You might already know there are lots of bicycles here in Lund, from my SoFoBoMo book. Thing is that the ones I shot were merely the tip of an iceberg. Hm, that was a poor analogy, since these are melting while the bicycles here in Lund are rather increasing in volume. Or is it a good one, since the more of us who choose the bicycle, the less meltwater..? I don’t know, the tip of the iceberg has a negative feel to it.
Well, to literally cut the crap, BBC noticed this as well, which was about everything I wanted to say with this post. Many words for something not even originating from me, let’s hope all verbal noise not makes Internet melt as well.
Ove, it is at least a good feeling to live in a city where bicycles have a place in the daily traffic. Here in Munich we are fighting really for every inch that gets assigned to bicycle lanes as it must be torn out of the iron grip of the car lobby. But every publication including a Sofobomo can be a brick to build a more sustainable traffic system.
Interesting. It took 40 years to get this far. It’s good that your people and politicians are in favor of it. Further, it’s great that it is a small town. Very cool. I couldn’t imagine it happening here, neither could I imagine riding my bicycle 15 miles, or 24 Km each way to work. It would certainly be healthy for me, but I’d need a serious shower when I got there.
We also have folks who commute about 60 or 80 miles one way (96 – 130 Km)! That would make for a very, very, long day.
Markus, I think your situation in Munich is similar to what they have in Stockholm, or other, bigger Swedish towns.
Paul, this is possible since this is a small town with, I think, some 110.000 habitants. With your distances, I wouldn’t take the bicycle either.
110,000 is a small town? That is more than the whole county I live in by a bunch. I think PT has about 9,000 people in it, and it is the biggest town in the whole county. Big bicycle town though and there is a bike trail that runs all the way to PA 40+ miles away as well as trails all through the town. Still need a motor if I’m going to be on two wheels
Well, most towns in Sweden have less then 10.000 people, but I rarely refer to these as towns…..but they are, I guess. They become villages at a certain size, but I don’t know where that line would be drawn. And hey, there are nice cruising bikes for guys like you, nowadays.
So Lund beats Göteborg? How disappointing…!
Well, my feeling is that Sweden (or the Netherlands, for that matter) could be real role models for public transport and commuting.
Yeah, I sure Lund beats Gothenburg regarding bicycles, but not regarding commuting means. I would have loved to have the trams also here.