Bicycle Rush Hour in Copenhagen, Denmark

Every day in Greater Copenhagen, roughly 400,000 people choose the bicycle as transport.
63% of Copenhageners ride a bike to work or education in the city. 75% of them cycle all winter in the City of Cyclists. There are 50,000 cargo bikes in daily use in the city.
colville-andersen.com

[@76runjen]

I was in Copenhagen last week for the first time and I was impressed by the non-stop bike race that seemed to be going on around the city. I wish I lived in such a healthy place, instead of the heart attack capital of Canada.

[@bofhd89o]

absolutely love it, colorful bikes,clothes,streets,stores, and people. cycling in the summer and winter having a fresh breeze and a good workout! wonderful

[@MichaelHundige]

Well, compared to how many people riding bikes here in Denmark - 9 out of 10 Danes have a bike - we don't have many head injuries. I think the risk of not wearing a helmet is exaggerated. I've been bicycling since I was four years old and have never had a head injury - I am 34 years old today. The times I have had an accident I have hurt my ribs, collarbone, arms and legs...but never my head. That being said childen younger than 12 years old are demanded to wear a helmet by lae here in Denmark.

[@TheMusketITuckedIt204]

Imagine how much cleaner our air, how much healthier we'd be, and safer the streets would be if more NY'ers and other cities in general chose to get on a bike instead of a car.

[@MichaelHundige]

I agree with you wholly. The risk from not wearing a helmet is highly exaggerated. Holland and Denmark have a LOT of people riding bicycles every day for commuting, leisure, shopping etc etc. And where are all the accident with the terrible head injuries? They are non existent. I guess the well developed infrastructure with the extensive net of bike lanes of both Holland and Denmark has a lot to say regarding the low number of accidents, though.

[@Leonthotskys]

My 6 mile commute to work in NYC by car, bus or train, 1 hour, same commute by bike, 25 minutes

[@peterhartman55]

Copenhagen looks beautiful!

[@FokitaSisi]

I was there in winter 2016. It is soo cold!! Nice but not my fav place to live in

[@AartoR]

Imagine if all these cyclists would decide to take the car instead... Now THAT would create traffic problems..

[@21centuryg]

I wish America was like this

[@Walkabout]

thanks for the video! My city, Toronto, is not made for bicycles at all and it causes a lot of problems.

[@ringo666]

Fully 8-9 out of every 10 bike incidents involve no head injury -- not the "every time" alarmists want to posit.

[@darkangel242009]

It's good to see a video about bicycling where the people are seen riding during the fall and winter months. Most bicycling videos I've seen have been filmed during warmer weather. Seeing people bundled up and still riding bicycles? Honest.

[@eveostay99]

Notice that one bike lane is carrying about as many bikes as three cars lanes are carrying cars. (@ 1:00)

[@macchina13]

I love bicycling, I use it everyday for almost everything. It´s a pity I live in Brasil, where it´s ridicularized. If I could find a job there I´d definitely go for it (I have fluente english, native porguese, and good spanish and italian).

[@MrMardesi]

Gracias!!!! Excelente Video. Que lindo ver tantas bicis y organizadas. Nosotros somos ciclistas y nos dicen locos por andar en bici para todos lados. Gracias!!!

[@zarraxia]

@godesseq2 The typical winter in Copenhagen doesn't have much snow and ice, so it's not as big a problem as you'd think. They bike paths are also cleared and salted as well. You still have to be careful when it freezes, though.

[@amolinag]

hermosa ciudad! me encanta! beautiful city! I love it!

[@feliznova302]

I,m leving in Brazil, but I want move to copenhagem! Thas a dream life style

[@Laci441]

Copenhagen working hard, to build bigger and safer bike lanes in the city... CPH even closing roads from cars...

[@fixedgearforlife]

The biggest bunch of die hard cyclists I've ever seen. I love it!

[@RobBCactive]

Well I've been over the handle bars at high speed in days before helmets were common, and skidding down the road, trying to keep you head up and avoid the bang isn't pleasant. That said, I still MOSTLY ride without one, because I am mostly off road and on tracks with the dog. When I ride Urban or cycle routes, I do wear the helmet, they're well vented now and folk in stores and stuff are well used to them, so I often don't even take it off when I stop.

[@marcvanderwee]

It is 'Back to youth' of Bob Szajner. Source: The added info at the top. Just click 'show more' and you can find it.

[@Dracullia]

The worst part is that you know, all these cars only have 1 person in each!

