Gothenburg shows how buses and trams can live in peace

A trip to Sweden’s second city showed Dr Bob Tebb how buses and trams can co-exist and offered lessons for the UK

Dr Bob Tebb is chair of BRTuk. He is also operations technical manager for First UK Bus. BRTuk is an organisation which seeks to raise the profile of, and develop a centre of excellence in, Bus Rapid Transit.

Dr Bob Tebb is chair of BRTuk. He is also operations technical manager for First UK Bus. BRTuk is an organisation which seeks to raise the profile of, and develop a centre of excellence in, Bus Rapid Transit.

Double-articulated buses running along a BRT corridor in Gothenburg

Double-articulated buses running along a BRT corridor in Gothenburg

Recently I was in Gothenburg for a transport conference. I had been there 16 years ago (in connection with the then looming rail privatisation), but what had really stuck in my mind from that visit was how extensive were the lightly-physically segregated tram lanes throughout the city, especially in the central area. Even more significantly the central area ones in particular were shared with buses. Cycles were provided for – but in separate lanes, often shared with local access...