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The Tour de France began in Copenhagen this year, but seeing a flock of cyclists is nothing new in Denmark. Thanks to excellent cycling and safety infrastructure and driving education, cycling is an important element of public transport throughout Denmark, as well as southern Sweden. In fact, Copenhagen and Malmö are routinely rated two of the best cycling cities in the world.
Many residents of these cities use cycling as their main method of commuting (30% of Danes!), young children can be seen cycling ahead of their parents on the way to school in the morning, and toddlers can be seen bobbing at the backs of bikes, strapped into their secure seats.
Sara Sterner, CEO of PåHoj, a Swedish brand that has created a child’s bike seat that can become a stroller, notes: “Biking is easy [in the region], and healthy and sustainable in all perspectives! Our mission at Påhoj is to make the everyday life for families easier, why stop biking just because you have a baby? For a young company like ours the business eco-system is crucial, and lucky for us it´s also open and with a sharing culture- in short: givers gain.” – Sara Sterner, CEO of PåHoj.
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For visitors to the Greater Copenhagen Region, which is made up of Eastern Denmark and Skåne as well as Halland in Southern Sweden, cycling might seem a bit intimidating. It is totally possible to do as a tourist, however! Just learn the hand signals, wear a helmet, and go as slow as you need to (and don’t worry about it if someone dings their bell at you; it’s not personal!).
Now, there’s another reason to jump on a bike as a tourist. Copenhagen Capacity and Invest in Skåne are placing five colorful bicycles in the the Greater Copenhagen Region: a place brand co-led by Copenhagen Capacity and Invest Skåne. These cities are Copenhagen, Roskilde, Halmstad, Malmö, and Lund. They’re staring in Roskilde during Roskilde Festival, then on to Copenhagen for the Tour de France, Malmö Pride, and finally Gullbrannafestivalen in Halmstad and Lund.
The idea is to get international visitors to share a fun, memorable cycling experience on these charming bikes. If you see one of these bikes, snap a selfie or picture! Or you can participate digitally, with a picture of your own bike or cycling in your hometown. Then, upload your photo on the competition’s website and you’ll be entered to win Scandinavian biking gear, including an e-bike from MATE. Other sponsors are PåHoj, Hövding, and IAMRUNBOX.
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Explaining their involvement as one of the project sponsors, Head of Brand at MATE Michael Lillelund says, “Danish biking culture is at the core of why we are one of the happiest nations in the world. The biking lifestyle of Denmark inspired us to share the joy of biking with the world. Our mission, to challenge traffic congestion by adopting biking, enables us to take this everyday magic to the world. We move people physically and emotionally in a fun and cool way. Biking gives you a physical workout and engages your heart and mind with your surroundings, taking in the beauty of every day and the joy of expressing yourself on a bike that compliments your style and needs.”
Denmark and southern Sweden are incredibly privileged to have the infrastructure to make cycling enjoyable and safe. E-bikes offer an additional option those who might have physical considerations that make cycling more difficult, or who have to cycle longer-than-average distances. If you are not able to use traditional cycles due to disability, keep in mind that there are many kinds of bikes that have been developed in recent years, including reclining cycles!
The #ibike campaign is all about encouraging people to incorporate biking into their daily lives. We can’t wait to see what you post!
See the campaign video here:
Enter the #ibike competition here! It runs until 31st July, and a winner will be announced on 15th August. You can also find out more about the Greater Copenhagen Region and the #ibike campaign.