What I am learning from cycling in Denmark

[Flying_Monkey]

So I'm in Denmark for a few months (Aarhus to be precise). And I've decided to do as the Danes do. So I have a cheap city bike with a basket. It only has three internal hub gears and the ratios are limited so you can't really get up any speed. So I'm relaxing and taking my time. Along with hundreds of other commuters and everyday cyclists, I ride in the wide, hard separated bike lanes*, which run all over the place inside and out of the city, and like most people I don't wear a helmet.

And you know what? It's great.The Danes drive too much and too fast too, just like the British and the Canadians, yet cycling is much more relaxing than either the UK or Canada. I don't need to ride assertively (let alone aggressively) or fight for my space on the road. I don't get angered by stupid driving or close passing, I've never felt that drivers are out to kill me, and not once thought that it might be a good idea to equip myself with special protection or a camera to monitor bad behaviour.

Ever since I've left the UK three years ago, it's become increasingly clear to me that everyone in the UK is too angry and aggressive, too defensive, not willing enough to give an inch. I didn't realise how much stress I got from the daily commute (or I wasn't willing to concede it because that would seem like I was betraying cycling somehow). The pro-driving organisations don't like cyclists on the road, cycling advocates seem to think that separation would an admission of defeat and won't even consider it (and I am fully expecting to be told just how wrong I am in this post), and the result is that cycling in the UK remains far less pleasurable than it could be. Canada isn't much better, but it's only less stressful where I live normally because there are simply fewer people per square mile. Denmark, on the other hand - it's just nicer to cycle in. That's my experience: make of it what you will.

* you don't have to ride in the cycle lanes - if you're training or just want to ride faster, there's nothing stopping you riding on the road.

 

[Haitch]

So I'm relaxing and taking my time. Along with hundreds of other commuters and everyday cyclists, I ride in the wide, hard separated bike lanes, which run all over the place inside and out of the city.

Same in Holland, like a murmuration of starlings, on wheels.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Separation could be a wonderful thing in the UK. Show us the drawings and the funding plans. Tell us the name of the party who will raise the taxes and implement it and we will vote for them in droves.

In the mean time what are we supposed to do, stay at home, leave our bikes in the garage/shed until Nirvana has been built

btw my understanding is that only around a quarter to one third of Danish infrastructure is separate/segregated. Austria does it so much better but no one ever bigs 'em up.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

cycling advocates seem to think that separation would an admission of defeat and won't even consider it (and I am fully expecting to be told just how wrong I am in this post), and the result is that cycling in the UK remains far less pleasurable than it could be.

You are right

 

[jarlrmai]

It's so much nicer riding segregated, on my Saturday ride I came to a bit where the road was closed the workers let me past as you could get through on a bike and I had a few miles on the road with no cars. It was so nice.

Segregated paths are a good idea, although I worry about a fast/slow cyclist schism.

 

[HLaB]

FWIW, in my limited experince of cycling in Northern Europe (Belgium to be precise) I didn't think it was the best farcilities like orbitary cycle lanes etc and you got the occaision twerp who took offence if you were not using them. However, I also didn't like the nature of cyclists just blindly pulling out and undertaking turning cars, was that just the 'Sportive Spirit' (Euphenism) or 'Strict Liability' in practice; how does it operate in Denmark?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

It's so much nicer riding segregated, on my Saturday ride I came to a bit where the road was closed the workers let me past as you could get through on a bike and I had a few miles on the road with no cars. It was so nice.

QED the cars are the problem not the roads.

Recently I had a delightful, long, ride down the A23 to south of Crawley and along the A264 to Horsham. Delightful. Dual carriageway and all. Splendid stuff. Between 01:00 and 03:00 in the morning you see. Hardly any cars.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

btw my understanding is that only around a quarter to one third of Danish infrastructure is separate/segregated. Austria does it so much better but no one ever bigs 'em up.

If I did, I would be making it up as I am not in Austria. So sorry for being in the wrong country. I had thought of some possible objections that I might get but this wasn't one of them!

And yes, not all infrastructure is segregated - it switches around quite a lot. But it's rather misleading to say 'only a quarter to a third' without reference to how much infrastructure this is in the first place, and what you mean by 'infrastructure' anyway. I wouldn't call much of what exists supposedly for cyclists in the UK, 'infrastructure', for example. It definitely seems like a hell of a lot in Aarhus.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

However, I also didn't like the nature of cyclists just blindly pulling out and undertaking turning cars, was that just the 'Sportive Spirit' (Euphenism) or 'Strict Liability' in practice; how does it operate in Denmark?

I don't know, but I will find out for you (by asking, not by having an accident!).

 

[BigonaBianchi]

..no way do I want segregation on uk roads!!

the problem is the aggressive dangerous inconsiderate drivers out there. Get them off th eroads not the bikes!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

If I did, I would be making it up as I am not in Austria. So sorry for being in the wrong country. I had thought of some possible objections that I might get but this wasn't one of them!

I thought I'd give you something from left field!

And yes, not all infrastructure is segregated - it switches around quite a lot. But it's rather misleading to say 'only a quarter to a third' without reference to how much infrastructure this is in the first place, and what you mean by 'infrastructure' anyway. I wouldn't call much of what exists supposedly for cyclists in the UK, 'infrastructure', for example. It definitely seems like a hell of a lot in Aarhus.

The % and definition of what counts as infrastructure was given by the equivalent of the CTC in Denmark....
Aarhus is, what, the second largest urban area in the country? Possibly it and Copenhagen aren't entirely representative of the entire nation rather in so much as London and Birmingham don't really sum up England.

Fair play though it's been a few years since I've been to either. Perhaps they've built Valhalla for cyclists in the mean time.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

..no way do I want segregation on uk roads!!

the problem is the aggressive dangerous inconsiderate drivers out there. Get them off th eroads not the bikes!

I want both.

 

[User169]

, and like most people I don't wear a helmet.

I was in Copenhagen last year with a group of Dutch people. They were surprised at how many people were wearing helmets - they seem far more prevalent than in NL.

 

[Moodyman]

No experience of Denmark but we were in Netherlands in 2011 and it was exactly an FM describes. Everybody rode gracefully - none of the commuter racing we get over here. Not sure how segregated lanes will work with faster/slower riders. Expect cyclist vs cyclist conflict.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

I guess helmet wearing is proportionate to cyclists perception of the accident risk. My perception is that the risk is way higher in the uk than any other country I have ridden in. Mostly because there are too many drivers on to narrow roads with to little respect.