Copenhagenisation: Making cities more cyclable

The majority of world carbon emissions now emanate from cities. So working toward cleaner, greener urban environments (which in the process are much more enjoyable places to live!) is vitally important if we are to begin to tackle climate change.

One term that has developed to encapsulate the pursuit of this goal is “Copenhagenisation”.  A strategy in which urban planning and design are devoted to making the city less dependent on the car and more accessible to pedestrians and cyclists, contributing to places which are “lively, safe, sustainable and healthy” (Gehl). This is really vital when you take into account that transport consumes both 20-25% of the world’s energy and emits a similar figure of carbon to the atmosphere. 

This concept of course originates from its namesake, The Danish capital, Copenhagen.  Renewed interest in the progression of the city from congested and hazardous to a cycling Mecca came as a result of the United Nations conference on climate change which it hosted in 2009.

Why cycling?  While all forms of sustainable transport must be developed, personally one of the issues with public transport, along with price, is the lack of freedom, to find your own way at your own speed. This perhaps one of the reasons why from the 1950’s onwards the mass movement away from public transport to the new cheap and available automobile occurred. Well, why wouldn't you? The development of cycling in urban areas leads to whole range of positive externalities: More cyclists means less drivers. Individuals who are healthier, less stressed with the prospect the daily commute newly invigorated. Cities are quieter, safer and pedestrians have more time to linger and really enjoy their surroundings. Fewer parked cars means there are more open spaces which can be used in a variety of ways from green spaces to markets to ….well what however far you imagination can stretch….

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The concept of Copenhagenisation has developed gradually but there have been two key individuals: Firstly  Mikael Colville-Andersen filmmaker, photographer and urbanist ^[famous for his, “Copenhagen Cycle Chic” blog devoted to the women (and men) who stylishly navigate the streets of the city, coined and popularized the phrase through a second blog Copenhagenize.com which seek to export some of the practices and lessons learned in the Danish capital.

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 Secondly, Urban designer Jan Gehl. instrumental in the evolution of Copenhagen, now shaped to meet the needs of people rather than cars.

While Gehl and Colville-Andersen may arrive at the problem from different points they advocate a number of the same things; for example the need for a change in the culture of urban cycling, moving away from a domain for Lycra clad speedsters to a form of transport open to everyone, recognised, as the normal method for getting around town. This concept has, in varying degrees spread throughout Britain, Europe and across the globe.

One way to prove this has been the expansion of the copenhagenize.com blog with sister sites devoted to Munich, Bogota and Portland to name just three. Gehl has gone onto integrate these ideas, in a more concrete sense, into a number of cities worldwide. His influence leading to changes in street design and big increases in those choosing two wheels over four. Take New York for example, where a change in policy has been met with almost immediate results. A 26% increase in cycle commuters between 2008-2009.

The Situation in Copenhagen

“We have spent 30 years not in great haste and making lots of mistakes figuring out how to get half a million people to cycle to work each day”  Colville-Anderson.

Copenhageners: They're are a hardy bunch! 

Nearly 40% of all the citizens of Copenhagen cycle each day with the city seeking to increase this even further to 50% by next year. This success is not simply as a result of an addiction to everything two-wheeled. Changes have been achieved through a long process of both carrots and sticks: There are very strict regulations regarding cars in the city, parking spaces are a limited commodity while vehicle registration tax is extremely high. At the same time $49 million was spent between 2006-2009 developing cycling facilities, including replacing busy roads with bike motorways. Cycling in the city has now perhaps proved so popular, that at certain times there is even bicycle congestion.

Potential Problems with a policy of Copenhagisation?

There are three things all cities must do in order to successfully Copenhagenise:

1.        Improve pedestrian and cycle access into and throughout cities
2.         Encourage people to spend greater time in public spaces
3.      Improve the quality of public space (Many cities have followed a well trod quick fix for this in particular).

 The key, as Colville-Andersen has acknowledged on many occasions, is that genuine change will not be achieved over night. In the case of Copenhagen the city’s first dedicated cycle lane was installed just 30 years ago while current success is as a result of many years of lessons learned from policy dead ends and mistakes.

“There was a political will to make it happen, funds were allocated. Funds are still allocated. We’re not bike friendly because it’s a flat city. We ride lots because of visionary political decisions.” – Colville-Andersen 

It’s this process of trial and error that has been undertaken that can really benefit other cities. Similar results can be achieved within a much shorter timeframe by simply incorporating the ideas that worked while staying away from those that failed. Of course no two cities are the same but as Gehl points out:

“depending on culture, religion, climate and topography there are good solutions for every city”.

Drivers and Cyclists: with friends like this…

Something that is required in every case is sufficient political will surprisingly not everyone likes bikes or cyclists! This is where the problem could lie. A great deal of time and money is required to change the prevailing culture. For many place both are a limited resource. I’ve previously written about the cycling renaissance that has occurred in my current home of Budapest, huge numbers either returning to or experiencing for the first time travel by two wheels. In the process overwhelming the current facilities.  But in general, in Copenhagenisation we have an exciting opportunity to experience our cities in a more healthy and sustainable way and at a speed of our choice.