Wind Chill -15

Wind Chill -15, originally uploaded by [Zakkaliciousness].

The bike lanes on this stretch are wider than normal - about 3 metres - providing ample room for the 25,000 daily cyclists who ride past this point. It's one of the main arteries into the city - Hans Christian Andersen Boulevard.

If you have a moment, pop over to JPG Magazine and cast a vote for a photo of mine in their "On the Move" category. A photo of a Copenhagener on a bike lane, of course, bien sûr.

Bikes and Trains and Lifts Oh My

Button Pressing, originally uploaded by [Zakkaliciousness].

This is a cyclist heading down the lift that leads to the metro station at Fasanvej. Given the number of bikes in this city it's not surprising that citizens are allowed to transport them on the metro [although not during rush hour], the local trains as well as the regional trains.

The latter two have bike compartments with bike racks for this purpose. On the metro the trips are shorter so you just have to stand up with your bike:

There are, needless to say, lifts at every station for bikes, the elderly and prams. Or anyone else who needs a ride down to the platform. Some people, when it's not too busy, will just chuck their bike on the escalator.



Alternatively, every taxi in the nation is equipped with bike racks so one or two bikes can be transported if need be.

Right Turn Shortly

Right Turn Shortly, originally uploaded by [Zakkaliciousness].

Killer heels, clunky old pink bike and proper traffic skills.
A frightfully delightful combination.

Guest Photos: From Everywhere.

This whole guest photo thing is really snowballing. It's wonderful to recieve so many photos from around the world. Thanks to everyone who thinks of us and sends them along.
For those of you out there who use Flickr, I've started a group - Cycle Chic Global Pool - to which you can add your photos. That makes it easier for me to blog them. Don't despair if you don't use Flickr, just mail them along to us. Right then. Here goes. A super slough of global cycle chic:


Like so many others, I turn frequently to your blog to see the latest of your inevitably smile-inducing pictures and commentaries on Copenhagen's chic and sane cycling culture. Thank you for sharing the simple joys of daily life on your city's streets and beautiful blue bike paths.
Tom [in Tuscon, USA]


From Lisbon, passing thru London on her way to happiness. The only thing comparable to cycling is watching a girl on a bicycle. Isn't it? Thanks for the photos you give us all. Best regards, Humberto.


Dear Chic Copenhagen Cyclists: Here is a picture of my freind Gypsie, who works at Aaron's Bicycle Repair, in Seattle. She usually rides a beautifully customized all red XtraCycle, but here she shows how a European bag and bike can add some style to an already enchanting ensemble. February in Seattle is treating us pretty well. Val.


Here come some cycle men from Japan! Picture is taken in April 2007.
With best regards, Alo, Estonia.


I must say the site is absolutely astounding. I was in Copenhagen in November and absolutely fell in love with the city because of the people and the mass bike culture. This is a picture of my wife who cycles with me pretty much everywhere. The picture was taken in October, there is snow everywhere now. Edmonton has a wonderful network of MUPs that follow the river valley that twists through the city itself. It makes it quick to travel from residential areas to the University or Downtown core by bike. It also connects to the velodrome! My commute is significantly quicker by bike than car, even in -25C weather.

Keep the information and great pictures coming, it is starting to be seen in the student population at the University. Fixies are disappearing and lovely girls and boys are seen dressed nicely on useful city bikes.
Cheers! Samuel


Another piece on cycling in India - Read Parimal's first one here.
Dear Sir,
I recently drew an illustration for a competition, showing an Indian woman riding a bicycle with her daughter in front. This is a common sight here on the streets. I didn't win a prize, but I feel you may like the picture.

The standard ladies loop frame is common enough in India even today. This kind of frame is preferred by most ladies as it is sturdier, and provides enough clearance for the flowing 'sarees' we wear. I love straddling a loop frame : it makes me feel so womanly. Someone even once told me that a lady riding a loop frame is a romantic sight!

Despite the growing band of women who have taken to the scooterette, I prefer to stay with those faithful sisters who find their greatest pleasure in jumping onto a saddle and riding away lustily.
Best regards, Parimal.

