Did you know that more than half of Copenhagen's residents cycle to school or work every day?

The Danish capital has set a target to become the world's first carbon-neutral capital by 2025. The city has set new (and high) standards for adopting clean and green practices, especially when it comes to bicycles.

Commuting by bicycle is actually faster and more efficient than any other mode of transport in Copenhagen. That's why you'll find more cycles than people and more than 5 times as many bicycles than cars in this city!

A Cycling Paradise

The city has gone all out in encouraging its cyclists - it has laid out more than 1000 km of cycling trails, coordinated traffic signals, and added footrests and handrails at junctions. They have even added 'bike butlers' who help park cycles and carry out free thoughtful repairs!

No wonder Copenhagen's cyclists hardly break traffic rules. Several of the city's main streets are closed to cars and instead feature only cycling lanes and cycle parking lots. Bike lanes along major roads are wide and slightly raised. Copenhagen is developing 38 bike super-highways along the main city routes. The city's light rail system has recently permitted cyclists to bring their vehicles on board, that too free-of-cost.

The city planners are absolutely committed to making cyclists feel safe. So when cyclists approach a major junction, sensors a little way down the streets 'tell' the traffic lights to literally give them a 'green' signal, which means cyclists are rarely held up by traffic. Isn't that cool? One smooth continuous journey from home to school! Even in the bitterly cold winters, the cycling lanes are cleared of snow before car lanes.

In another bid to increase green mobility, Copenhagen unveiled an iconic structure in June - "Cykelslagen" or Cycle Snake. This is an orange-paved elevated bridge for cyclists that provides a vital link between highway cycling routes and the city's harbor.  

A Cycle Jam

Lately, however, the authorities are facing a new and curious problem - parking facilities are simply not adequate for cyclists who have now started leaving their cycles just about anywhere.

Often, the biggest hurdle faced by cyclists is extricating their cycle from these huge piles, and that too without getting chain oil onto themselves. Perhaps the solution lies in converting more car parking spaces, or else, building multi-story or underground parking lots for cycles.

Meanwhile, other urban cities are taking cues from this Eco-metropolis. London, Paris, New York, Beijing, San Francisco, and many others are all adopting measures to encourage cyclists, inspired by Copenhagen. 

Source Copenhagenize.com, BBC, Treehugger