Public transport & Driving

General transport

The public transport system in Sweden is usually very reliable. The Lund town buses (Stadstrafiken) converge on Botulfsplatsen and serve all the city. The region buses (Skånetrafiken) serve all of Skåne and have their main terminus at the Lund railway station. The railway station in Lund serves the purple local trains (Pågatåg) for destinations within Skåne, the Öresundståg, (around Öresund) as well as long distant trains run by the Swedish Railways (SJ). Please note, that tickets for SJ and Skånetrafiken are not interchangeable.

For information about Stadstrafiken, Skånetrafiken, Pågatåg, Öresundstrafiken, SJ and Flygbussarna (Airport coaches) phone 0771-77 77 77.

Useful websites:
Skånetrafikens website with information about town and region buses and trains:
Skånetrafiken (New window)
Statens Järnvägar - SJ (New window) Swedish Railway

Airport coaches:
Flygbussarna (New window)

Rabattkort (Concession tickets for public transport)
The magnetic plastic Rabatt-kort (Rebate cards) which can be bought for SEK 100 on the bus, at the bus station, at Botulfsplatsen or at the Skånetrafiken office at the railway stations. These cards give about a 20% reduction on fares in Skåne and 10% on travels across Öresund to Copenhagen. The rabattkort can be refilled at the above offices, at ticket machines at the Pågatåg stations or by bus drivers. These rebate cards are used by inserting them into machines on the bus (tell the driver your destination on the region buses - city buses have a flat rate), on the railway platforms or in the underpass for rail travel.

Timetables, tickets and other information for the bus and train services are available in the Skånetrafiken offices (in Lund the building north of the station; in Malmö, at the end of platforms 9 & 10).

N.B. There is a timetable change for the summer on all public transport.

SJ Trains (state railways) long distance trains

The state trains have an array of different prices for families, students, youths, groups, last minute etc (see above link : Statens Järnvägar - SJ).

Lost Property (Hittegods)

For the town buses in Lund - Bergkvara Buss, tel 040-53 53 25
For Pågatåg and SJ, tel 040-20 21 92

Transport to Copenhagen

Since Copenhagen has so much to offer, with all the amenities of a capital city, and since it is so near, we urge you to take a day on the other side of the Öresund (the sound between Sweden and Denmark). Travel is a simple and speedy matter of a train ride. The trains run every twenty minutes between Malmö and Copenhagen. Remember to carry your passport, with valid visa if required.

Private Transport

Bicycles

Bicycling is the most common mode of transport in both Lund and Malmö, and not only among students. If you would like to purchase a second-hand bicycle, try bicycle shops where second-hand bicycles sometimes are sold. Check the local newspapers and notice boards in supermarkets or put up a note on the notice board at your department, or outside the International Desk.

By law a bike must have reflectors on both wheels and also a proper front and rear light for cycling after dark. N.B. On-the-spot fines can be the result for disobeying the rules of the road! Keep in mind that bicycles are in great demand, so try to shop around early and get a good lock. In the city of bicycles, there are also a lot of bicycle thieves!

Borrow a bicycle! You can borrow an ordinary bicycle, bicycle for the disabled, childrens seats, bicycle carts and helmets for a small fee at Lundahoj in the old warehouse in the northern part of the train station. the bicycles are borrowed for a day, a weekend or a week (max. period). 20 sek per day, 50 for a weekend and 130 for a week (2005). Open: M-F 06.30-21.30, tel. 046-35 57 42

Driving Licences

Foreign driving licences are valid in Sweden, but not if the holder is under 18, which is the minimum age for driving a car in Sweden. For driving licences from EU countries the same rules apply as for Swedish licences. Foreign licences from other nations become invalid when the holder has been resident in Sweden for more than a year. However, the County Commissioner’s Office (Länsstyrelsen) makes certain exemptions.

