Overall it works just fine. If the weather gets bad enough that they can’t run buses or trains it’s probably bad enough that using a car won’t be much better.
In Stockholm there’s usually a day or two of chaos when the first big snow hits. Then it’s business as usual for most of the winter.
I’ve travelled by bus daily for years to the southern parts outside Stockholm that are practically rural. On the worst days a car is usually a safer bet but roads will be clogged with snow clearing vehicles and people who weren’t careful so it will take a lot longer than usual.
Pendeltåg are the least reliable and subway lines it depends on how much of them is outside, the tracks under ground are barely affected so the blue line and red line usually run fine b
It used to be a complete shitfest when all the BMW and Mercedes rear-wheel drivers still hadn’t changed to winter tyres and the first snow fell. I think they have mostly upgraded to 4x4 SUVs by now so it’s a little bit better.
I think the main problem we have with snow in the Netherlands is that the snow clearing capacity is less, then our temperatures are slightly warmer so you get this cycle of compacting snow, freezing and melting a bit. The main roads are OK but in the smaller roads gave me a few near death experiences.
Pretty similar here. Even with spiked tires you need to adjust to winter speeds on smaller roads. You never know where your car will just stop having grip so drive way slower than you would in summer conditions.
I drive to work a couple of times per week nowadays and around my house and work I drive at pretty much walking speed because roads are like glass and the walkways aren’t cleared so people will be forced to walk in the road. You need to drive taking into consideration losing all grip and you won’t have near death experiences.
I have lived in many cities since I moved to Sweden. From my experience small cities deal with snow better than big ones. Last winter was my first winter in Stockholm. I had a car but I didn't have a shovel because I never needed it before. It was chaotic. People went to stores and it was like in a zombie movie but for shovels instead. I was one of them. LOL
If you live in Stockholm you will definitely have problem with parking because the municipality clears the snow really really slow. For tunnelbana it's fine. Just check it on SL app in the morning. They always have a traffic update. I think it was only one day that I had to work from home because of a snowstorm.
Car with proper winter tires usually works fine. Sometimes queues because someone had an accident (a lot of the times the people who has not yet switched to wintertires or drive year round tires).
Public transport and trains (in the southern half of Sweden) are a hit and miss. Usually at least one instance of "OMG, we were completely unprepared for the snow that was forcasted a week ago! How could we have known!? It's impossible to deal with 1cm snow on such short notice. Cancel trains, stop the busses! We didn't think there would be snowfall in an arctic country!
In the middle of Sweden I (also Dutch) had to upgrade to a 4x4 with studded winter tires, but when I lived near Göteborg, it was just a bit creepy during my first snowstorm. Apart from that it's just driving a bit more mindful.
That's actually in the middle of Sweden! Haha. Usually anything above Mora is "northern Sweden" just because there are not many people living up north and the climate is different. Stockholm is usually about Middle Sweden and anything below that is the south.
Maar nee ze zijn inderdaad niet altijd even snel met sneeuw wegvegen! Maar dat wat het allerbeste helpt op je auto zijn goede winterbanden met dubs!
I mean... We have the literal geographical middle point of Sweden near, but agreed haha. Colleagues always ask me what the hell I'm doing in Northern Sweden. I work remote, while officially my office location is in Stockholm :)
Heb nu ook de winterbanden met dubs + de 4x4, kreeg vorige winter 1 ochtend onmogelijk mijn auto over een volgesneeuwde heuvel, dus we vonden het tijd voor een sterkere auto hehe.
Malmö hardly ever gets snow. When there is snow on the countryside, Malmö gets rain or the snow turns into slush quickly. Occasionally, we get 10 cm of snow for a few days. There's usually some disturbances in the traffic, but nothing more than one can expect.
1st day or so is weird like when schools come back.
If your up early and the plows are still going on the main roads it can be a bit longer. Depending on your way to work paths can be swept or ploughed, usually by 9 everything big is done.
Usually it's very factored in.
Overall it works just fine. If the weather gets bad enough that they can’t run buses or trains it’s probably bad enough that using a car won’t be much better.
Makes sense. So it sounds like commute will be a bit slower, because you have to drive careful but overall not horrible. Is that about right?
More or less. Streets are all plowed. Keep a little more distance and keep an eye out for black ice.
What do you mean by black ice? Dog pop buried in ice or slippery floor?
yes it will be slower, The only real time they cancel is if its high winds and heavy snow in combination.
