The Bicycle Capital: How Copenhagen’s Streets Changed My Perspective on Urban Life and Sustainability

I went to Copenhagen for the first time, and I was surprised by the streets with no cars and everybody using their bike as their mode of transportation. I was told that 68% of the people living in Copenhagen use bikes as their way to go to work, school, or run errands. Streets have specific bike lanes, and some roads are only for buses and bikes; no cars are allowed. 

They're using a small cargo wagon attached to the front of their bike to carry everything from small children to grown-ups, dogs, groceries, packages, and suitcases, allowing them to bike for most of their tasks.

I was walking Friday morning and evening, and instead of traffic jams, many streets were mostly empty of cars. I also realized how quieter it was compared to many other cities I visited. 

When I talked with my Danish friends, they explained how they define their activities based on whether they are bikeable (within 15 kilometers of their house) or not and how people choose an area to live in based on likeability. 

While there are many discussions about sustainability, people often feel powerless to act at a personal level. But when you see a town and a country focused on changing their transportation approach, you realize that at the collective level, a difference is possible.