Bikes!

One of the city’s infrastructures that has such a defining role on everyday life are bicycle lanes. Valle scholars from UW have come to Copenhagen just to study bicycle planning and now I can understand why. There are so many subtle aspects to the way bicycles are considered and integrated into the city as well as in the etiquette of riding. The most fundamental of these, are the purpose-built bike lanes. The streets usually lay out in this very important order: Sidewalk - Curb - Bike Lane - Curb - Street. Having a small curb that separates pedestrians from bikes and bikes from cars makes a huge difference! Riding in the city is much safer, easier, and as Susie put it, “civilized.” (...doesn't hurt that it's flat too.) The Danes grow up on bikes (the little ones learn on tiny two wheel bikes with no pedals), and it’s easy to tell when you see them ride -- as a common example -- a woman swiftly riding a bike while wearing a skirt and high-heels AND talking on a mobile phone, while in the speedy left lane passing a slower rider.

Once Amy and I procurred our own wheels from an immigrant-run bike shop called "Babylon Cykler" we made much quicker work of discovering the city. My bike is a good example of the most common mens bike. I've only seen a few road or mountain style bikes. (pictured at top)



There are some really really great bicycles and bicycle-makers in Copenhagen. This is one of my fayvo’s by Danish bikemaker Sögreni. Notice the brass details: fenders, pedals and bell.

Some websites for those interested:
Check out the first one for sure.

http://www.pedersen-bike.dk/
http://www.mybikes.dk/
http://www.christianiabikes.com/english/uk_main.htm
http://www.sogreni.dk/index.php
http://www.velorbis.com/