They Are Building Bicycle Superhighways in Copenhagen

danish copenhagen commuter routes

I learned the hard way recently about a terrific website that promotes "Copenhagenizing," noting that "Each and every day 500,000 people ride their bicycle to work or school in Copenhagen."

Whereas in North America we are, as one writer puts it, "fighting for infrastructure a few hundred metres at a time", Copenhagenizing tells us that they are now installing "bicycle superhighways" stretching far into the suburbs.

What does it take to be a bicycle superhighway?

Part of the Green Path, Copenhagen's bicycle motorway, by night. [Zakkaliciousness], on Flickr, from another post on Copenhagenize

- Smooth, even surfaces free of leaves, ice and snow.
- As direct as possible with no detours.

- Homogenous visual expression, for example, with signage and the trademark blue bike lanes through larger intersections.

- 'Service stations' with air and tools along the routes.

- Possibility to maintain a high speed and with sufficient width to overtake other cyclists.

- Safe and quick crossing priority for cyclists when they approach cross streets.

- Green Wave for cyclists through sections with frequent stop lights. [The Green Wave is in place on three main routes into Copenhagen already. Cycle 20 km/h and you hit green lights all the way.]

They are spending $47 million to do it. No chance of that happening in North America, even with all that stimulus money sloshing around.

More at Copenhagenizing.

More on Danish Bike Lanes and Bike Infrastructure:
A Picture is Worth...Danish Bike Paths
The Case for a Better Bike Infrastructure (and Better Driver Training)