Cycling UK Forum

I had a lot of time in the saddle this weekend, cycling to a friends seaside house 160km south and then back again. I varied the route a bit and on the way back went through the centre of the regional centre, (the city of) Kalmar. It's a city of just under 40,000 people (which for these parts is a large conurbation!) and sprawls along the coast somewhat. Lots of water within the city too.

I'd plotted the route with plotaroute and had the guidance set to "bike" rather than road.

About 5-6km before the city, I was routed onto a lovely, dedicated cycle path, though it was closer to a road. No traffic to contend with, a few other cyclists and the occasional person on foot (in their own lane).

And that's where I stayed. Apart from the occasional and very short stint on a road, I was entirely on my own cycle transport network for a total of about 18km. You could see as you were going along all manner of intersections where you, as a cyclist, would be able to go without having to share a route with a car.

Additionally, the surfaces were excellent. I was on my gravel bike, so that actually wasn't so important, but it was smooth asphalt throughout and allowed easy progress at 30-35kph.

I generally avoid cycle networks (or at least have done in the UK) as they are stunted and unfit for purpose. I would however, be entirely happy to use Kalmar's again as it was superb.

As a foot note, we don't have anything like that in our village as there simply isn't the population to warrant it.

And as an aside, here is a photo of a spot I chose for a quick swim in Kalmar itself:

my experience of riding in Kalmar back in 2019 was a bit different. The old town and dock area wasn't exactly bike friendly and surfaces on the bike 'paths' varied from cinder to horrible cobbles. It was better on the wide boulevards of the commercial district - i was looking for a decent bike shop, but i wouldn't say it was anymore or indeed as pleasant as eg, Bristol!

Don't get me wrong, much of the riding i did in south Sweden was on well surfaced and signed dedicated bike paths but the Netherlands or even Germany are more consistent.

Jon in Sweden wrote: ↑3 Jul 2023, 7:53am About 5-6km before the city, I was routed onto a lovely, dedicated cycle path, though it was closer to a road. No traffic to contend with, a few other cyclists and the occasional person on foot (in their own lane).

And that's where I stayed. Apart from the occasional and very short stint on a road, I was entirely on my own cycle transport network for a total of about 18km. You could see as you were going along all manner of intersections where you, as a cyclist, would be able to go without having to share a route with a car.

Additionally, the surfaces were excellent. I was on my gravel bike, so that actually wasn't so important, but it was smooth asphalt throughout and allowed easy progress at 30-35kph.

I generally avoid cycle networks (or at least have done in the UK) as they are stunted and unfit for purpose. I would however, be entirely happy to use Kalmar's again as it was superb.

Nice photo! I always find it deeply upsetting to see stuff like that. Not because of the routes themselves, absolutely not.

It's coming back to the UK and seeing how everything is utterly woeful in comparison.
Never ridden in Sweden but France, Spain, Belgium - miles and miles on beautiful smooth roads, excellent cycle infrastructure, considerate drivers, well-marked tourist routes...

And then you get back to the UK and have a mish-mash of poorly signed bits of paint, badly surfaced tracks and random bits of narrow kerb-lined "lanes" that stop and start randomly, go nowhere in particular and are often covered in broken glass and drain covers.

foxyrider wrote: ↑3 Jul 2023, 10:03am my experience of riding in Kalmar back in 2019 was a bit different. The old town and dock area wasn't exactly bike friendly and surfaces on the bike 'paths' varied from cinder to horrible cobbles. It was better on the wide boulevards of the commercial district - i was looking for a decent bike shop, but i wouldn't say it was anymore or indeed as pleasant as eg, Bristol!

Don't get me wrong, much of the riding i did in south Sweden was on well surfaced and signed dedicated bike paths but the Netherlands or even Germany are more consistent.

I don't doubt that they're better in Germany and the Netherlands. I'm half German and even 25 years ago, cycling as a kid, the cycle path network was superb.

I didn't go into the old town, rather skirting around it. I can imagine that space and heritage is the constraint there.