When cycling in Sweden you often share the road with cars. It is always wise to choose a route where traffic is not as intense or where there are plenty of bike lanes. Then it is possible to compare with cars if you choose the right traffic roads and follow bike paths via map or signs.
When you go on a trip on a bicycle, it almost always happens in a dialogue with a map. It is inherent in the nature of things that one must orient oneself. Either using an analog map or a digital in the mobile phone. Maybe you follow one of the major bike paths that Mälardal trail or Kattegat trail. In the former case you cycle on "ordinary" roads suitable for cycling, in the latter case partly on a more custom built track just for cycling. Both are signposted and fairly easy to follow, but the Kattegatt Trail is also more elaborate in that case. It could also be that you follow one of our cycling trips where you use a route via a GPX file that you read with an app on your mobile, or that you have chosen the route yourself and are looking for suitable bike paths on your own map.
Most often have to share the road with cars
One of the exceptions is that you can follow a purely cycle path or cycle path over long distances. The amazing Klarälvsbanan is an exception with nine miles of asphalt without cars right through the magnificent nature of Värmland. In far-sighted municipalities, there may be bike lanes over long distances, but when you get outside of what is considered an urban area, you are usually referred to asphalt and gravel roads that you share with cars. It is simply what Sweden looks like. Sometimes there is a wide road where you can cycle, sometimes none at all. Sometimes there are few cars passing, sometimes the traffic is more intense. A large trail like the Mälardalsleden trail is usually excellent with signs in strategic places, while a smaller trail that Ekerö trail it is not. Then you have to be on the map, and it is not always the locals know how the bike path goes.
Information about manager at Sweden by Bike
Feel free to read on our website about the trail you are going to ride on and you will get some background information on what is waiting. The roads where very heavy traffic can be avoided, even if there are roads. Same with high traffic major roads. A rule of thumb could be that if the road has a number, it might be an idea to think about when it comes to the route. Try to find alternative routes and look at a good bike map like Norstedts. As a rule, it is worth a detour to avoid intensive traffic. Then you can actually match cars if you pay attention and stay to the side of the road. It is a safety to have a helmet and of course it is important to look carefully. If you are cycling with children, it is of course even more important to choose safe roads and meet as few cars as possible.
Assumed three types of joints
We asked Norstedt's bicycle map expert Pär Aspenberg how they go about preparing a bicycle map with the bike trails excellent.
- In 2011, when we built up the Bicycle Map's cycle paths, we gathered information on the already existing longways with national and medium longways with regional and also some short routes with local distance. We also collaborated with the Bicycle Promotion and their various local circuits around the country to expand with bicycle routes in the map. In addition to Bicycle Promotion, we have collaborated with municipalities, their tourism organizations, various bicycle organizations, private players locally and so on to create attractive bicycle tours, says Pär Aspenberg.
Norstedts also collects information from the Swedish Transport Administration and in some cases makes on-the-spot checks. However, it is not possible to check everything continuously.
- The bicycle map contains over 550 bicycle routes covering almost half of Sweden. We are not the leader of the joints and are not in any way responsible for the joints physically, what we do is that we describe them in map form.
Ongoing maintenance
According to Pär Aspenberg, the criteria for a route in the Bicycle Map is that it should like to pass sights and fine nature, fit for different target groups of cyclists, preferably walk in a loop so that it becomes a round trip and be road-safe.
- For example, we avoid including a road where there is too heavy traffic, narrow roads or roads with middle rails, ie so-called 2 + 1 road. We have also highlighted good paths that tie together different loops to provide guidance for longer and alternative own rounds. The routes should preferably also be described online, as at Sweden by Bike, or in printed form so that you can obtain information about the trip in advance. Then I think for example about sights, difficulty and target group.
The bike map has now been in place for six years with updates and reprints each year. Each year, Norstedts receives tips and corrections from users and retailers.
- There is an ongoing "maintenance work" regarding the quality and timeliness of the Bicycle Map. We also have information on our website and Facebook page if there are changes in security or otherwise at one point during the year.