October 29, 2009
By 2015, Copenhagen Commuters May Bike 50% of the Time
Copenhagen has set a goal to have half its daily commuters use bicycles to get around by 2015, according to a press release.
The effort is expected to help play a role in the city reducing its emissions by 80,000. The city already has 350 kilometers of bike trails and another 70 are under development, including biking lanes on roads.
American cities such as Portland, Ore., are trying to learn from Copenhagen’s example.
Copenhagen’s “bike culture ambassador” is speaking alongside Portland Mayor Sam Adams Oct. 29 at a forum about marketing bikes to the masses, according to bikeportland.org.
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Reader Comments
An interesting twist as the “developed” world slowly shifts to bicycles while the “developing” world drops them to pursue automobiles.
Many of our health, welfare, quality of life, social, and environmental issues could be addressed by a greater adoption of bicycle commuting. Certainly this modest amount of daily exercise would be a great step in reducing obesity in the US.
Perhaps if the US delegation to Copenhagen returns with nothing more than a clear agenda to promote, encourage, and adopt a greater use of bicycle commuting in the US we can call that a success.
Jack Pouchet | October 29th, 2009