During snow clearing on Södermalm in Stockholm on the night to Sunday, a snowplow driver rammed a parked bicycle several times, according to witnesses and a video obtained by Aftonbladet. The incident appears deliberate and aggressive, with the driver backing up and going back and forth. Stockholm city's traffic office is now investigating the matter with the subcontractor and urges the bike's owner to contact the city for possible compensation.
Stockholm was hit by heavy snowfall over the weekend, leading to intensive snow clearing across the city. On Södermalm, the situation escalated when a snowplow driver repeatedly rammed a parked bicycle at a bike rack. A video shows the vehicle first hitting the bike, then the driver backing up and ramming it again—several times in total.
Witnesses who observed the incident from a nearby bar describe it as targeted and aggressive. “It was so targeted,” says one witness. Another adds: “We thought he first hit it by mistake. But then he backed up and went back and forth.” They felt the impacts as jolts and perceived it as the driver getting angry at the bike in the way. “It felt almost aggressive, like he got mad that the bike was there. He really wanted to hit it hard.”
Stockholm city's traffic office has contacted the subcontractor to investigate the incident. “The person who drove this vehicle is home sleeping right now,” says Malinda Flodman, press officer at the traffic office. She emphasizes that it is not acceptable to hit parked bicycles if it can be avoided. “Of course, one shouldn't drive into parked bikes if it can be avoided. It looks like we'll have to compensate for that somehow.”
The owner of the bicycle is urged to contact the city to get help with the damages. The incident highlights the challenges of snow clearing in densely built areas where bikes and other obstacles can create conflicts.