[@fujin09]

AWESOME. wish there would be no cars but cabs, busses and delivery trucks anymore. would be so nice in an urban setting like this

[@korsager]

@Jesus45U lol nobody use winter tyres

[@Grumpy_old_Boot]

@godesseq2 Carefully. And they also equip winter tires as well.

[@TurbSplash]

In approximately 5 minutes it takes you to wait for the train, a (resonably fit) cyclicst travelling at around 30km/h would have a 3km headstart.

[@colombianflag717]

usa need to learn from this cities

[@user-ug6kw3jv9p]

usa need to squeeze in denmark, right?

[@skodiljoti]

ville ønske, det var som på Island vildi að þetta væri svona á íslandi

[@marcvanderwee]

Is posible to implement cycle infra in Iceland. Just ask experts from both Denmark and the Netherlands how to do it and start with the construction... Bestu kveðjur frá Hollandi.

[@DDAANN1985]

what is this music called? I was in Kopenhagen 2 years ago..beautifull city and a nice time indeed. Greetings from Holland!

[@user-qp6qp9fl4h]

есть один серьёзный недостаток, при езде на велосипеде происходит усиленное потоотделение, представьте себе, менеджер общается с клиентом, а от него просто разит потом...

[@09conrado]

@ptuku Ah, you're right there, I was just reading up on the competition for Dutch cycling city and for Velo-city 2013 myself. Too bad we lost there. I meant to say that quarrelling about 'my city is best' doesn't help in advancing infrastructure. But of course, you are right in sayong that friendly competition raises the bar for everyone and of course, then everyone benefits.

[@janflemmingolsen]

I never saw YOU riding a bike here in 15 years, my dear :-)

[@amanpratapsingh3677]

ubers nytmare !! love it:)

[@TorchwoodPandP]

Aman Pratap Singh uber is illegal in Denmark anyway

[@jonasjar]

helvete vad mkt cyklar, stockholm har en mkt lång väg kvar till detta!

[@MichaelHundige]

And another thing. If you are so unfortunate to get hit by a car - will your helmet protect you from being smashed by the car? Your head may be intact, but the rest of your body...mot so much.

[@HealthyHappyAnimals]

I want to see a Copenhagen VS Amsterdam vid :P

[@alin1975]

@TUUK2006 Lets make that race across Jagtvej - Falkoner Alle during day time. Your city challenge only works if you can rely on a single mode of transport (i.e. the metro), and if you start right next to said mode of transportation. The minute you need to add in a bus, the bike wins. The minute you need to walk to or from the metro for several minutes, the bike wins again.

[@imptoo449]

Mikael: Great video! BTW: what's the name of the music? Name of the group? Did they do an album/CD? Thanks, George

[@MyBadGamertag]

@godesseq2 The same way you drive in snow and ice. Very carefully. Hopefully.

[@MichaelHundige]

You have a point there. I just meant that if you get hit by the car with full impact, your helmet won't protect you much anyway. What I object against are the people in here who are shocked by the lack of helmets here in Denmark. All I can say is, it isn't a huge issue. There are separate bike lanes everywhere, so we rarely need to ride on the roads close to the cars. And most Danes learn to ride a bike when they are about 4 years old and use daily commuting,leasure etc, so we are experienced.

[@mr.w5805]

Beautiful...I visited it back in 1994 many times. Miss it very much. But one question. Adults and so on but why no more helmets on the heads??? I counted maybe 6 person with helmets.

[@EusebiusAT]

Well, basically because the infrastructure already makes biking way safer than in other countries. And because campaigns for helmets decrease the number of people that bike, which of course makes more people drive cars and cars are much more dangerous for cyclists. Also, cyclists are more reckless when they wear helmets, so it's unclear just how good of an idea they are. If you ask any individual they'll simply give you a reason like: "it looks dorky", "it messes up my hair", or "I don't want to carry my helmet around the rest of the day". Basically, people don't really care that much.

[@16nine]

Here's my TED talk on the topic: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZmjSXod3iNt8rrs

[@ginsengjin]

I can't see cycling expanding more than as is in most of current US cities due to amount of congestion and lack of road space to make those large bike lanes. But good job for Copenhagen.

[@TheSweetsOfSin]

What's the Music? Very nice!

[@marcvanderwee]

It is 'Back to youth' of Bob Szajner. See also my other reaction about it, I put it on the 'wrong' place...

[@Grumpy_old_Boot]

@korsager That's what I thought, until I worked two years in a bicycle shop. You'd be surprised. I was.

[@FelixStanek]

What's with the choice of music?!

[@HealthyHappyAnimals]

@09conrado competition would only do good, since that is one more reason to invest in the city for more good publicity. At least, that is what is going on in the Netherlands itself.

