Copenhagen: A city on two wheels
Bicycles parking in Copenhagen, Denmark. (Photo Courtesy Jamila Mohamed)
A typical rush hour in Copenhagen, Denmark does not consist of a vehicle gridlock.
It is usually hundreds of bicycles moving along the many bicycle paths across the city. The aim is to help city residents get around without worrying about parking, get some exercise and also help preserve the environment by not emitting harmful carbon into the atmosphere.
Bicycle parking in Copenhagen, Denmark , (Photo Courtesy, Jamila Mohamed)
Lise Walbom is the CEO of Food Nation a large company in Denmark. She is a 50 year old mother of 11 year old twins and cycles to and from work everyday.” Even this morning, my husband and I were cycling behind our 11-year-old twins as they cycled to school and we went to work.” It’s easy and effective to use our bikes in our everyday life and good for my health!” She says smiling
"We don’t go to school to learn to ride a bike, it's part of your family, part of growing up, we start learning from a young age almost the same time we are learning how to walk!” she says laughing
Lise Welbom, CEO of Food Nation at work in Copenhagen, Denmark; (Photo Courtesy Jamila Mohamed)
4.6 million bicycles
Denmark has a total area of 43,000 km2 and a population of 5.8 million people. Of these, there are 4.6 million bicycles, meaning nearly everyone owns a bicycle.
The sights and sounds of Copenhagen consist of people on bicycles in literally every part of the city.
The young and the old, some carrying luggage, others with special carriers for children and even adults, are common across the city.