Strong political interest in Living Labs in Riksten

Last Monday Riksten was visited by interested politicians from several Stockholm municipalities.

Politicians are shown the local electric bike pool in Riksten. Photo: Magnus Atterfors

"It is important to review old planning programmes so that new knowledge and environmental thinking are included in new detailed plans." Henrik Juhlin (Chair of the Nature and Urban Environment Committee, Huddinge)

"It's good that research projects like this are done in real life to see what actually works and what doesn't." Lisa Hellsing (Political Secretary Mp Botkyrka)

Robert Nibelius (Chairman of the Technical Committee, Danderyd) on study visit to Living lab Riksten — "The availability of mobility solutions must be good, so that citizens 'know' that the means of transport is there when they want to use it." Robert Nibelius (Chairman of the Technical Committee, Danderyd)

Politicians are shown the mobility hub in Riksten. Photo: Magnus Atterfors

Published Sep 13, 2023

Last Monday afternoon, politicians from Tyresö, Botkyrka, Solna, Huddinge, Nacka and Danderyd municipalities, made an appreciated study visit to Mistra SAMS Living Lab Riksten in Botkyrka municipality, to get new ideas on sustainable everyday travel in semi-urban environments.

An interested group of politicians from the Stockholm region gathered at the Tullinge commuter train station to share a ride to Riksten friluftsstad.

The purpose of the visit was to learn about the unique research initiatives that are underway together with residents in the area.

During a tour of Riksten, which is a residential area under development in Botkyrka municipality, the visiting politicians met with the researchers and learnt from their research projects.

Together with researchers and participants, the visitors discussed digitalisation and other solutions for sustainable mobility that are being tested by the residents. The solutions include a local electric bike pool, electric scooters, and expanded public transport with ride-sharing taxis. All solutions are easily booked through an app.

A mobile phone with the SAMSAS app. — The SAMSAS app allows participants to plan their journeys, book transport and different types of bicycles. Photo: Magnus Atterfors

Simple solutions

The study visit was an opportunity to discuss what conclusions can be drawn from the research projects in Riksten.

What are the conditions for working towards more sustainable everyday travel in similar neighbourhoods? During the study visit, the link between this type of initiative at the local level and the overall design of housing and transport infrastructures, was discussed.

The solutions for shared mobility in Riksten have been designed so that experience and ideas can easily be transferred to interested municipalities wanting to reduce emissions from mobility.

Text: Jenny Rosen

The Living Lab approach

The research projects explore possible future prototypes in close cooperation with citizens, market actors and public planners.

Citizens living in the neighbourhood become co-producers of the research, as they test how different solutions work for them in everyday life.

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