Mobility ranking 2025: Karlstad

Karlstad (SE)  is actively transforming its mobility landscape to promote sustainable transport and reduce car dependency. The city has expanded its bicycle network by four kilometres in the past year, creating more seamless connections between neighbourhoods and the city centre. With around 20% of trips made by bicycle—particularly for trips under three kilometres—cycling has become a central pillar in the city’s mobility strategy. Mikael Haster, the Environmental Coordinator for Sustainable Transport, explains that the municipality is revising its traffic plan and developing a new strategy, reflecting ongoing efforts to shift travel behaviour toward more environmentally friendly modes.

According to a 2023 travel survey, car usage decreased from 59% in 2014 to 53%, a change partly driven by long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic which led to increased remote working and subsequently a reduced number of motorised daily trips. Karlstad’s geography, marked by the Klarälven river and delta, presents both opportunities and challenges for mobility planning. While the natural setting adds to the city's appeal, the waterways act as barriers that complicate infrastructure development. In addition, traffic congestion has started to appear in certain areas of the city due to the growing urban development.

To address these challenges, Karlstad is investing in infrastructure that improves accessibility and encourages public transport use. A new travel centre is being developed to integrate a range of modes of transport more efficiently, including improved cycling and public transport facilities, with dedicated lanes and signal prioritisation being introduced to keep buses on schedule. The bus rapid transit (BRT) network is a major focus, with existing lines passing through key parts of the city and further expansions planned, including a line to the university supported by national urban environment agreements.

Looking ahead, Karlstad aims to further support and enhance multimodal travel by integrating mobility services such as bike sharing within the new travel centre, although plans are still in development. However, regulatory constraints are leading to slow progress—specifically, current rules limiting the Swedish Transport Administration’s ability to fund behavioural initiatives. Haster expresses hope that ongoing governmental reviews will enable more flexible funding models in the future, which could accelerate the shift toward sustainable urban mobility.

Author: Carolina Ramos

Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.