Since last spring, the public health authority has urged people to avoid public transport, and several retailers testify that the corona pandemic has led to increased sales of bicycles in Sweden.

But Tony Grimaldi, CEO of the Cycleurope Group - which owns brands such as Crescent and Monark - doesn't think the government has done enough to support the development. 

- If you make the right infrastructure investments now, it will be able to sustain even after corona. The most important part is better cycle paths and that there are flows in traffic that are based on the conditions of cycling. In Swedish cities you can have a bike lane that suddenly ends, it is not connected.

In several other countries in Europe, the state has made efforts to reduce the spread of infection and at the same time increase public health and reduce the climate impact.

In cities such as Milan, Brussels, Barcelona, ​​Berlin, Budapest and Paris, bicycle lanes have been widened at the expense of cars lanes and more bicycle racks have been placed.

In France, each Frenchman is offered just over SEK 500 for bicycle repairs. The state will also finance a model where employers can cover travel expenses of up to SEK 4,300 for employees who cycle to work.

Tony Grimaldi wants to urge the Swedish government to think.

- This is an opportunity. It is now that we see a popular movement.

Minister of Infrastructure Tomas Eneroth (S) answers the criticism in a written comment:

- After years of declining cycling in Sweden, the government has invested heavily in reversing the trend.

Among other things, the government has opened a new Bicycle Center for Knowledge and Research and increased funding for bicycles in the national infrastructure plan, according to the minister. Municipalities and regions can also seek funding for bicycle measures and sustainable urban environments.

- But we still have a lot to do, especially municipalities and regions need to spend significantly more resources in the future and urban planning must stop based on men and cars. I will continue to work for increased and safe cycling - and I want to see even more people choose the bike in the future.

Javascript is turned off

Javascript must be turned on to play video

Learn more about browser support

The browser is not supported

SVT does not support playback in your browser. We therefore recommend that you switch to another browser.

Learn more about browser support