In London recently, on a cold day with a forecast of rain, I threw on a thin sweatshirt and stepped outside. As I unchained my bike from the railings, a neighbour said, “Surely you’re not going to exercise in this weather?”
“Exercise? No way. I’m just cycling to the shops.”
He looked astounded, “You cycle to the shops when you are here in London?”
“Sure”, I replied. “Don’t you use a bike? “He replied, “Well, on Sundays, I get into my lycra cycling gear and speed along the river to keep in good shape.”
Therein lies the difference between cycling culture in Denmark and almost every other country, except Holland. Danes view cycling as a means of transport, a human-powered vehicle that can easily take you to work, the kids to school and in the case of politicians, to Parliament. As for commuters, have you seen how many bikes are stacked up outside Copenhagen’s main train station?
Danes live their lives in the saddle
In the UK, cycling is considered a fitness activity rather than a means of transportation. Getting a sweat on, building up those miles, burning off loads of calories. If a snapshot was taken of bikers waiting at the traffic lights in London and compared to one of bikers in Copenhagen, it would say it all.
The Londoners would be mainly male and wearing Tour de France outfits, while the Copenhageners would be of both sexes, all ages, and wearing everyday clothes, sitting astride a wide assortment of bikes: children-transporting bikes, (aka Christiania bikes ), racing bikes, basket bikes, tandems, and those infernal el-bikes.
I must confess that I avoid cycling in the Copenhagen rush hour. There are so many fast el-bikes and bulky food deliveries, that it can be quite scary to manoeuvre in the hectic surge of 2-wheel traffic. A bridge near me has an estimated 40,000 bikers crossing it per day.
Danes use bikes for everything
One Danish undertaker offers to transport coffins by custom-made bike on the final journey to a church or burial site, while the funeral party walks or cycles alongside. The “Bike Cook” offers a cycling tour of the city and prepares Danish dishes for his customers.
The British may call it “Meals on Wheels “, but their wheels are on a car. I have been involved in the brilliant project conceived by Ole Kassow (check him out on a TED Talk “Cycling Without Age “) in which volunteers take elderly people out of their nursing homes for rides in the fresh air.
I took out a 92-year-old, Carl, on a tricycle bike the day following the destruction of the Stock Exchange building in the heart of Copenhagen. His eyes filled with tears as he realised the famous spire made of dragon’s tails was gone forever, but minutes later, we were laughing in the sunshine, cycling along the canals of Christianshavn.
To Bike or Not to Bike …?
That is the question. You won’t catch me on a bike in the endless winter months, but apparently 80% of Danes still bike, rain or shine, frost or snow. This does not surprise me, when you think that nothing stopped the Vikings from getting into open boats and crossing the Atlantic in all weathers.
The modern Viking has the same bravado. In fact the nicest Dane transforms from being a mild-mannered “hyggelig” type to becoming a crazed helmeted Viking, giving no mercy as he speeds along, yelling at slow bikers like me wobbling nervously on my pedals.
At least in London, I can feel smug about my biking dexterity. I like to imagine that my neighbour watched in admiration as I pedalled off down the street into the sunset. Luckily, I was out of sight when the first drops of rain started to splatter heavily onto my thin sweatshirt.
The author: Vivienne McKee is a British actor and director who has lived in Denmark for decades. Her shows are among the most popular with Danish audiences. She also writes a column for The Copenhagen Post, where she offers guidance to internationals on navigating life in Danish society.