In the smaller communities, many people, young and old alike, bike downtown. Even in the larger cities, there are literally hundreds of bicycles parked in bike-racks adjacent to the train stations. Throughout the downtown area there are apartment units located above businesses. There are no discount stores located on the edge of the community to compete with the downtown area. For example, in Bollnas, two grocery stores are located next to each other and both seem to be doing well.
Streets are relatively narrow.
Most of the streets are relatively narrow and many of the residential streets have traffic calming devices to slow the traffic and provide a safe environment for pedestrians. Traffic calming devices include circles at the intersections and concrete structures jutting three to four feet into the street on alternative sides every 20-30 feet, particularly at the pedestrian crossings. Public transportation provides alternatives to the auto . The public transportation system is something to behold, particularly in the larger cities, but also connecting to the smaller communities throughout Sweden. For example, Stockholm and its immediate surroundings have a four-level system of public transportation.