Since the middle of the 20th century the car has been a permanent focus in urban planning. However, in recent years, the negative consequences of the car have become more obvious and there has been a shift towards a more sustainable approach. To reach the sustainable goals more people need to bicycle or walk instead of driving. In Sweden, it is the municipalities that have the responsibility for the bicycle planning, however a lot of focus still shines on the car.
The aim of this study was to analyze and describe how Swedish municipalities promote cycling in their urban planning, focusing on the municipalities of Hudiksvall and Håbo. One municipality that had been praised for their bicycle planning and one which had got some critique. The study is based on both interviews with people working with planning at each municipality as well as planning document regarding bicycling. After analyzing the material, it emerged that Håbo already has a well-developed bicycle network, especially in the urban areas. While the bicycle network in Hudiksvall is quite deficient. Regardless of the different stages the of bicycle infrastructure development, they both face similar problems. The car norm. Therefore, both municipalities have to actively work to get their citizens to choose the bicycle over the car. Furthermore, both municipalities struggle with the financial support that is needed to promote bicycling instead of taking the driving.