Participation for Sustainable Urban Freight Transport Systems : A Case Study of Freight Receivers in the City of Gothenburg

Sammanfattning: This thesis is a case study research that look into the difficulty in engaging freight receivers in initiatives related to urban freight transport. The aim of the paper is to investigate how participatory processes could be formed for more successful outcomes and how the freight receivers could become more engaged in the processes. By conducting a qualitative research where primarily interviews with freight receivers and other concerned stakeholder were made, it was possible to distinguish differences and similarities in views and attitudes toward participation in freight related initiatives. The interviewed freight receivers were located in two different areas in the central business district in the city of Gothenburg, Sweden. In one area, the freight receivers have been included in discussions with the traffic and public transport authority regarding a newly implemented restriction for heavy freight vehicles, and thus have experience with participatory processes. These results show that the freight receivers appreciate the possibility to be a part of the discussion even though they are sceptic towards their possibility to influence on decisions. In the other area, the authority is planning on potentially implement the same restrictions, but as they have not started this process, no stakeholders have yet been included in discussions. Thus, the expectations and attitude towards participation in such a process could be studied among freight receivers in this area. Results in this area show that medium sized business, based on turnover, are more enthusiastic in participating meanwhile smaller business and businesses that are part of a chain store or a franchise are less interested in participating. By comparing the views and opinions between these groups with the interview with the authorities, results show that freight receivers and the traffic and public transport authority in Gothenburg have similar views on the importance of participatory processes, but they differ in their views on what influence the freight receivers have in these processes. By analysing the results with the theoretic concepts of participation, engagement and communication it was possible to identify issues in the case that must be considered in order to establish more rewarding participatory processes. It is concluded that freight receivers must be involved already in the process of defining the problem with urban freight transport to close the gap between how the freight receivers and the authorities experience the participatory process. This would enable finding solutions that considerall interests and thus have higher chance of long-lasting implementation rather that creating conflicts on power relations. Further it is stated that with the help of a combination of a scalon plan, quality circle and representative participation is possible to create an altruistic value in participating which could increase the will to engage in participatory processes and creating more sustainable urban freight transport systems.