The more bikes on the road, the safer it is for cyclists in general, according to studies. But then there’s Copenhagen where about a third of the residents ride a bicycle to work and school. Isn’t that amazing? I feel like quite an oddity when I pedal to work. There are so many bikes on the road in Copenhagen that it’s becoming a little hazardous:
But in Copenhagen – one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world in which 36% of its inhabitants cycle to work or school, and which has committed to increasing that figure to 50% by 2015 – there are controversial voices coming from unexpected places.
According to the Danish Cyclists’ Federation and Wonderful Copenhagen, the official tourism organisation for Denmark, the sheer success of the drive to get more locals and tourists on bikes is creating a dangerous, intimidating and unpleasant climate for cyclists in the city.
“In Copenhagen, we have quite extraordinary problems around cycling congestion,” said Aneh Hajdu, of Wonderful Copenhagen. “I don’t take my children on their bikes into Copenhagen at rush hour any more. It’s too dangerous and scary. I just wouldn’t risk it.”
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