Rural and business groups are pressing Denmark’s new by-, land- og transportminister, Signe Munk (SF), to create a dedicated state funding pool for carpooling in rural areas.
DR reported on August 25 that Landdistrikternes Fællesråd expects the government to set aside money for carpooling, known in Danish as samkørsel. Chair Steffen Damsgaard told DR that a state pool is important, and an obvious priority when next year’s finance bill is negotiated.
Munk declined to be interviewed by DR and did not say whether she will create such a pool. In a written reply, she said far more flexible public transport solutions are needed outside the large cities. She added that an analysis has been commissioned to examine how new solutions can be brought into play.
According to figures from the Transport Ministry’s expert committee cited by DR, timetable hours in rural districts have fallen by 13.4 percent since 2016. Around 180,000 residents live more than 2.8 kilometers from the nearest stop. Damsgaard said carpooling has potential as a combination with fixed bus routes.
Hakon Iversen, branch director at DI Transport, told DR that Dansk Industri expects the new government to promote carpooling far more actively. He proposed that a state pool start at 30 million kroner, arguing it could quickly improve mobility for young people, commuters and companies. A Nabogo press release distributed by Ritzau in October 2025 noted that SF, then in opposition, proposed up to 50 million kroner a year over five years.
The carpooling company Nabogo has agreements with just over 20 municipalities and regions, DR reported. The company is also in talks with further municipalities that want to promote ride-sharing but lack the funds.
Regional trial and bus passengers
Region Midtjylland has just concluded a two-year trial with carpooling and considers it a success, according to DR. Drivers received 10 kroner per passenger on trips longer than 10 kilometers. The evaluation showed that bus routes near schools with the most carpooling lost more passengers than other routes in the region.
dknyt reported in July 2026 that the region has set aside four million kroner to continue and better target the effort in the 2026/27 school year. Damsgaard told DR that carpooling can cannibalize some existing public transport, but may also lead more people to use buses one way.
Why the pressure comes now
Earlier in the summer, the government allocated 100 million kroner to strengthen public transport in rural districts. TV2 Øst reported in July 2026 that the money targets areas with poor service, for projects such as on-demand buses and volunteer-run minibuses. DR noted that transport companies and municipalities can apply for the funds in the autumn.
