This second publication in a series of cycle-planning memos explores how Nordic cities and regions use data, communication, and political advocacy to support decision-making and long-term commitment to cycling.
The memo reviews recent academic research and Nordic policy approaches to show how municipalities collect and use cycling data in practice. It covers common methods such as traffic counts, surveys on cycling behaviour and perceived safety, and accident statistics, and explains how these data are used to support planning, communication, and funding decisions. It examines how cities use before-and-after measurements, visualisation tools, and monitoring frameworks to demonstrate impact, manage expectations, and maintain political support for cycling.
In addition, the memo highlights noteworthy practices including the City of Helsinki’s efforts and tools. It finally addresses shared challenges, including limited analytical capacity, prioritising data collection within constrained budgets, and responding to political and public resistance to reallocating road space.
The memo is intended for planners, policymakers, and practitioners seeking practical insights into how data and communication can support informed decision-making and long-term commitment to cycling. It is based on desk research and insights from an online workshop held in November 2025 with the Nordic Cycle Network, which brings together practitioners from around 20 cities and regions across Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.
