Apart from riding bicycles much more, Danes also seem to be more talented on bicycles than Americans are. They ride at high speeds, right next to cars, busses, and trucks, without helmets, and are often holding something in one of their hands. I have seen bicyclists holding flowers, smoking, talking on the phone, holding an umbrella, drinking coffee, and even carrying a painted canvas once, without any problem at all. It is really incredible.
They also have what are called “Christiania Bikes.” They are named after Christiania here in Copenhagen. You can read about it in my post here. They were first made for people in Christiania who wanted to transport materials to build houses from recycles materials. However, they are now very popular all over Copenhagen from transposing groceries, building materials, and even ones children. I am told that Frederik, the Crown Prince of Denmark, takes his two young children to kindergarten everyday in a Christiania Bike. Here is a Christiania Bike designed for transporting children.
Here are some more photos to show you just how many bikes there are. You see them everywhere.
Additionally, bike locks work differently here. When I first saw all the bikes, I thought that none of them were locked up. I soon learned that it is unnecessary to lock bikes to something; rather the lock just prevents the back wheel from moving, as there is a bar across it. This means that you can pick up a locked bike and carry it away, you just cannot ride it. Unfortunately, bike theft is a problem here, and every hour about eight bikes are stolen. However, if the bike had an approved bike lock on it, insurance will replace the bike for you. There is also a new program that is beginning to be implemented which allows you to have a location device on your bike, so that it can be located if it is stolen.
Fortunately, my bike has not been stolen, although it has already happened to a few DIS students. However, from what I have heard, this was due to the fact to not using the proper bike-locks. I ride my bike about three miles every day, to and from the train station. However, this is nothing compared to my host father, who rides more than 16 miles everyday to get to and from his job in a neighboring town.
Overall, bikes are a major part of life here in Copenhagen. Most of the major streets have bike lanes, as well as traffic lights for the bikes. Many of the traffic signals in Copenhagen are actually timed for bicyclists, not for cars, so that if a bicycle were to hit one green light, he would hit all of the others. If you are ever driving in Copenhagen, you have to know that bikes have the right of way, followed by pedestrians. And if you are ever walking in Copenhagen, you had better watch out, because the bikes really aren’t going to stop for you.
