Traffic Calming and Other Wednesdayish Things

In Copenhagen we have a unique traffic calming system. Traffic lights are sooo last century. Instead, we send carefully selected Copenhageners into intersections with red boots on. Within seconds, the traffic stops, both motorised as well and bicycle and pedestrian. Men and women alike. For those sweet few moments, the city is safe and even more aesthetically-pleasing. Works like a charm.

Yet another brilliant application of the bicycle in the Copenhagen urban landscape. Selling fresh fruit on street corners. They call it the Fruitbike.dk, a custom-built cargo bike for this specific purpose. Nobody does cargo bike culture like the Danes. But then again, we've been at it for a century or so. For more cargo bike culture...


It's funny how many people find riding in high heels or in a suit to be such a foreign concept, while it really is as easy as buttering a delicious, thick slice of Danish rye bread. Above, barristers heading home from the City Courts. Below, a smashing chappie on his Raleigh waiting for the light.



A little criss-cross cycle waltz. Cyclist on left rolls easily along the separated bike lane. Cyclist on right negotiates crossing the street. The 'Copenhagen Bike Lane', as illustrated on the left celebrates 25 years this year. Read more over at our Copenhagenize.com blog. Separated bike infrastructure is the flagship for any established bike culture and the goal for any city wishing to increase the number of cyclists in the urban landscape.

A display at a shop in the Tivoli Gardens. They don't sell bikes or anything to do with bikes but the bicycle is such a quintessential symbol of Danishness that it works in every setting.

Our friends the Dutch are planning on building a massive artificial island off the coast in the shape of a tulip. If we choose to do the same here in Denmark, you can bet it would be in the shape of a bicycle. I'd love to see that. A massive granny bike in the sea between Denmark and Sweden.

For the new visitors showing up on the blog today, here's our Cycle Chic All-Stars Selection: