Female bicycle lane symbols – Norrmalm, Sweden - Atlas Obscura

Female bicycle lane symbols

Norrmalm, Sweden

 

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While bicycles are not as ingrained into culture like they are in the Netherlands and Denmark, they are still a significant mode of transportation in Sweden. So much so that specially designated bicycle lanes can be found even in smaller towns. However, the way that these lanes are marked had become a source of discussion recently.


Signage and markings have been used to display a cities identity or support for something for a long time now. In Uppsala a connection to a beloved book is shown (https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/pelle-svanslos-crosswalk ), in New York the origin of scrabble (https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/birthplace-of-scrabble-sign ) is shown and In Stockholm and several other places same sex traffic crossings are featured https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/samkonade-trafikljusen . The newest movement in this direction is the so-called 'gender equal bicycle lane', the brain child of traffic councilor Daniel Helldén.


The idea came from the fact that the majority of cyclists in Sweden are female, but that despite that the symbol for the bicycle is the 'male bike'. For this reason, the councilor has decided that from now on the female, low framed, bike will be used together with the transitional high framed male variant.


The decision was not without controversy, mostly because the female bicycle has not been used by women exclusively for decades. In fact in most other countries this model of bike is called a city bike, appreciated by both genders for being easier to get on and off when compared to a racing bike. Likewise many women use high framed male bikes, muddling the distinction even further. 


Only time will tell if these bicycles truly will be used throughout the country or if the symbolism will remain constrained to the roundabout. 


 


https://www-mitti-se.translate.goog/nyheter/stockholm-ska-fa-jamstallda-cykelbanor/repvfq!4wWdlomHsYilOaIiuFWX@w/?_x_tr_sl=sv&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=op,wapp


 


 

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