[@ejiiuk]

In Kazan (Russia) 1000-5000 people on bicycle.

[@JKrabbeN20]

@MancoBiker They are all driving around in cars.

[@zivkovicable]

I think you've got that the wrong way round. Riding off road at low speeds, when you are more likely to experience a fall to the ground, is probably one of the few times when a helmet might be useful. They're pretty useless in a collision with a car though, & may actually make such a collision more likely.

[@juliejessen3255]

When is rush hour in Copenhagen ?

[@16nine]

8-9 and about 15-16:30

[@juliejessen3255]

+Mikael Colville-Andersen thank you!

[@Julian-bach]

amazing that hardly any of them feel the need for helmets...here in the USA the "wear a helmet or youre an idiot" mentality pervades, but this is evidence to the contrary that one needs a helmet to be/feel/ride safely, even in high traffic or bad weather.

[@seeadler3233]

The comparison doesn`t hold water .In the US most road cyclists are training for fitness and ride faster with greater chance of head injury. Few older folks or children ride to get to work or school even when the distance is short. Also the Copenhagen or Netherlands infrastructure is safer with fewer obstructions like potholes and crumbling roads as we have here in the US. The Dutch and Danes make their infrastructure work for the fit and the unfit , for the young and the old . Riding a bike through most US cities is suicidal , with or without a helmet but certainly safer with a helmet .I have lived in Florida and Arizona and it is cooler with a helmet than without . The sun beating down on the bare head is really HOT without the polystyrene barrier . So the bike helmet also functions as a type of " pith helmet " with slots for ventilation and protects from direct sunlight . The US in summer [ when most bike trips are made ] is considerably hotter than Denmark or Netherlands .

[@Sushicake666]

Actually there are many campaigns here in Denmark that reminds people how important it is to wear a helmet even it does look stupid but will save you in the end

[@AardvarkDK]

Unfortunately we need campaigns to get pedestrians to wear them too.

[@MichellleBellle]

approximately 1 million people live in copenhagen, so judge for yourself :)

[@TUUK2006]

@FesterBable "faster than using public transportation,"? Let's have a race from Amager across the city. You take your bike and I'll take the metro and we'll see who gets there first.

[@invisible726]

@godesseq2 They just ride. They show this in the video.

[@Cirkelo]

@godesseq2 With loads of clothes, winter tires and caution :)

[@Dracullia]

What i don't understand is why you do not leave? - Three years is a long time enduring solitude...

[@PotatoFreakDK]

See ive heard that ALOT but ive also heard that dutchmen drives like CRAZY and that its not safe for bikers that is just the case why the nehterlands need that amount of infrastructure for bike.

[@marcvanderwee]

I guess you have neither visited the Netherlands nor watched videos about the Dutch cycle infrastructure.

[@Lunavii_Cellest]

No the infrastructure in the netherlands is designed with the idea that humans make mistakes so it is made so that its harder to make a mistake and if an accident happends that no one gets killed, this is done with speed bumps so that you have to drive slow

[@MichaelHundige]

Compared to other European cities - yes!

[@Stefan1527]

gosh

[@09conrado]

@ptuku This isn't about who wins! You are given several examples of things that work, now take a test area in your own city and implement it! Show the people there that it works, first by making illegal bicycle paths for example, and then getting the council crazy enough to believe in it. Publicity is paramount.

[@TUUK2006]

@MrMrrossh You're entirely correct, but good luck getting a Dane to admit to any short comings in their ways of life, people or country.

[@TUUK2006]

@Liludk Don't forget the laughably high cost of ownership for a car.

[@Dracullia]

That certainly depends on the rate of the impact, if it is just hard enough to push you off ur bike - i can assure you a helmet makes a hell of a difference when you slam ur head into the tarmac!

[@Ace1973ish]

Hey.. der bor jeg. 50 meter derfra.

[@RobBCactive]

Oh if you wonder.. I could NOT avoid the bang. Shortly after I was seeing double and needed scan, with worst headache of my life lasting 2-3 days. I was lucky.. most ppl don't roll into it, break teeth or collar bones.

[@Dracullia]

We have had nothing but failure since the fire of Copenhagen in the early 1800's -> let us at least be proud of what we have!

[@dvelezroman]

They all look healthy.... very simple, pero aca en Ecuador, la gente es novelera, si andas en bicileta te ven como un pobre y chiro...

[@OriginalPuro]

Screw you cars, you wait! :D

[@raysofgreys]

Notice, barely any helmets! Here in the states, you HAVE to wear a helmet in certain areas, which is totally ridiculous. Free country my ass!