Apply at Länsstyrelsen, tel. (exchange) 040-25 20 00, or Körkortsavdelningen (Department for Drivers’ Licences) in Malmö tel. 040-25 20 60. You must always carry your licence when driving. No licence is required to drive a moped, if the moped does not go faster than 30 kilometers/hour, but the minimum age is 15 years. For EU-mopeds, that go faster than 30 kilometers/hour, you need a moped license. To hire a vehicle (biluthyrning) contact rental firms (see Yellow pages under “Biluthyrning”) or also local repair and petrol garages.

Importing and Registering Motor Vehicles

This is a major undertaking, and needs much time and patience, and preferably the assistance of someone who speaks Swedish. The contact person at the Customs in Malmö (2005) is: Robot Hurlen, tel. 040-661 31 64

Tullverket (Customs):
Tullverket (New window)

Vägverket (The Swedish Road Administration):
Vägverket (New window)

Insurance of foreign vehicles

This must be covered by an insurance company in the country where the car is registered. Third-person damage insurance (trafikförsäkring) is compulsory. For further information call Motormännens Riksförbund (National Association of Motor Vehicle Drivers), tel. 08-690 38 00, or Trafikförsäkringsföreningen (Traffic Insurance Association), open M-F 9.00-12.00, tel. 08-783 71 00.

Motormännens Riksförbund (National Association of Motor Vehicle Drivers):
Motormännen (New window)

Speed limits

In housing areas the limit is 50 km/h and 30 km/h near schools. The limit on minor roads is 70 km/h, on other roads 90 km/h, and 110 km/h on motorways. All limits are strictly enforced by the police. Heavy, on-the-spot fines are imposed and your licence is confiscated if you exceed the stipulated limit by 30 km/h, or less for lower speeds.

Traffic Rules

Some important points:

• Do not drink alcohol and drive! Sweden has stricter regulations than many other countries about drinking and driving. An alcohol content in the blood of more than 0.2 per mill when driving is a punishable offence. (This corresponds to no more than one glass of wine)
• It is compulsory for both drivers and passengers in the front and the back seats of cars and light lorries to have their safety belts fastened.
• Dipped headlights are mandatory when driving, even in daytime.
• You must give way to traffic approaching from the right, unless the road signs indicate otherwise.
• You must give way to pedestrians at all zebra crossings without traffic lights.
• Cars must always be parked on the right-hand side of the road.
• You must not leave your car idling for more than one minute; the engine must then be turned off.
• Motorcyclists and moped drivers must wear crash helmets.

See link above, Vägverket (The Swedish Road Administration).

Breakdowns and Accidents

All vehicles must carry a red reflector warning triangle, which is displayed in the case of an accident or breakdown. In the case of an accident it is not mandatory to call the police, but the drivers involved must exchange names and addresses, and must not leave the scene until this has been done, even if the damage is slight.
For help with towing in the event of a breakdown, you can contact Assistancekåren, phone 020-912 912.

Safety

When driving in the country keep an eye out for wildlife (elk, deer, foxes and, further north, reindeer and sometimes bears). Collisions with large animals are a relatively common cause of accidents, especially at dusk and dawn, and all such accidents must be reported to the police.

Petrol/Gas

Most petrol stations are self service (Tanka Själv) and many have automatic pumps accepting SEK 100 notes (Sedelautomat) or credit cards (Konto), at others you pay at the cashier (Kassa).

Parking

Vehicles must be parked on the right-hand side of the road. If you park overnight look out for the sign that indicates which night of the week the street is cleaned. The sign for Prohibited Parking (Parkering Förbjuden) is circular with a blue background, red border and a red diagonal or a red cross.

For Restricted Parking, the sign is circular with a yellow background. The parking zone signs indicate which times of the day parking tickets are required. The times given in brackets indicate times on Saturdays and Sundays. Blue signs with Biljettautomat and an arrow indicate the location of the nearest automatic ticket machine. The parking disk (P-Skiva) can be used in certain areas. Parking is free but the disc must be displayed on the dashboard and the hand on the disc should point to the 1/4 hr after your time of arrival. The disc can be obtained from the Tourist Office and is free.

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