The Winter That Never Was

We're probably speaking too quickly, but this winter hasn't seen any great amount of snow. It's warmer than ever, it hardly rains - how dreadfully uneventful. There's nothing like a dump of 50cm of snow to put our cyclists to the test. It may still fall, but until then we'll glance back at some wintry photos from last year.

Brunette in the process of overtaking blonde on the upwards climb to the middle of the bridge over the harbour. On a stormy, sleety day. Fortunately the slush spit up by the cars didn't make over onto the bike lane.

One of the many ways to wait at a light. The Copenhagen Straddle. Feet firmly on the ground. Looking solid, grounded and at one with one's self.

The light is green but when 50-60 bikes are in front of you, waiting to continue on, you don't get to move right away. And remember... you don't need fancy gear in the winter... just be your old stylish self.

Cycle Chic Wallpaper

It's been a while since we chucked a wallpaper up onto the blog. So we're doing it now.
1024 x 768 and all that.

Copenhagen Cycle Chic Goes to Stockholm

We are not content with merely providing a portrait of Copenhagen Cycle Chic. Where possible, we snap shots of cycle chic in other European cities. This time Stockholm. It's a groovy town, no doubt about it. Similar to Copenhagen in many ways. While the number of cyclists is nothing like Copenhagen, there are wonderful bike lanes throughout town and the cyclists you see are just getting on with it. Regular clothes, no fancy gear. Just using their bike for transport.

It's quite a hilly town but it was pleasing that this was of little concern to the cyclists. Up they went, putting a bit of extra muscle into it.

Windswept

Composure doesn't come any cooler.

Earmuffs

It got cold again today. The first pair of earmuffs I've seen for a while, but she wore them well.

Bike Lane Shadows

Bike Lane Shadows, originally uploaded by [Zakkaliciousness].

A splendid marriage of an old Raleigh, a pair of shoes by Christian Louboutin, the blue bike lanes of Copenhagen and a bright, winter Nordic sun.

Boot For Thought

Boot For Thought, originally uploaded by [Zakkaliciousness].

Steady as she goes, captain.

A Blaze of Red

A Blaze of Red, originally uploaded by [Zakkaliciousness].

What a cool bike moment to capture, methinks.

The Retrovelo Balloon Bike

We just posted another 'Bikes We Like' bit over at Copenhagen Bike Culture Blog, this time about Retrovelo and their fantastic Balloon bikes. We thought it fitting to post a photo from their groovy catalogue here. Read all about why we love them - here.

Forward Motion

Forward Motion, originally uploaded by [Zakkaliciousness].

Copenhagen bike culture isn't just waiting at traffic lights. The forward motion is interesting, too.

Bridge of Sighs

Bridge of Sighs, originally uploaded by [Zakkaliciousness].

Up over Knippel's Bridge they go. Off to work or school. A constant cycloflow of busy, chic Copenhageners.
Important cogs in the lifeflow of this fine city.

Denmark Land of Smiles and Peace, Apparently

Retro tourism poster from the 1950's [we think] promoting Denmark as a tourist destination. Using that quintessential icon of Danishness - Woman on Bike. Once again, once again... it's not just us. We are merely continuing a century long tradition with this blog. The child's seat in the artwork is still in use today. Great to have the kid up front as opposed to sitting on a plastic contraption behind you.

'The Spirit of the Wheel', above, was one of the many images celebrating the bicycle's liberating quality back in the bicycle boom at the end of the 1800's.

Ironically the artwork is from the cover of the New York magazine 'Truth' back on 22 August 1896. Something went horribly wrong 'over there' between then and now.:-)

And while we're on this retro journey, here's a film still from Hitchcock's 'Topaz', filmed in Copenhagen and, not surprisingly, featuring a girl on a bike.

Right Turn Shortly

Right Turn Shortly, originally uploaded by [Zakkaliciousness].

Another photographic analysis of the casualness of a right turn signal on the bike lanes of Copenhagen.