[@MichellleBellle]

the thing is that we find it fair that people who wish to own a car should pay a high tax for it because of how much it costs the society to build and maintain the roads etc. and actually most of us find it funny when people make fun of us (even when what they say is true). Google "How to be a dane Copenhannah" for an example :)

[@fl0o0or]

this is nothing compared to the netherlands, they even have no own cycle path, just a small stroke on the road...

[@superbrian113]

@MancoBiker They are home, being lazy in their couches

[@macchina13]

vdd cara (ou mulher, hahahha)... pena vivermos no BR, onde ninguém respeita (e até ridiculariza) isso! Eu uso bike td dia, e é sempre a mesma coisa...

[@lslavychecker]

ENOSTAVNI KOLO JE POSTALA ZELO RESNA UDOBNA TRANSPORTACIJA PO CELEM SVETU...

[@newcomer9747]

love the blonde chick at 0:35

[@GodLiberty]

Cycling actually constitutes a tiny proportion of commuter miles traveled in Denmark (4.6% when grouped with mopeds and motorcycles) so this issue is much conflated.

[@ringo666]

I'll take Colville-Anderson's word over yours every time.

[@MrChesstony]

What I notice is that the cyclists respect driving rules as well as the cars. I dont see the a very typical act by cyclists of weaving around traffic, entering the sidewalk and then becoming a pedestrian on two wheels. I think that there needs to be a cultural chance for both sides for this sort of thing to take hold in the US. Probably population dense downtown areas are the best start.

[@seeadler3233]

Quite right , Anthony . And the same scofflaws on a bike are those who think traffic laws are a joke when driving a car . In the US it is common to see a cyclist after dark ,without lights and in dark clothing. A helmet won`t protect someone already brain dead.

[@heedihoo]

Boris Johnson are you watching?

[@Staunte]

@16nine not EVERY 18 year old

[@lazaradisic9600]

what about sweat,cycling is not sweat free activity..

[@16nine]

laza radisic When you roll along at 15-20 kmh you don't sweat. It's just like walking.

[@szoszk]

but even if it is, what's bad about it?

[@kudexmandela9904]

nothing bad.at fist I thought biking is only for poor people, but it nature friendly. no pollution,

[@seeadler3233]

If you walk fast or run , you sweat . If you walk slowly you don`t. Same with cycling .

[@neotrnty4717]

I m sweat so much and I change my dress

[@edmond81]

Not hard but nearly impossible to see an overweight person , you know why (cos they are not couch potatoes) , they cycle for hours everyday , that's why they are so fit :)

[@garra48]

I find it outrageous that the people who walk, bike or passing on. Have to do it surrounded by polluting cars and murderers. Breathing poisoned air poisonous. It is uncivil. Political murderers. Commit offenses against public health. The city for people. No more intoxicated!

[@Kotori32]

Too few people wearing helmets, unfortunately.

[@marcvanderwee]

Fortunately there is no need to wear helmets in København (Copenhagen) as cycling is very safe there. Greetings from the Netherlands.

[@isracusa1781]

@@marcvanderwee Not true. I've been there just a week ago and saw many helmets. A wheel on wheel hit and you're on the ground. It's not the cars, it's other cyclists who are a danger. Most people is well behaved but there's always an idiot here and there.

[@nadeschkin2]

hahahaha

[@raysofgreys]

What's with the depressing music? Totally ruins the mood, when it could've been a positive video...

[@RobBCactive]

Hhahah... your opinion does not match my experience, hitting your head on a hard road at speed is when you need a helmet. Falling onto soft grass at off road speeds and such, the forces are low enough to keep head up. If you're doing serious MTB trails then a helmet matters. One advantage off road is you don't have idiot car drivers and pedestrians, causing falls, the park dog walk situation is much more under my control, so who falls off????

[@Dangomochi1]

It looks like China

[@Lortenerfrisk]

yndigt land

[@Holland1994D]

Amsterdam has a better cycle infrastructure, so I don't know why everybody is so happy about Copenhagen.

[@seeadler3233]

Better or worse than Copenhagen is not the point . The point is that BOTH are better than here in the US and the cyclists and want-to-be cyclists in the US would love to have your infrastructure .I have cycled through much of Europe [ including Denmark - but not Netherlands ] on a number of long distance trips and the arrogant US has much to learn from the Europeans .

[@roger8654]

Europe is nice but would not live there

[@nannakure6210]

roger8654 roger that

[@markkuuss]

why?