriding objective of this experiment is to improve winter maintenance services through better communication and feedback loops with citizens.

Light Projection

Due to its geographical location in Northern Sweden, Umeå experiences significantly less daylight during the winter season compared to central Europe. This presents unique challenges for ensuring traffic safety – particularly for pedestrians and cyclists – when traditional road markings are obscured by snow, darkness, or are otherwise absent.

This BATS experiment aims to explore innovative solutions for enhancing traffic safety through the use of lighting technology. One of the key features being tested is the projection of road markings directly onto the ground, using visual cues to clearly indicate pathways for pedestrians and cyclists. This approach seeks to improve visibility and safety, even during challenging winter conditions. In the future, it could be possible to apply this technology in other locations across the municipality.

The overall objective of this experiment is to increase the number of cyclists and pedestrians during the winter season by making active mobility safer. Reflective light projections are designed to increase traffic safety and provide awareness of the locations of walking and biking paths.

Campaign: Loan of e-bikes

Previous experience shows that having the opportunity to test different bike sharing schemes can lead to positive outcomes and behavioural change amongst citizens.

Through this BATS project experiment, Umea Municipality will offer citizens the opportunity to loan electric bikes, free of charge, in order to promote YRAM. The aim is to encourage citizens to try a new mode of transport relatively long-term, that hopefully results in new sustainable travel habits. This experiment will be run in collaboration with bike shops that will store and repair the e-bikes, while the Municipality will be in charge of bookings and administrative management.

The objective of this BATS experiment is to inspire a shift in attitudes towards YRAM through access to shared bike systems.

Programme Manual Online

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