Stockholm buses ever slower – despite years of efforts

A new report from the Traffic Office in the City of Stockholm shows a gradual deterioration for bus traffic average speed in Stockholm, which P4 Stockholm Be the first to report. Since 2019, public transport by bus in the inner city has gone down by 1.5 kilometers per hour, which corresponds to 7 percent deterioration. The corresponding figure in the outer city is a decline of 1.2 kilometers per hour, which means 4 percent deterioration.

The figures worry Lars Strömgren (MP), Environmental Citizens Council in Stockholm.

– We have also seen that car traffic has increased slightly during 2024. If bus traffic does not deliver and does not arrive and is not reliable then more of those who are sitting in the bus will instead choose the car. This is a problem that we get to work with, he tells P4.

Bus traffic slowness Has been a grief child for many years in Stockholm. Already in 2012 DN reported That bus 4 would be « improved from snail speed to bicycle speed ». In November 2016, it was clear that the effort had borne fruit: the average speed of the bus line had since 2011 increased by two kilometers per hour.

But Problems with slow bus traffic continuedand a few years later was introduced an attempt to increase the speed by allowing travelers to rise on at all doors. The attempt was judged to be a success – and By 2023, the decision came to be the same method to apply to all blue buses in Stockholm traffic.

« We are very impressed that the pilot project with the 4th gave such a positive result, » said the Traffic Region Council Anton Fendertert (MP).

Andreas Strömberg, Press Manager at SL, is aware of the general image of overly slow buses.

– We do not question the traffic office’s data. The Bombussians we follow up on accessibility gradually even though I do not have our own figures in front of me right now. But we share the picture that it is a challenge, he says.

A contributing reason to the fact that bus traffic has become slower in recent years can be traced to the large amount of road projects that have been, and are, ongoing around Stockholm.

– When you have had to turn off parts of, for example, the Slussen area and on the Västerbron, and that a lot of restructuring is being done as a result of other traffic projects, then you get such effects on bus traffic, he says.

Andreas Strömberg emphasizes the importance of collaboration with the City of Stockholm in order to make access optimal in the inner city.

– Our ambition is for us to gain speed. Already in August we will put in one to the bus, number 5. It will always be a challenge in Stockholm with all projects that need to be implemented. But the idea is that when you are through these projects, the situation will be better, he says.