This study investigates the barriers faced by cities in their efforts to increase the number of urban cyclists and aims to identify best practices to fulfil cities' ambitions. The research explores the multi-dimensional nature of the obstacles and highlights the significance of understanding and addressing them effectively. By examining bike policies, sustainable mobility programs, existing literature, and conducting interviews with experts, this study provides insights into the common themes that prevent cities from achieving their goals. The findings contribute to the development of best practices that can support cities in their ambition to increase urban cycling.This study is a multi-case study, where the study compares the city Malmö and The Hague. The Hague is a leading example for bicycle use, while Malmö strives to become a bicycle-friendly city. The methodology employed in this research includes several components: a literature review to explore barriers and enablers of urban cycling, a theoretical analysis, a comprehensive review of bike policies and sustainable mobility documents in both cities and interviews to delve deeper into recurring themes identified in the document analysis. The discussion section integrates the literature review, theory, and results, highlighting the best practices for promoting urban cycling.In this study, the theory of path dependency is employed, which refers to a process where initial moves lead to further moves in the same direction, limiting future choices. It involves three phases: Preformation, Formation, and Lock-in. Additionally, the theoretical framework incorporates the three factors of path dependence identified by Low et al. (2005). These factors are relevant to the study because they relate to urban planning and active transport. The three factors are: technical, institutional, and discursive. Overall, understanding path dependency and its factors (technical, institutional, and discursive) enables more effective strategies in urban planning and active transportation to overcome barriers and promote sustainable cities.Through an analysis of previous research, theory, and results it becomes evident that the establishment of a support base and the implementation of a combination of hard and soft measures play a crucial role in fulfilling cities' bike ambitions. The support base requires diverse stakeholders to understand and support bike policies. Effective communication help engage stakeholders and expand support. Overplanning with various options enhances policy resilience. Striking a balance between hard and soft measures is crucial for increasing urban cyclists. Hard measures like infrastructure development are initially important, but a balanced approach ensures an effective strategy.By adopting these best practices, cities can successfully increase the number of urban cyclists. However, it is important to emphasize that achieving this ambition goes beyond formulating a policy; it requires the establishment of a support base and a balanced approach that incorporates both hard and soft measures. This study provides cities with insights into potential barriers and enablers, offering guidance for examining their specific urban contexts and working towards their cycling goals.

I flera decennier har det funnits en medvetenhet kring den privata personbilens negativa konsekvenser för både samhälle, människa och miljö. Ambitiösa mål har tagits fram i försök att minska utsläppen av växthusgaser men ändå går vägen till en omställning för långsamt. Dessutom bidrar massbilismen till en ohållbar och ogynnsam utveckling av städer och samhällen, både ekonomiskt, ekologiskt och socialt, där planeringen och utvecklingen av den byggda miljön har varit en bidragande orsak till att många idag sitter fast i ett bilberoende. Dock finns det antydan om att det även kan finnas andra orsaker som gör det svårt för individer att vidta en beteendeförändring som skulle innebära en minskad bilanvändning. Syftet med denna studie har varit att undersöka om ett högt bilanvändande kan bero på vanor, attityder och normer. Vidare har det undersökts ifall detta kan förändras och leda till beteendeförändringar genom minskat bilanvändande med mjuka mobility managementåtgärder och nudging.  Aktionsforskning är den huvudsakliga metoden som har använts i studien. Detta har genomförts genom att låta vanebilister bli testcyklister under en period för att undersöka om det kan leda till ett minskat bilanvändande i Höganäs kommun. Resultatet av aktionsforskningen har därefter mätts genom enkäter, dokumentationer och en fokusgruppsintervju. Resultatet har visat på att testcyklingen haft ett gott resultat genom att det har bidragit till att deltagarnas bilanvändning har minskat i förmån för cykeln. Vanor tycks har varit den huvudsakliga orsaken till deltagarnas höga bilanvändaning före testperioden och att testcyklingen har resulterat i att detta beteende har kunnat brytas. Attityder och normer kan dock inte riktig förklara det höga bilanvändandet bland deltagarna innan testperioden. Detta har troligtvis berott på att deras vanebeteenden har varit så pass starka att det har resulterat i att deras beteenden inte har varit förenliga med deras attityder och normer. Resultatet kan också innebära att testcyklingen främst har lockat personer som upplevde bilkörning som problematisk och därmed har haft viljan och motivationen att vidta förändringar. Därför går det att ifrågasätta om mjuka mobility managementåtgärder fungerar för alla målgrupper av bilister. Dessutom kvarstår det osäkerheter kring testcyklingens långsiktiga effekt på bilanvändningen. / For several decades, there has been an awareness of the negative consequences of the private car both for society, people and the environment. Ambitious goals have been developed in an attempt to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, but the way towards a transition is still too slow. In addition, mass motoring contributes to an unsustainable and unfavorable development of cities and communities, both economically, ecologically and socially, where the planning and development of the built environment has been a contributing factor that we are now stuck in car addiction. However, there are indications that there may also be other causes that make it difficult for the individual to make a behavioral change that would mean a reduction in car use. The purpose of this study has been to examine whether high car use may be due to habits, attitudes and norms. Furthermore, it has been examined whether this can be changed with mobility management measures and nudging and lead to a behavioral change by a reduced care use.  Action research is the main method used in the study. This has been done by letting habitual drivers become test cyclists for a trial to examine whether it can lead to a reduction in car use in Höganäs municipality. The results of the action research have subsequently been measured through surveys, documentation and through a focus group. The results have shown that the test cycling had a good impact and has contributed to a decrease in the participant’s car use in favor of the bike. Habits have been the main reason for their high car use that the participants have been able to change due to the trial. However, attitudes and norms cannot really explain the high car use among the participants before the trial. This is could be explained that their habitual behaviors has been so strong that their behavior has not been in line with their attitudes and norms. The result may also mean that the test cycling project has mainly attracted people who did not experience driving as compatible with their attitudes and thus have had the willingness to make changes. Therefore, you should question if soft mobility management measures work for all target groups of motorists. In addition, there are still uncertainties regarding the long-term effect of the test cycling project on car use.