Denmark, a fairy tale kingdom, not only has more than 7,000 kilometers of beautiful coastline, dense forests and open grasslands, but also 11,000 kilometers of bicycle lanes.
In Denmark, bicycles have more road rights than cars. In narrow places, cars should not be urged by slow bicycles. Here, bicycle is not only a means of transportation, but also a very popular sport. As a means of mobility and sport, bicycles are more popular because of their social distancing.
Sixty percent of Copenhageners commute by bike
According to statistics, in Copenhagen, more than 60% of citizens commute by bicycles every day. Cycling is a major feature of Copenhagen. The reporter’s party was guided by an 82-year-old Danish grandmother.
She was very agile in getting on and off, and she rode quickly. She said that her health was mainly due to her persistence in riding around the streets and alleys every day. She also proudly told me that she had been “riding” for 79 years, and her goal was to “riding” for 100 years.
Denmark not only has common two-wheeled bicycles, but also various tricycles and four-wheeled bicycles, some with buckets in the front (as shown in Figure 1) and some with buckets in the back.
The reporter of Global Times once talked to a father who rode a front bike.
He told me that parents can understand their children’s needs at any time when their children sit in front of the fights, and their children can also see a wider scenery.
He believes that a bicycle can take the whole family together, which is more environmentally friendly and closer to nature than cars. He also stressed in particular: “I think driving a bicycle carrying a child with the power of the father’s own power can express the close love between parents and children more directly, and it is more natural and delicate than the power from the engine.”
The reporter also visited the bicycle design studio in Denmark. The staff here used their brains to design many bicycles with various purposes. They will also make decorations for bicycles according to the world trend, so that bicycles can become a display platform for personality and aesthetics.
Bicycle right of way first
More than half of the 20 global bicycle-friendly cities selected in 2019 are from Europe, including Denmark. Bicycles have a higher priority in Europe. That is to say, on the road, cars must give way to pedestrians and bicycles.
When the road is very narrow, it is very rude to sound horns or force overtake cyclists in front of the cyclists, and will face a large number of fines. Bicycles, like cars, can be insured here.
If the bicycle is lost or damaged, or the cyclist suffers any personal injury during the ride, he can apply to the insurance company for compensation, which is a guarantee to encourage the public to ride.
Many people take the train to and from work every day to solve the commuting problem from home to the railway station, from the railway station to the work unit. Not only folding bicycles, but ordinary bicycles also allow the propulsion of the car.
Cycling in Europe is not only a means of transportation, but also a very popular sport. Every year, the popularity of the Tour de France is no less than that of the European Cup and the World Cup.
In addition to the Tour de France, there will be many local cycling competitions in different countries and regions, professional and amateur. Enumeration. People’s love for cycling has been cultivated since childhood.
The reporter often sees European parents riding with their young children.
Even three- or four-year-old children can ride their own bicycles skillfully on the road. Many European cars have bicycle brackets on the roof or tail. On weekends, they drive to the forest with their families. It is the favorite of many Europeans to hold a “family cycling cross-country race” in the forest.
Free car repair tools are also common on the streets of Europe.
Every year on car-free day, many European cities also give cyclists free gifts such as headlights, reflective vests, pumps and so on. In addition, cycling in Europe must wear a helmet.
The German Transport Safety Association said that although it does not avoid traffic accidents, it can protect the head from fatal injuries.
The epidemic has made Europeans love bicycles more.
European retail has been hit hard this year due to the pandemic, but bike shops are always in business, and bike shops have enjoyed the privilege of staying open even during the worst lockdown period.
Many European governments have also launched the latest bicycle support policy, Italy provides a “green” subsidy of 60% for newly purchased bicycles, and France provides a one-time transportation subsidy of hundreds of euros for commuters, etc.
The owner of the bicycle shop near the reporter’s house told me that his business this year is better than last year, the turnover has increased by nearly 50%, and bicycles are often out of stock. He believes that the epidemic has made people realize the importance of health, and driving less and cycling more is the magic weapon to maintain health.
In 2020, Brussels has drawn many bicycle lanes, which are not allowed by cars and pedestrians.
The municipal government believes that bicycles are the perfect means of transportation during the epidemic, not worrying about the risk of virus transmission caused by the dense public transportation and subway personnel, but also faster and more efficient than walking.
From January 1, 2021, Brussels, the capital of Belgium, will become a city with a speed limit of 30 kilometers for cars.
Except for special vehicles such as fire trucks, police vehicles, ambulances, etc., all motor vehicles, including buses, must comply with the speed limit of 30 kilometers.
The Brussels municipal government believes that the right to use roads is not exclusive to cars, and the needs of bicycles and pedestrians must also be taken into account. Therefore, with the support of many scientific data, the 30-kilometer speed limit policy has been introduced, so that cyclists can ride safer and more comfortable.
