A dozen reasons tolive in or visit Sävedalen

1. EnvironmentPatches of forest scattered throughout the residential areas

2. Excellent cyclingand running paths

And the associated infrastructure –underpasses to avoid intersections, lightsalong the path and good signage

3. The trash burning station

“Burning the garbage in the incinerators generates 20 percent of Sweden’s district heating, a system of distributing heat by pumping heated water into pipes through residential and commercial buildings. It also provides electricity for a quarter of a million homes.”

http://www.pri.org/stories/2012-06-26/sweden-imports-waste-european-neighbors-fuel-waste-energy-program

4. The nearby large forests

Large forests are to the south and north of the suburb. Within 10 mins cycle rideare berries for picking, cliffs for climbing, and lakes for swimming and fishing in.

5. Beautiful streets

Cars are seldom parked on the street, there are no power lines spoilingthe view and it’s very green

6. Quiet streets

Slow speeds mean people walk and play on the streets: True public space.

7. Accessibility - no dead ends for pedestrians

8. Openness between houses

People are ok with seeing into each other’s yards, whether it be from the street or the neighbour’s house. This means no one has those horrible little windows that let light in but are up high and give no view to protect someone else’s private space. Everyone has big windows and the suburb feels spacious and green.

8b. Openness between houses and forest patches

Imagine this path (top left) or view from the forest (topright) if there was a 1.5m high fence around the neighbouring backyards. Openness makes the wild placesfeel safer, and enables the deer to move around intobackyards.

9. Schools have paths to them and aren’t fenced in

This school has fenced in the basketball court but the school itself and the pond opposite it are not fenced

10. People take care of their gardens

11. The icecream factory and cafe

12. The main street’s emphasis on PT and bikes (and lack of large outdoor ads on the streets or buses)

A few years ago the street was narrowed from two lanes for traffic in each direction, toone. This has allowed for a wide bike path that continues into the city, and bus stops.

Sometimes it just all comes together

Eating at the icecream cafe on the mainstreet, with the bus passing by and the trash burning station in the background!

Sävedalen: Come visit some time!