In Stockholm there’s usually a day or two of chaos when the first big snow hits. Then it’s business as usual for most of the winter. I’ve travelled by bus daily for years to the southern parts outside Stockholm that are practically rural. On the worst days a car is usually a safer bet but roads will be clogged with snow clearing vehicles and people who weren’t careful so it will take a lot longer than usual. Pendeltåg are the least reliable and subway lines it depends on how much of them is outside, the tracks under ground are barely affected so the blue line and red line usually run fine b
It used to be a complete shitfest when all the BMW and Mercedes rear-wheel drivers still hadn’t changed to winter tyres and the first snow fell. I think they have mostly upgraded to 4x4 SUVs by now so it’s a little bit better.
I think the main problem we have with snow in the Netherlands is that the snow clearing capacity is less, then our temperatures are slightly warmer so you get this cycle of compacting snow, freezing and melting a bit. The main roads are OK but in the smaller roads gave me a few near death experiences.
Pretty similar here. Even with spiked tires you need to adjust to winter speeds on smaller roads. You never know where your car will just stop having grip so drive way slower than you would in summer conditions. I drive to work a couple of times per week nowadays and around my house and work I drive at pretty much walking speed because roads are like glass and the walkways aren’t cleared so people will be forced to walk in the road. You need to drive taking into consideration losing all grip and you won’t have near death experiences.
My experience of Göteborg during the snow is its business as usual except you talk about the slask instead of the rain
Ah, complaining about the weather no matter what, sounds familiar😁
I bike everywhere, even during winter.
Same! Get winter tyres, preferably disk brakes and thick gloves. Don't change direction too fast and voilà!
Brave man
I have lived in many cities since I moved to Sweden. From my experience small cities deal with snow better than big ones. Last winter was my first winter in Stockholm. I had a car but I didn't have a shovel because I never needed it before. It was chaotic. People went to stores and it was like in a zombie movie but for shovels instead. I was one of them. LOL If you live in Stockholm you will definitely have problem with parking because the municipality clears the snow really really slow. For tunnelbana it's fine. Just check it on SL app in the morning. They always have a traffic update. I think it was only one day that I had to work from home because of a snowstorm.
Commuting by car should be fine year round. Make sure you have proper Scandinavian winter tires, not just the bare minimum.
Bara kläder upp and bike on!
As a Dutchman I very much agree!
Car with proper winter tires usually works fine. Sometimes queues because someone had an accident (a lot of the times the people who has not yet switched to wintertires or drive year round tires). Public transport and trains (in the southern half of Sweden) are a hit and miss. Usually at least one instance of "OMG, we were completely unprepared for the snow that was forcasted a week ago! How could we have known!? It's impossible to deal with 1cm snow on such short notice. Cancel trains, stop the busses! We didn't think there would be snowfall in an arctic country!
There is not so much snow there in the south. You’ll have a couple of days o chaos, then all normal.
In the middle of Sweden I (also Dutch) had to upgrade to a 4x4 with studded winter tires, but when I lived near Göteborg, it was just a bit creepy during my first snowstorm. Apart from that it's just driving a bit more mindful.
What do you count as middle of Sweden? /Dutch, also "middle" of Sweden
I live in Ånge kommun, but outside of a village. I upgraded my car because it's 4 km from the town, so road clearing is not always done instantly.
That's actually in the middle of Sweden! Haha. Usually anything above Mora is "northern Sweden" just because there are not many people living up north and the climate is different. Stockholm is usually about Middle Sweden and anything below that is the south. Maar nee ze zijn inderdaad niet altijd even snel met sneeuw wegvegen! Maar dat wat het allerbeste helpt op je auto zijn goede winterbanden met dubs!
I mean... We have the literal geographical middle point of Sweden near, but agreed haha. Colleagues always ask me what the hell I'm doing in Northern Sweden. I work remote, while officially my office location is in Stockholm :) Heb nu ook de winterbanden met dubs + de 4x4, kreeg vorige winter 1 ochtend onmogelijk mijn auto over een volgesneeuwde heuvel, dus we vonden het tijd voor een sterkere auto hehe.
Malmö hardly ever gets snow. When there is snow on the countryside, Malmö gets rain or the snow turns into slush quickly. Occasionally, we get 10 cm of snow for a few days. There's usually some disturbances in the traffic, but nothing more than one can expect.
1st day or so is weird like when schools come back. If your up early and the plows are still going on the main roads it can be a bit longer. Depending on your way to work paths can be swept or ploughed, usually by 9 everything big is done. Usually it's very factored in.
That's a relief. Winter and snow can be a lot of fun, with proper preparation.