What I loved about Copenhagen (and there’s a lot to love about it) was the bike culture there. The majority of people commute by bike and the city has grown around them. Cycle lanes are road width and cyclists are treated as equals, both in the eyes of town planners and drivers. Cycling in the UK normally involves a mad dash from the lights and an attempt to stay one step ahead of cars in order to not go under them. In Copenhagen the cyclists were all relaxed and steady, matching their state of mind when it comes to riding on the road. The other evening, on the way to the Revival Tour, I was nearly knocked off my bike twice; first being forced onto the kerb by a van driver, the second narrowly avoiding a car swerving to threaten another driver.
November 23, 2012