Within the Nordic Cycle Network, planners and practitioners discuss critical topics to improve cycling conditions in their cities and regions. This memo is the first in a series of publications in which we dive into the literature and policies concerning these topics. The aim is to provide practitioners and policymakers, as well as researchers and other actors, with insights into the academic discourse, shed light on how Nordic cities and regions are working with the topic, highlight useful tools and initiatives, identify ongoing challenges facing practitioners today, and assist with making informed decisions. In this memo, we explore noteworthy examples and challenges of creating cohesive regional cycling networks. Extended cycling paths, like cycle superhighways, can accommodate commuters and support local as well as regional mobility. However, municipalities have different priorities, resources, and conditions for cycling, and working across administrative borders to establish high-quality infrastructure requires strong collaboration, commitment, and support. The knowledge curated for this memo uses inputs from an online workshop held in September 2025 among the Nordic Cycle Network, complemented by a literature review and a policy review. In the online workshop, regions with highly detailed strategies shared their experiences in developing cycle superhighways, which served as the basis for presenting good practices.
In the literature review, we found that regional cycling and superhighways research focusses on the value of cycle highways, key attractiveness features of the infrastructure that enable efficient and safe travel for cyclists, the role of electric bicycles, and key principles and methods for developing high-quality regional networks. Based on the policy review, we found that cycling highways are more commonly discussed in regional strategies, while local strategies highlight the need to collaborate across municipalities. Financing cycle superhighways is frequently mentioned as a barrier for effective planning. There is also a cross-country initiative in Southern Sweden and Denmark for developing greater regional connectivity. As the most long-standing and developed organisation for supporting cycle superhighway work, the Office for Cycle Superhighways in Denmark provides several noteworthy practices, namely their organisational structure in collaboration with municipalities and the region, and through the tools they offer to support regional cycling developments. Despite progress in recent years, especially in Denmark and Sweden, ongoing challenges include funding concerns, communication about superhighways, conflicts of interests regarding land use and improving network fragmentation, and obtaining long-term commitment and support for the work.