Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital, has become a global model for cycling, with bicycles surpassing cars in daily city-center traffic volume by 2016 (265,700 bike trips vs. 256,000 car trips). In 2010, bikes already led commuting modal share at 36% compared to 29% for cars. The Danish government has unveiled “The City of Cyclists in 2025,” a comprehensive policy aiming to boost bike usage, reduce CO2 emissions, and enhance infrastructure through four key pillars: improving accessibility, convenience, travel times, and safety.

Background

Denmark, particularly Copenhagen, has long prioritized cycling as a sustainable alternative to cars amid global green transportation trends. Since the 1970s, car traffic in the city center has steadily declined while bike usage has risen sharply. This shift is supported by extensive infrastructure, including dedicated bike lanes, though challenges like uneven paths and limited sharing systems persist.

Key initiatives include:

• Expanding cargo bike facilities: Cargo bikes, popular among families for carrying children or goods (accounting for 17% of trips), will see a massive increase in parking spots by 2025.
• Variable bike lanes: LED lights on roads dynamically widen bike lanes during peak hours by restricting cars.
• Dedicated infrastructure: Plans to pave all bike paths, convert one-way lanes to two-way, and build “bike superhighways” like the elevated Cycle Snake, which shortens routes and avoids traffic signals.
• Safety measures: Widening lanes to two (one for overtaking), and repositioning car stop lines at intersections to improve visibility and reduce right-turn conflicts.

These efforts build on Copenhagen’s world-leading bike lane network, as shown in city maps categorizing roads for expansion, new bridges/tunnels, and maintenance.

Future Outlook

By 2025, Copenhagen aims to redesign streets for bikes and pedestrians, dramatically increasing leisure and overall bike modal share while slashing CO2 emissions. Full implementation of superhighways, universal two-way lanes, and enhanced sharing systems could make bikes the fastest urban transport option. This model offers valuable lessons for cities worldwide, including South Korea, where bike modal share remains low (around 1-2%), highlighting the need for similar infrastructure investments and policy focus.

Sources

• Primary: Denmark’s Bicycle Promotion Policies (Korean Transport Institute Blog)
• Bicycle Modal Share at 1% in Korea: Challenges in Carbon Reduction
• Copenhagen Cycle Superhighway Case Study and Implications
• Additional references: Copenhagenize, Copenhagen International, ELTIS