Parallel Canal

Parallel Canal, originally uploaded by [Zakkaliciousness].

Copenhagen cyclist flowing along the bike lane next to a canal.

Love the beret

Over to Raquel for some fashion analysis . . . ; )

Guest Photoliciousness from Estonia, London and Portland

A busy inbox we have.
Thanks to everyone who sends us guest photos of cycle chic around the world. Here's today's international collection:

One of our newest member states in the European Union, Estonia, has a blossoming bike culture and Rasmus sent us this pearl of a shot. Thanks for that. Even though mountain bikes [in urban settings] are so-o-o-o 1990's, the outfit makes this shot. Nice contrast.

Thanks to Eva for this groovy photo from the London New Years Day Parade where participants dress up in vintage clothes and ride vintage bikes.
Check out Eva's cool blog - Cyclepod.

Another report from our Foreign Correspondant Patrick Finn in Portland, USA:
Here is a shot of something we see very often in Portland, girls riding track bikes with no brakes. This has caused quite a controversy here due to police citing cyclists for not having a brake, but the lawyers looked closely at the law and saw that it said the vehicle must be able to skid to a stop. Some fixed fear riders can do this and some can't. I ride a fixed gear, with a front brake. I can certainly understand how Europeans see this fixed gear craze and think it's a bit frivolous, but what can I say? It's become part of the culture here.
Great shot yet again, Patrick. You're right, it's a strange fad that fixed gear thing. But fads fade. Bikes without proper brakes are not allowed here according to the traffic laws. If bikes are to enjoy an equal footing with motorised traffic then the rules should apply to bikes as well. That's an important step towards bike culture. Thanks for keeping us up to date from your side of the pond!

Guest Photo: Sydney, Australia

Urban Cyclist Project 32, originally uploaded by Velovotee.

This just in from Jake in Sydney.

Hello Copenhagen,

At last I think I have a photo that is worthy to be a guest on your
excellent Cycle Chic blog! Hope you like it.

Best regards
Jake
Oh, we like it, Jake. Thanks for thinking of us. Lovely to see a spot of cycle chic from your end of the planet!.

The Triobike

We like the Triobike. It's a fabulous step up on the evolution of the cargo bike. We have just done a write up about it over at The Copenhagen Bike Culture Blog. Have a read.

Spring sun

Left work early yesterday in the hope of catching the last of the daylight. As Zakka keeps mentioning, spring really is round the corner here . . . I haven't even needed my gloves the last couple of days. Bring it on!

Intersectional

Intersectional, originally uploaded by [Zakkaliciousness].

A typical morning in Copenhagen on a sunny winter's day.
This stretch of bike lane is not that busy. About 5,000 cyclists a day in the direction the cyclist is heading and 10,000 - 15,000 from left to right.

Later that day, on the evening news, I learned that it was the second warmest February 18th on record. Despite the morning chill, it warmed up to 11 degrees.

Pink Bike Sunshine

Pink Bike Sunshine, originally uploaded by [Zakkaliciousness].

Spring is just around the corner.

Dreamland

Dreamland, originally uploaded by [Zakkaliciousness].

Biking in Copenhagen is often a dreamy affair.
Beautiful morning sunshine eased the biting cold wind as tens of thousands of cyclists pedalled smoothly and calmly towards their destinations.

Red Ride and Funky New Yorkers

Red Ride, originally uploaded by [Zakkaliciousness].

Morning commuter commuting in sunshine and style.
And a wind chill of -15 C.
Shiny red on the lovely blue bike lanes of Copenhagen.

Thanks to a couple of our regular readers for sending us a link to a slideshow at the New York Times with cool photos of chic and funky New Yorkers on bikes, taken by Bill Cunningham.
Here's a little teaser. To see the rest, click on to the Times' website.

Easy Rider

Easy Rider, originally uploaded by [Zakkaliciousness].

With hundreds of thousands of daily cyclists in Copenhagen, one might assume that finding a quiet cycle moment would be somewhat difficult.

I assure you that such moments exist.