SCANDINAVIA - Clean Breaks: 500 New Ways to See the World - page 95

Green CopenhaGen

Copenhagen is regularly voted the best city in the world in which to live. Its high quality
of life and proximity to such an attractive coast give it a headstart over other cities, but
it is Copenhagen's enlightened urban development that is so impressive. Designed to
maximize good living as well as safety and security, the city strikes a perfect balance
between the old and the new: cutting-edge design juxtaposed with unspoilt medieval
architecture, trendy cafés and gourmet dining, pedestrian streets packed with designer
shops and an abundance of open green spaces. The city also takes its environmental
responsibilities seriously. Top billing is the city's renowned cycling culture, but there are
many other ways you can enjoy a green day out in the city. Here are our favourites.

125 Get on your bike
Let's face it, cyclists and car drivers aren't
always the best of friends. In Copenhagen there
are hundreds of thousands of cyclists (more than
1.1 million kilometres of cycling are clocked
up every day) yet many other residents drive
to work. To find a traffic system compatible

with both, Copenhagen's authorities have run
a successful pilot programme known as the
Green Wave. The idea is that the traffic signals
on cycling lanes are synchronized with cyclists'
average speed (approximately 20km per hour),
so you can cycle the length of the city without
ever having to stop at the lights. Green Waves
currently exist from Nørrebrogade to the
lakes and Nørre Farimagsgade to the city
centre, with more soon to be installed along
Copenhagen's 40km of cycling lanes.
There are several places to hire a bike in
the city, including an enlightened scheme
at Baisikeli, a 5min walk from Nørreport
station, where part of the hire cost goes
towards delivering second-hand bikes
to villages in Ghana, Sierra Leone and
Tanzania.

Mike and his bike on the bridge
at Nyhavn

Need to know For bike hire prices, suggested
itineraries and guided tours see W www.cph-
bike-rental.dk; T [phone]. Ask for
the excellent Copenhagen cycling map (also
available from tourist offices), which includes
details of cycling routes away from heavily
trafficked streets. To hire a bike at the Central
Station visit W www.copenhagen-bikes.dk,
where you can join an excellent “Bike with
Mike” guided tour to see the city's sights:
W www.bikecopenhagenwithmike.dk; T +45 (0)
2639 5688.