The route starts at Blå havet, continues along Corson to Campushallen and then follows the bus-only street back to the start. Eight bus stops have been set up along the route, and the complete journey takes 10-15 minutes, depending on such factors as how crowded the street is and whether the bus meets any obstacles.
Staff onboard to monitor the driving
The route is serviced seven days a week during the daytime, but does not follow an exact timetable. It will also be adapted for accessibility, to be able to carry a wheelchair.
The bus does not have a driver, but a customer-service agent will always be onboard who monitors the driving. Travel on the buses, which have a capacity of 10-13 passengers, will be free of charge, and they will not be part of the ordinary public transport network.
The buses are one component in a research collaboration looking at sustainable mobility within the framework for the strategic partnership between LiU and Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI). The Elin project is a collaboration between Linköping University, VTI, Linköping Municipality, Östgötatrafiken, Science Park Mjärdevi, RISE, Transdev and Akademiska hus.
The buses started service on 6 December 2019. Come and take a ride into the future! More information is available at the project website: ridethefuture.se
Translated by George Farrants