Danes and Bikes: A Powerful and Unique Relationship

Danes and bikes are made for each other, and if you’re visiting Copenhagen, you could wonder why that is.

There are many reasons. Initially, Copenhagen had a unique bicycle setup, with around 400 kilometers of cycle paths visibly separated from car lanes and sidewalks. Also, the flatness of the terrain, or the modern bridges that form cycling superhighways across the city, assist tremendously in that direction. Although all of those factors help, the main reason is that cycling is deeply rooted in Danish culture. Danes and bikes carry a long bonding history.

Furthermore, Danish children learn to bike before school at age 6, using small pedal-free bikes to learn balance. Next, they are educated about traffic rules, riding, and road safety at school. Hence, Danes treasure cycling eagerly regardless of weather conditions.

Danes and Bikes: What Led to This?

The cycling culture dates back to the 1880s when the country first introduced bikes. Next, during the 1920s and 1930s, the bicycle symbolised equality and freedom. After that, people from all walks of life began biking side by side, and today is quite common to see even politicians attending work on their bicycles.

In addition, the prosperity of the 1950s saw some Danes replacing bikes with automobiles, but the global oil crisis of the 1970s made driving exorbitantly costly. Finally, with the economy struggling in the 1980s, the government denied budgets for building roads and made bicycle lanes a better economic option for everybody.

Moreover, over time, worries about air pollution and climate change have enhanced the habit of cycling even more.

Two Parked Coloured Bicycles | Danes and Bikes

Danish Bike Trivia

• Denmark will host the first three stages of this year’s Tour de France.
• 49% of all journeys to school and work are made on bicycles.
• 9 out of 10 Danes own a bicycle. In comparison, 4 out of 10 Danes own a car.
• Danes cycle 1.6 km a day on average.
• There are more than 12,000 kilometers of cycle routes in Denmark.

A Bike Parked Next To A Wall | Danes and Bikes

Explore Copenhagen by Bike With Amitylux

Copenhagen is one of the safest places to be a cyclist. If you want to explore Copenhagen like a local on a bike  – book a tour with Amitylux.

Let our knowledgeable guides show you the best of the city.