Welcome (back) to my blog, now resurrected for what I have been referring to as my extended honeymoon. My partner Ian had an opportunity to travel this semester and write remotely. We couldn’t pass it up, so here we are in Europe for 4 weeks then switching gears and heading to Japan for our official honeymoon – 2 weeks of pure vacation bliss.
Our first, and longest stop, is in Copenhagen. To some, this was a somewhat random choice but to us it is a wonderful opportunity. After reading about Copenhagen’s arguable advantages from a city design perspective, in books such as Straphanger by Taras Gresco and Happy City by Charles Montgomery, Ian and I became mutually intrigued by what is regarded as the Happiest City in the World. We decided to take the plunge and see what Copenhagen is all about.
Bikes. Copenhagen is all about bikes. We knew this before we arrived, but I still don’t think it was possible to fully comprehend the role which bikes play in this city until you’ve been here and seen it for yourself. Below are my top 5 highlights re Copenhagen cycling.
1. Traffic lights, for cyclists
In Copenhagen, drivers, pedestrians and cyclists (at many intersections) each get their own traffic lights/signals. This ensures that each user of the road understands what they are and are not allowed to do at all times. As someone not overly familiar with road rules where separated bike lanes are concerned, I very much appreciate being told what to do.
2. Extensive, safe cycling infrastructure
Copenhagen-ites are extremely lucky. They enjoy an expansive network of separated bike lanes throughout the city (approx. 415 km currently) making cycling extremely safe and simple. Almost every road in the city centre has two-way bike lanes. Even where there is on-street car parking, bike lanes are almost always found inside the parked cars offering increased protection from vehicles.
3. Unlocked bikes?
One of my naive moments upon arriving in Copenhagen was when I said to Ian, “Interesting how no one locks their bikes here. They’re very trusting.” At a glance, bikes aren’t locked here. However, when I went to rent my bike I realized that that’s not the case. Bikes here are locked, but they use a locking system that’s way better than the chunky locks we use in
North America. Theirs wrap around the back wheel and are non-discrete, using a key to both lock and unlock. This means you can literally park your bike anywhere (within reason and not in the way) without having to hunt for space on a pole to lock the bike to. Because let’s face it, there’s no way there would be enough poles in Copenhagen to accommodate all the bikes.
4. Sheltered parking
Copenhagen gets a fair amount of rain. This doesn’t preclude locals from cycling – many appear to have invested in a smart wardrobe of rain jackets and in some cases rain
pants, meaning they can find protection from the elements while still riding. Even though many cyclists appear to dress for cycling, there is still great infrastructure to allow many people to park their bikes in sheltered areas. For instance, this bike parking facility is located near a main entrance to a mall, making it far easier and faster to bike and park than to drive and park.
5. Bike signage
At least within the city centre, there are signs posted advising cyclists the distance to various destinations, such as attractions and neighbourhoods. I think this really captures not only how common cycling is in the city, but the respect and resources offered to cyclists to provide convenience and a positive experience.
Final thoughts
I’m very much looking forward to cycling around the city over the next 2 weeks. Not only does it build in activity to our commuting experience, but it also provides a wonderful opportunity to see the city from above ground while saving time vs. walking. This exposure to Copenhagen’s cycling culture gives me ammunition to encourage the building of separated bike lanes in my home city of Waterloo, Ontario. The first (albeit short) network of separated bike lanes has recently been approved for construction so that’s a great starting point, but there is still so much left to be done.
Jenn's Thoughts 