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Executive summary

The Nordic countries are facing a variety of social, environmental, and economic challenges as they pursue their vision of becoming the most green, competitive, and socially sustainable region. One major arena for this work is within the transportation sector. How people move through the city—and who has access to which kinds of mobility modes—are fundamental questions that influence all three components of the Nordic Vision 2030. When it comes to urban mobility, cities in the Nordics face challenges with regard to increased spatial segregation, cost of living, and transport emissions.

To become more environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable, cities need to target the transportation sector and make a radical shift towards more sustainable modes of transport. Cycling is a key mode of sustainable urban mobility. Municipalities and regional authorities can use cycling as a crucial measure to reduce road transport emissions rapidly and effectively. Research also shows that there are many benefits of choosing the bicycle beyond mitigating climate change, such as promoting a healthier population, reducing car congestion, reducing air and noise pollution in our cities, and enabling large-scale cost savings. Furthermore, sociologists have posited that incorporating cycling into cities can improve exposure to diversity and improve levels of trust and feelings of connectedness as cyclists negotiate the street among one another. However, objectives for transitioning transport users from the private car to the bicycle must be supported by a variety of mechanisms and involve several key actors.

This paper reviews how Nordic countries are working to improving cycling via policy and planning. It takes a national-level approach to review cycling objectives in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, reviews a range of mechanisms to achieve these objectives, and identifies the key actors responsible for carrying out the work. In the discussion section, the paper identifies several findings from the review work with regards to how the Nordic countries are currently addressing cycling at the policy level:

Cycling is primarily discussed as a means for contributing to environmental goals, such as GHG emission reductions, but is occasionally discussed as a means for improving health and well-being. Much less policy discourse focuses on economic or other social benefits of cycling.
The primary method for reducing GHG emissions in the transportation sector focuses on replacing fossil fuel cars with electric-powered vehicles rather than on cycling infrastructure or spatial forms that decrease overall mobility requirements.
The Nordic countries have some distinctions with regards to how spatial planning is operationalised, which influences how cycling is prioritised and managed.
Beyond a dedicated cycling strategy, cycling objectives are often baked into other key plans and documents at the national level.
Achieving national cycling objectives requires clear communication among local, regional, and national actors and across ministries, agencies, and departments, which is often a challenge.
Political turnover can be a hindrance to gaining support for long-term cycling projects.
There are many different indicators and ways to measure success for cycling objectives in the Nordic countries.

The paper also highlights some of the developments taking place at the UN and EU levels, making cycling and its potential for improving cities and regions more visible across international policy.