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The Swedish city of Helsingborg has just joined Cities & Regions for Cyclists, a network that brings together some forty cities and regions, mainly in Europe, actively working to promote cycling as a mode of transport and leisure. The opportunity to take stock of this city which is today an example in the promotion of cycling on a daily basis.
With just over 150,000 inhabitants, Helsingborg is one of the ten largest Swedish cities. For years, the municipality has been campaigning to promote the practice of cycling, both professionally during the week and for relaxation at the weekend. This policy is now bearing fruit, with infrastructure and a network perfectly suited to cycling in town, in complete safety.
To promote commuting, the city encourages employers to promote cycling to work with their employees. The town hall has also set up a program encouraging the use of bicycles rather than cars as a mode of transport in the city center, with very encouraging feedback. Finally, those who wish can also rent a cargo bike free of charge for three weeks. According to those responsible for this initiative, almost a quarter of users of this service have subsequently purchased their own electric cargo bike.
In terms of infrastructure, a new car park that can accommodate up to 540 bicycles is to be completed in the spring, right next to the central station. Last year, the city redesigned two new bike streets in the downtown area. Their sidewalks have been widened, lighting improved and more greenery has been put in place to make it more pleasant to walk there, at any time of the day or night. On these axes, vehicles cannot travel at a speed greater than 30 km/h and, above all, the driver of a motorized vehicle must adapt his speed to that of the bicycles traveling in front of him. Note that in 2021, a bridge for pedestrians and cyclists was also inaugurated in the center of Helsingborg, allowing them to reach train, bus and ferry stations in a few minutes in complete safety.
In terms of tourism, Helsingborg is also at the forefront, since Sweden’s first national cycle route, the Kattegattleden, starts from this city. As a reminder, this is a cycle path of almost 400 km which stretches along the Swedish coast, up to Gothenburg.