During the pandemic year 2020, cycling increased in Sweden.

At the same time, travel in public transport plummeted by about 42 percent compared with the previous year, according to figures from the authority Traffic Analysis.

Last year, cycling accounted for 3 per cent of the distances traveled for passenger transport and 15 per cent of the journeys.

But the numbers are a bit uncertain because cycling is difficult to measure.

"Counteracting the climate crisis"

The government is now commissioning the Swedish Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) to develop a national goal to increase cycling for all ages and socio-economic groups.

- The point is that we need to get more people to cycle and sustainable transport is a crucial part of counteracting the climate crisis.

Then it is very important to get a goal in place, says Minister of Financial Markets Åsa Lindhagen (MP).

It is cycling in urban areas that has the greatest potential to increase, according to the government.

The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency has set a goal that the proportion of passenger transport by public transport, bicycle and walking in Sweden should be at least 25 percent by 2025, in order to double in the long run, something that the government has supported.

Several municipalities and "cycling cities" have their own guidelines regarding cycling, but there is no national goal.

- If we get a goal in place, we can steer more towards stimulating cycling in different ways and see if we achieve the goal, and if we do not, we need to stimulate even more, Lindhagen says.

Risks hitting unevenly

A national target may risk hitting the country unevenly, as the conditions regarding infrastructure look different.

Lindhagen emphasizes that the work needs to take place in close dialogue with municipalities and other relevant actors.

- It is extremely important to have this dialogue.

Why do you have no goal for car traffic?

- This is part of changing society and counteracting the climate crisis, then there are investments in the national infrastructure plan both in terms of railways, roads, cycling and shipping.

When it comes to cars and car traffic, another important part is electrification, where we have taken important steps in stimulating electric cars, Åsa Lindhagen answers.

VTI's assignment must be reported no later than April 30, 2022.