Special Event Traffic Management - An analysis of public transit during Göteborgsvarvet

Göteborgsvarvet was the world's second largest half marathon or marathon race in the world in 2017.Each year the event is held in the center of Gothenburg and places a great strain on the public transport system, which includes trams, buses and ferries.The event results in many road closures throughout the city and therefore trams and buses are rerouted placing extra strain on already busy stops.Added complications include race participants collecting their race numbers across town from the race start location and the start and end of the race being in the same place.This case study examines the planning process for Göteborgsvarvet and public transit management by conducting interviews with the major organizations involved in event logistics.A survey was conducted that asked respondents about their experiences from Göteborgsvarvet 2017.General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) data were analyzed at key public transport stops associated with the special event.The results show that there is a clearly defined planning process for Göteborgsvarvet that is made easier by the fact that it is a reoccurring event, which can be improved upon each year.There are major disruptions to traffic but the event is held on a Saturday and residents tolerate the disruptions due to the special nature of the event.The city of Gothenburg uses the half marathon as a form of publicity and stands firmly behind the event branding.The survey shows how people experienced the disruption to public transport caused by the event.The GTFS data indicates that there are fewer trams in operation during Göteborgsvarvet in 2017 than there were on a normal Saturday, in agreement with the survey conducted.The case study in the very end examines the social and ethical aspects associated with hosting a half marathon, including considerations given to safety planning.The study concludes that there is a functioning planning process but that improvements could be made to public transport use during the special event.This could be achieved by more thorough data analysis through surveys and traffic data.