Unheard voices for the future of mobility in Ljustadalen-Sundsbruk

The project FORMEL1 - Unheard Voices for the Mobility Richness of the Future aims to create action among a wide range of decision-makers by developing a stakeholder-led vision and action plan for the future of mobility in Ljustadalen-Sundsbruk, Sundsvall. The project explores addresses the challenges faced by socio-economically vulnerable areas, such as high unemployment, lack of services and insufficient infrastructure, which risk reinforcing social exclusion.

Through innovative methods such as foresight methodology, norm walks and focus groups, the project collects insights and stories from target groups that are often marginalised in urban planning   decision making processes, such as young people and women with a foreign background. These groups often rely on public transport while these groups often heavily rely on public transport as the only option available to them to meet their mobility needs, they are often unbut risk not being heard in standard municipal dialogue methods such as travel surveys and consultations. The project will visualise future scenarios - both utopian and dystopian that will form the basis of a dialogue with local decision-makers.

The vision of the project is to create a more fair, inclusive attractive and sustainable  mobility system that integrates shared mobility into a holistic system. It aims to increase accessibility, quality of life and social cohesion while promoting ecological sustainability. By lifting unheard voices and building skills around inclusive processes, the project aims at developing knowledge on how mobility poverty can be addressed, contributes to the transition towards a fossil-free    and resource-conscious society.help to facilitate life in vulnerable neighbourhoods, improve livelihood opportunities and increase the attractiveness of the area.

The City of Sundsvall, Din Tur and the RISE research institute are project partners in FORMEL1, which has received SEK 1.2 million in funding through the innovation program Shift Sweden. 

The aim of the project is to develop an action plan   that is anchored with local actors and decision-makers and that strengthens the attractiveness of the area and the equal conditions of residents. By focusing on vulnerable groups and redefining accessibility, the project aims to turn the mobility poverty in the area in into mobility wealth that is  a both socially and ecologically sustainable way.