Cycling as both a means of transport and a leisure activity is more common in Denmark than in most other countries in the world. Indeed, Danish cycling culture is as old as the bicycle itself. But why is cycling so popular in the Scandinavian country? Let’s take a look.
Cycling Helped Equality in Denmark at the Beginning of the 20th Century
Like other European countries, the bicycle was first introduced to Denmark in the 1880s. But it was in the 1920s and 1930s that the bike became a symbol of the Danish people’s equality and freedom. That stemmed from the fact that people of all social classes were riding side by side, both for utilitarian and recreational reasons. Danes would make their way to work by bicycle in the cities and head out to the countryside on their bikes at weekends. Cycling was one of the very first activities to bring together people from different classes.
Danes Love Virtual Cycling Too
Although Danes still love cycling in the fresh air to this very day, plenty also enjoy indoor activities like playing video games. According to Statista, 30% of Danish people played online video games in 2018. But even when playing video games, Danes like to cycle! Denmark is one of the countries taking part in this year’s very first UCI Cycling Esports World Championships.
If you are a keen cyclist who enjoys playing video games, you can play cycling games like the Pro Cycling Manager series. You can also find some fantastic sports-based slot games at an online casino.
Bikes Versus Cars
By the 1970s, cycling had begun to become less widespread in Denmark due to the automotive boom of the 1950s and 1960s. However, the rise in automobiles on Danish streets also created poorer air quality and other issues, and Danes were starting to notice. The Mideast oil crisis of the early 1970s also caused Denmark to think again about its approach to motorized vehicles. That led to car-free Sundays being introduced in Copenhagen, and there were protests to make the city become completely car-free. Since then, concerns about air pollution, climate change, and the need for an ever-growing number of office workers to get more exercise led to the bicycle becoming extremely popular once again.
Copenhagen Is Now the Cycling City of the World
Today, cycling is more prevalent in Denmark than ever, especially in the capital of Copenhagen. The city recently reached a major milestone. There are now more bicycles than cars in the city, and Denmark is hoping other cities in the country will soon follow. In 2019, the LA Times reported 62% of Copenhagen residents commute to work or school by bicycle.
Danes Begin Cycling at an Early Age
How did Denmark manage to create more cyclists than drivers in such a motor-driven world? Well, cycling is ingrained into Danes’ lives from an early age. Danish children typically learn how to ride a bicycle before they begin school at the age of six. Also, take a trip to Copenhagen, and you’re sure to see families with children riding Danish cargo bikes, which are sort of oversized tricycles with a large wooden box attached to the front. The striking cargo bikes were invented in the 1980s in the Danish free town of Christiania.
The Danish Cycling Infrastructure Is Continually Improving
Denmark’s bicycling infrastructure is today one of the best in the world, which obviously helps Danes to feel confident in cycling. You will find designated bicycle paths throughout cities and the countryside, and there are 11 Danish National Cycle Routes that extend more than 7,500 miles. And at present, Copenhagen is installing traffic information boards for cyclists around the city, the first country in the world to do so.
