Christiania Bikes - an Icon for a Bike-friendly City

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We have already looked this week at why the Dutch are so keen on bicycles here. Another nation that just can't seem to get enough of bikes is Denmark. This is particularly true of the country's capital, Copenhagen. The city already provides free bicycles in the city centre, and careful pro-bicycle planning has meant that 30% of residents cycle to work. Visitors will be amazed at the vast array of bicycles whizzing around the streets, but one in particular seems to have become an icon for the city's cyclists. The Christiania Bike is actually not a bike at all, but a load carrying tricycle that can be, and is, used for anything from transporting kids to getting the shopping home. Even the city’s postal service runs a 100-strong fleet of these pollution-free trikes.

Originally built in 1978 as a transport alternative for the car-free autonomous zone of Christiania, the bike soon became common on Copenhagen’s streets. The popularity of the trike is not limited to Denmark. Dealerships can now be found in numerous German cities, including Hannover, Berlin, Frankfurt and Köln. Switzerland is also getting in on the act, and over 100 Londoners have already bought this congestion-charge busting vehicle from the UK dealership. [Written by: Sami Grover]