Linköping focuses on autonomous mobility with “Ride the Future”

On the Valla campus and in the innovative district of Vallastaden, in Linköping in Sweden, the future of public transport is no longer a distant idea, it is already circulating. Since March 2020, two autonomous electric minibuses, affectionately named Busse and RuLla, have been crisscrossing the streets offering a technological and sustainable transport solution. A research and innovation project with a promising name: “Ride the future”.

A living laboratory for tomorrow's mobility

Operated by Transdev, in partnership with several actors in the public sector: from research to technology suppliers, this initiative aims to demonstrate the interest of autonomous vehicles in the transport ecosystem. More than a simple service, “Ride the Future” is a platform that makes it possible to test new forms of mobility, a place where research meets the daily lives of users.

Since September 2024, a silent but decisive revolution has taken place: the service is now working On demand, thanks to the software solution of Padam Mobility. Passengers can book their trips in a few clicks, via an intuitive application, and choose from more than 50 physical or virtual stopping points divided between Linköping University and Vallastaden.

Accessibility, flexibility and sustainability at the heart of the project

The project pursues several concrete ambitions:

• Improving accessibility to transport for all, in particular on so-called first and last mile routes.
  
  
• Reducing dependence on private cars, by promoting a shared, reliable and free alternative.
  
  
• Encourage the integration of new technologies of transport in rapidly evolving peri-urban areas

• And of course, support research, by offering scientists a unique field of experimentation to study the behavior of autonomous vehicles in real conditions as well as the acceptance of users with regard to this new form of mobility.
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The service is free, open to all, and supervised by an on-board safety driver. A subtle balance between technological innovation and human confidence.

A participatory and inclusive dynamic

Behind this technological showcase, the human dimension remains central. The name of the two minibuses, Busse and RuLla, was chosen after a competition organized with schoolchildren from the region, recalling the local and community roots of the project.

Today, nearly 19,000 passengers have already taken on these futuristic vehicles. Notable fact: 97% of trips are booked via the app Padam Mobility, a sign of strong public support for this flexible and digitized mode of transport.
As Tobias Broman, actor on the operator side, points out: “The passengers love the service, and the app is easy to use. Now we have more regulars, passengers use it now more for needed trips, rather than a novelty trip.” Proof that this innovative offer meets a real need for mobility in the region.

A model for other cities?

“Ride the Future” is not just a Swedish project: it is a strong signal sent to cities around the world. By combining autonomous vehicles, electrification, on-demand service and regional collaboration, Linköping is charting a path to smoother, greener, and smarter mobility.

The future of public transport is in progress and in Linköping, it is already rolling.

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