Copenhagen - livin' and stuff

People are really really crap at cycling in Copenhagen, and incredibly rude too, even if you're going on a straight line.

what up with that?

Hah, I just stumbled upon this thread, and I live in Copenhagen too.
Ed is right. Cyclists here are both rude and completely moronic.

I go everywhere on my bike, and every time I'm out in rush hours, I get annoyed by other people. We have bike lanes pretty much everywhere, but it's not exactly comfortable riding brakeless, as you constant see people overtake without looking back. A lot of female cyclists (pardon my generalization) doesn't seem to know how to change gears, so they stop in the highest gear, causing them to wobble around like crazy when they leave a light.
There is sooo many people riding side by side, and combined with the fact that there's shitloads of Christiania bikes and other cargobikes on the street, it can be really hard to ride with a decent pace.

What annoys me the most, is probably the fact that, whenever you have to stop for a red light, you get overtaken by so many slow riders, who just has to be up front at the red light.
The only way to get around comfortably is to use the bus- or car lane closest to the bike lane, and always be sure to be on the other side of the pedestrian crossing area and into the traffic. That said, I have experienced pedestrians kicking my wheel if I'm in their area, so I'm not big on trackstanding anymore :)

What have you experienced more specifically, Ed?

Well, the surprisingly number of restriction as a cyclist in Copenhagen (not allowed to be on road when cycle lane presented), the inconveniences of turning in a junction (cycle alongside the junction, turn your bike and either wait for the traffic to clear or the traffic light to turn green) rather than just get on the middle of the road and turn, being shouted and honked at by motorists for being on the primary position on road without cycle lane, and of course all those bell and whistle that you've mentioned.

I rarely get honked at in London for being in the primary position, but in Copenhagen the motorists strongly believe you should be riding very close to parked cars/kerbs.

it seemed that in order to cycle like a copenhagen cyclists, I need to forget about everything I learn about cycle training.

It's very interesting to hear these perspectives!

What Ed said. Love the city, hate cycling there.

I've been there last year and for some reason it seemed rather ideal for biking?
Roads are very big and open, so getting on the road when being busy seemed perfectly possible no?

Only sucked that you apparently can't ride without a front brake from what i've been told.
From what I read there it doesn't differ much from Amsterdam here, apart from traffic not being used to bicycles?!

it seemed that in order to cycle like a copenhagen cyclists, I need to forget about everything I learn about cycle training.

Different environment means riding in a different way shocker.

I was back in CPH last week for a conference, and had a bit of a pootle round on my Brompton. It's still orders of magnitude more pleasant than riding in London.

You just need to relax a bit and accept that the pace is slower. Nørrebrogade f'rinstance has lights that are synchonised for a constant cycling speed of about 20km/h. So there's no point in going any faster than that as you'll just get caught at the lights.

I stumbled upon this thread and thought of asking here about copenhagen. I'm coming to Copenhagen to a master's degree exchange student program in late august and i'm looking for lodgings. I ride fixed, but i also have a roadbike and a mountainbike. I thought of asking you guys because i don't wanna be ripped of by some real estate agency and i'm also looking for people to ride with. I'll be there for six months or maybe one year. If you can help me with some advice or if you know people that are looking for flatmates i would kindly thank you by buying lots of beer and getting some of you people drunk.

regards,

vlad

Different environment means riding in a different way shocker.

I was back in CPH last week for a conference, and had a bit of a pootle round on my Brompton. It's still orders of magnitude more pleasant than riding in London.

You just need to relax a bit and accept that the pace is slower. Nørrebrogade f'rinstance has lights that are synchonised for a constant cycling speed of about 20km/h. So there's no point in going any faster than that as you'll just get caught at the lights.

cycle everywhere at 40km/h . like i do

or even spike out at 55 :)

Hang on to cars, do 80!

@topacid: Have you tried contacting the university? They usually have people who can help you find cheap places to stay. One of my Facebookcontacts was renting out a room in a fraternity(?), but I can't seem to find the post. I'll send you a message if I find it...

I'm surprised at the comments of the Copenhagen residents being shit on bikes. I went over in February and it seemed like a haven for two wheels. That said, twas snowing and all the bikes I saw were parked up, still bajillions of them compared to cars.

Hello,

I'm moving from London to Copenhagen at the start of May. Does anyone on here live in Copenhagen as I don't know anyone over there and am looking to meet people..

Cheers

.

JesperXT I think: https://www.lfgss.com/member16346.html

Also, go on http://fixie-king.dk/forum/index.php It's the lfgss equivalent for Denmark. Most of them should speak English, if you ask nicely.

http://fixie-king.dk/wordpress/ TrackBikeShop is the BLB equivalent in Copenhagen.

Yup, I'm in Copenhagen, along with a couple of other people on here. We all use Fixie-King as well. Why are you moving to Copenhagen?

how is bicycle theft in copenhagen?

thriving, I would expect

how is bicycle theft in copenhagen?

As common as London, but that's mainly because no one can be arsed to lock it properly.

^this

report from 3 days in the city (no particular order)
number of aggressive drivers seen x 1
number of ambulances in city with motorbike outriders x 1
number of brakless fixies x 1
number of everyday cyclists x 1000s daily
number of on road confrontations witnessed x 1
number of rusty chains from casual bike use x 100s
number of cyclist rljers x 2
number of hi- viz vests and helmets- negligible.
it really does work, in this life,
read and delight
http://www.copenhagenize.com/

any rooms/single rooms free from august?

For a short stay or anything longer?

having to visit CPH very frequently and haemorraghing dkk every time i've been struggling with ways to reduce costs .. already staying in the cheap, or more accurately less-expensive-than-other, hotels on what i think is probably hooker street, the one result so far is a tiny chinese take out/ 3 table restaurant called 'noodle house' which serves the best chinese food i've had anywhere at what for CPH is at cheap prices, 2 mins walk from central stn, address - Abel Cathrines Gade 23 1654 København

any tips welcome.

i'm doing about 1.5-2 times a 3 zone klippenkort every visit and figuring i should probably just bring over a beater next time or pick one up here but need some advice on where to leave it locked up so iit won't be completely exposed to the elements, outside central stn would be ideal but there's no cover and it will rust like crazy.....