Copenhagen’s Charming Bicycle Infrastructure

Copenhagen is considered by many to be one of the most bicycle friendly cities in the world. After decades of extensive investments in biking infrastructure, accessibility, and safety; more than half of city residents bike to work.

As a former frustrated Philadelphian bicycle commuter (say that three times fast!), I was delighted by both the major and minor infrastructure elements that I encountered in Copenhagen which help cyclists to get from point A to point B efficiently and safely.

Here are some of my favorites: 

1. Boldly marked bike lanes

Bike lanes are painted with bold bicycle iconography, slightly elevated from the street, separated by a parked lane of cars, and paved with distinct materials. When a lane crosses an intersection, color emphasizes the continuation of the lane. This demarcation helps to avoid the dreaded "right hook"- a collision of a forward moving bike and a right-turning car. Lanes are also sometimes sheltered from traffic by parked cars.

2. Dedicated car-free bridges

Over the last decade, Copenhagen has invested heavily in car-free bridges to expedite cyclist travel times across the waterways of the city. Recent bicycle only bridges are as magnificent to look at from afar as they are to travel across by bicycle. These investments show that city officials consider bicycles to be of equal importance to cars and that safe and convenient passage over bodies of water is recognized and prioritized.

3. Places to park

If you are traveling everywhere by bike, it is helpful (and important) to have convenient places to park your bike. At curb locations outside of apartment complexes, retail centers, and transit hubs there were ample and creative opportunities for bike parking (not including fences and sign posts).

4. Stair tracks

Sometimes, you encounter urban stairs. Instead of slogging up the stairs with your bike on your shoulder, Copenhagen installed helpful ramps/rails to help folks wheel their bike from from one level to the other.

5. Empathetic sidewalk accessories

​And finally, my favorite form of infrastructure: a compassionate, simple installation to ease the waiting process for bicyclists. There is a footrest and a hand rest to host 1-2 waiting cyclists near traffic light corners.