This thesis deals with the transition to fossil-free (fuel) passenger transport in rural areas, highlighting the rural inhabitants’ perspective. More specifically, it focuses on how preconditions for rural inhabitants can be met, and what support is needed for rural inhabitants to make the transition from a bottom-up perspective. The environment for transition in rural areas is challenging, with significant accessibility issues. There is a lack of public alternatives, and car dependency is high. There are also challenges in terms of ensuring a transition that is socially sustainable and ensures sustainable accessibility. Alternatives to the fossil-fuel car are essential but, in the context of low populations, it has proven hard to make these alternatives viable. The electric car also stand out as a socio-economic privilege, as only some perceive they can afford it.

The thesis focuses on the two northernmost regions in Sweden, Norrbotten and Västerbotten, where both limiting factors and enablers are identified. Västerbotten and Norrbotten do not represent the ‘ordinary countryside’ but rather an extreme environment, at least from a European perspective. Belonging to Europe’s northernmost region, with the lowest population density, the area presents a very challenging context. Extreme conditions need to be addressed to respond to challenges in these areas, and it is not enough that a transition occurs in more ‘ordinary’ rural areas: change is needed even within the toughest locations.

In general, the transition from using fossil-based fuels to fossil-free fuels is not the only issue involved in the process. For inhabitants in rural areas, the transition involves change in several ways. It encompasses adjusting from mainly personal responsibility and private transport to more sharing and dependency on others. The transition also involves a change in planning strategies, sometimes requiring more planning for travel. This means a change in terms of technology but also behaviour, from one to several modes of transport. It also requires changes in risk planning and how safety measures should be handled. All of these issues need to be addressed to bring about a transition that ensures accessibility for rural inhabitants.

In order to bring about such change successfully, the transition has to be seen from the perspective of already existing accessibility challenges. Key to addressing overall accessibility is making sure there is sufficient accessibility alongside the transition, and search for functional and attractive alternatives. Making the transition possible necessitates a diverse series of solutions, both transport-related but also beyond the mode of transportation, including reduced travel, digital services and enhanced local services. This project has also identified several other key factors that are important considerations in the development and implementation of a diverse set of transport solutions and other accessibility-related measures: enhancing the motivation for fossil-free travel, strengthening collaboration within local and personal communities, working to improve perceived opportunities and adaptability to fossil-free alternatives, supporting and nurturing positive expectations and anticipations regarding the transition, and improving physical proximity to essential services.