Cycling in Denmark
Photo: RhinoMind, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Cycling in Denmark is very popular for both recreational and commuting, and the Danish cycling culture is often compared to that of the Netherlands. The cycling infrastructure is among the most developed in the world and quite extensive, including a network of nationally appreciated bicycle routes extending more than 12,000 km (7,500 mi). In comparison Denmark's long coastline is only approx. 7,500 km (4,500 mi)!
This article omits the Greenland and the Faroe Islands, as their geography is very different from Denmark proper.
In urban areasIn many urban areas, cyclist have their own paths/ways.
In rural areasDenmark has approx. 2,500 km (1,500 mi) dedicated bikeways in the rural areas.
RoutesThe route network in Denmark is based on travelling from A to B, opposite to other cycling destinations like the Netherlands and Belgium who have recreational cycling networks.
Connecting with other forms of transportMost train systems and a few bus systems, allow you to bring your bike along. For the S-trains of Copenhagen it's free, but be aware of limitations during rush hour.
MountainbikingDenmark being a relatively flat land, doesn't sport much mountain biking territory.dk has a good map, showing user-made places, suitable for mountain biking.
Road bicycle racingThe same flatness that makes Denmark a bad sport for mountain biking, makes it rather popular for road racers. As the rural roads are almost always in good or very good shapes, Denmark is quite popular for road racers.
Getting a bikeMost cities and tourist areas offer bike rentals. Prices varies a lot, with as low as 65 kr per day and up to 275 kr depending on area and season.
Bike theftsBike theft is quite common especially in the bigger cities. In general more than 15,000 bikes are dumped in just Copenhagen and Aarhus. The vast majority of those are stolen.
Stay safeIn 2017, 27 cyclists were killed in Denmark in traffic accidents. Compared to the millions of kilometres cycled in Denmark every year, the risk of getting killed in traffic while cycling is extremely low.
The legal stuffThe Danish traffic code (in Danish Færdselsloven) actually hosts a specific chapter on cycling.
See also
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Cycling in Denmark" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: RhinoMind, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons