NPR: Gamillions of Bikes in Copenhagen

Gamillions of Bikes in Copenhagen

Several times in New York this spring, I've pulled up to intersections on my bike and realized I'm looking at more bikes than cars. It mostly happens in neighborhoods instead of Midtown Manhattan, but sometimes it happens even on high-traffic streets.

City transportation planners report that the number of cyclists is way up. But we're nowhere near the velo crowd in Copenhagen, Denmark. The person who took the video above admits it's a bit of a cheat -- the footage was taken just after a drawbridge had been lowered. Even so, it's an amazing stream of bikes.

Bonus: L.A. Times covers riding in New York.

Laura Conaway

2:11 PM ET | 05-28-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

I can vouch for that - have been to Copenhagen many times, and no matter how many times I visit it's always amazing to me how ubiquitous bike lanes are in that city. And no one wears helmets!

Sent by nicole | 5:03 PM ET | 05-28-2008

Actually, many, although perhaps not most, do wear helmets. I've been a transplanted resident of the Danish capital area for 8 years and enjoy the possibilities for biking as part of my daily commute.
A convergence of moderate climate, flat roads, short distances, active transport planning, and punative taxes on gasoline and cars make cycling an obvious choice here. Even so, usage of bikes for daily commute has fallen consistently in the last years.
Inronically, traffic congestions itself is now a new factor promoting cycling, at least for me. I'd rather sail by a line of cars any day, even in the rain.

Sent by Brent Culp | 8:08 AM ET | 05-30-2008

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