Warning, before I begin to tell you about cycling in Copenhagen, this blog contains random images from our time there that are not cycling related.
Copenhagen, a city where there are more bikes on the road than cars. A city where
cycling infrastructure is as good if not better than it is for cars.
I am a nervous road cyclist, having seen and heard too many times the
consequence when cars / trucks and bikes meet. I have become very uncomfortable
cycling where there is no real separation between bikes and other vehicles.
Today we had the pleasure of cycling in Copenhagen. Imagine a separated
car-lane wide cycle-way on either side of the road that has no potholes or
obstacles and there is no risk to riders of car doors opening.
Then imagine dedicated cycle-way street lighting, intersection traffic
lights and dedicated cyclist merging lanes.
Then imagine how many more people would ride. Today Craig and I had the
pleasure of cycling around Copenhagen in peak hour. Each time we stopped at a
set of traffic lights we became surrounded by 50 to 100 other cyclists and
despite or perhaps because of this I felt very safe.
Cycle lanes are two bikes wide until the inner city where they widen to
three bikes wide.
Like in Melbourne where there are hook turns in the inner city to
minimize tram / car congestion, Copenhagen has cyclists doing hook turns.
Bike racks are everywhere, making it easy to stop at shops, markets, tourist attractions or even at our workplace.
This is a city that the world can learn from when it comes to cycling
infrastructure.
Whilst cycling in Copenhagen we recommend the following experiences:
The David Samling collection. A free museum known for its amazing range of Islamic art dating back to the 7th century.
The Torvehallerne Market. A great range of food and produce stores
The Rundetaarn: built with an internal spiral path so that the king could ride to the view at the top. Unlike the king you will have to walk but the view is worth it and so are the other hidden experiences in the tower.
The David Samling collection. A free museum known for its amazing range of Islamic art dating back to the 7th century.
The Torvehallerne Market. A great range of food and produce stores
The Rundetaarn: built with an internal spiral path so that the king could ride to the view at the top. Unlike the king you will have to walk but the view is worth it and so are the other hidden experiences in the tower.
Copenhagen sounds like a cyclists dream!! Sounds amazing. Melbourne has slot to learn.
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