Diane is Scottish, and made her way to Denmark over 20 years ago by way of Luxemburg, where she was working for the European Supreme Court.
When I think of moving to a new country, I imagine a new language, different foods (my fav part!), and becoming part of a culture that might be completely new.
Diane has seen a lot of different countries and ways of doing things throughout Europe. But when she moved to Denmark, there was one such culture that she was immersed in that we don’t usually think about… the bike culture.
The Danes by Bike
Here in the US, we think of biking to work or school as a good habit. It is something someone does on occasion, or maybe built into a routine. Make it a habit.
However, in Denmark, it is a way of life. It is part of their culture. If they suddenly had to stop riding, the whole country would have to completely re-imagine how to get around.
60% of Danish people bike to work, bike to school, bike to university, its just a natural method of getting around for us… the state, the government are making changes all the time because they want to increase that percentage…
- Diane
Here are some numbers that show how much bikes are ingrained into the culture that they grow up with, or that people like Diane learn to adapt:
Danes bike a combined total of 8 million km (5m miles) per day.
40,000 cyclists cross the Dronning Louises Bro bridge in Copenhagen daily.
25% of all trips under 5 kilometers (3 miles) are on bike; 16% of all trips.
7 out of 10 of all Danes over the age of 6 own a bike (9/10 In Copenhagen).
Diane mentions that most people are already commuting by bike, and that overall people don’t think that is enough. And they are backing that up with half a billion dollars:
“In January 2022, the Danish Ministry of Transportation announced that 2022 is The Year of the Bike. This initiative was launched as a part of a large infrastructure plan, investing $458 million in new cycling infrastructure.”
- Visit Denmark
I kind of feel like the Danes are the student in class that complains when they score 99 on a test… Over-achievers!!
🙂
Building a Bike Culture
Diane was able to participate in her kid’s school bike safety program when they were in the 5th grade.
In the 4th or 5th grade, they are out and the police are there, and I actually participated in it with my children. And they actually had lorry drivers there who set up and they showed the children where the blind spots are and where you have to place yourself… The whole culture is built around using the bike.
Education is important for culture, and that goes for bike culture too. You have to learn and understand everything so everyone can take part and enjoy it. Especially when it is such an integral part of daily life.
Putting the E into the Bike
Being such a biking community, the whole idea has not caught in in Denmark because, as she says, you already have a bike, why would you need it?
Electric bikes are not a big thing…
But there are some who are adopting e-bikes… the older generations, the pensioners. They were the first ones to electrify their rides.
Diane didn’t figure she would get an e-bike for several more years. But she decided, what the heck… so she got it for her birthday,
And it is one of the best things I’ve ever gotten
Diane admits that she is not a cyclist per se, even though she ride 365 days a year. She doesn’t dress up in all the bike gear and bike clothes. That is not a thing for the average commuter in Denmark. They just try to dress warm and waterproof.
However…
Her actual hobby is not exactly about staying warm or dry… Diane and friends form the winterbathing group, Bluetits Chill Swimmers. Which is supposed to be really good for your body. But the thought of jumping into icy waters gives me shivers.
But I promise to try it one day.
It’s A Way of Living
Whether yours has a battery or not, getting around by bike for local commute is different way of living in your community. You feel more connected. You slow down. You take the scenic route because everywhere on the bike a is a scenic route.
Diane summed this thought well:
That’s how we shop for groceries. That’s how we go and visit friends. That’s how we go into town in the evening. You just take your bike. And the children grew up in the bike culture… and bike to school on their own from the age of about 9 or 10 years old.
I don’t suppose we will have 60% of commuters choosing bike real soon, but we should take a page for the bike-crazy Danes and ignore the number and think that, regardless if it is low or high, we should bike more!
Always to think, do I need to use the car. Is there another way to get exercise into my day… look around at the things that are local, because it’s the local things that you can do that really make the big difference.
Not a Cyclist, But I Ride 365 Days a Year...