Stockholm's red-green coalition government has announced plans to make a section of Hornsgatan on Södermalm car-free during four weekends from June to October 2026. According to reports from Dagens Nyheter and Feber, the pedestrian zone experiment will close the street to car traffic between Torkel Knutssongatan and Blecktornsgränd on the weekends of June 13-14, July 18-19, September 19-20, and October 3-4. Traffic Commissioner Lars Strömgren (MP), who is behind the proposal, stated in a press release: 'It is obvious that many Stockholmers long for places where we can avoid engine noise and exhaust fumes.
' The initiative follows similar temporary car-free experiments conducted on Sveavägen over the past two years. Buses that normally use the route will be temporarily rerouted during the closures, which will begin on Friday evenings around 10 PM and reopen for car traffic by Monday morning at 5 AM. The project has drawn criticism from opposition politicians, with Moderate Party councilor Dennis Wedin calling the previous Sveavägen experiment a failure that resulted in empty streets and increased traffic congestion elsewhere.
It is obvious that many Stockholmers long for places where we can avoid engine noise and exhaust fumes. This summer it's time for Södermalm to enjoy car-free living.
The previous Sveavägen experiment was a failure that resulted in empty streets and increased traffic congestion elsewhere.