Sustainability in Copenhagen, Denmark
The world is like a domino show. The fate of the last domino is dependent on the movement of all dominoes in the line. Like these rectangles, the actions we make inevitably impact our planet. The mundane daily decisions amalgamate into something much larger. There are many threads weaved into a conversation about decision making and the power of personal choices. So, why write about this in a blog post regarding my semester abroad with the Danish Institute for Study Abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark? Because cycling culture in Copenhagen embodies the power of individual action on a large scale. It is living proof that social, economic, and environmental sustainability are unattainable without individual commitment to seemingly small personal changes and choices. The one thing you can control with absolute confidence is yourself. The choices you make as an individual will likely be your most effective contribution to a more sustainable world.
People don't bike Copenhagen because the city lacks public transit; in fact, the buses, trains, and metros in Copenhagen are bizarrely peaceful. They bike because it is the fastest, most seamless, affordable, and beloved way to travel around the city. Understanding the factors working to popularize a sustainable activity can help us understand how to approach sustainability, both as individuals and as a society. More importantly, it exemplifies the effectiveness of simple, sustainable activities when adopted by large groups of people.
Copenhagen wasn't always a hub for cycling. During the 1950s, the city's urban planners prioritized the automobile. New roads lacked space for bikers. Streets filled with cars and public spaces were reduced to parking spaces. The wealth, luxury, and independence associated with auto-ownership was quite attractive. The number of cars increased at the expense of the safety and quantity of cyclists. During the 1970s, this mentality changed. Due to the confluence of a growing environmental movement and the energy crisis, urban planners eventually shifted focus back to the bicycle. From this point onward, biking in Copenhagen steadily became safer and more accessible. Today the roads, routes, stop lights, and other infrastructure caters to the biker. Personally, the commute from my apartment in Valby to the city center took 15-20 minutes by bike, depending on how motivated I was feeling that morning. By train, getting anywhere took around 20-30 minutes. By bus, each trip took at least half an hour. Making an activity safe and appealing impacts an individual's decision to engage in said activity.
Although appeal is important, a sustainable activity must also be accessible. Cycling is democratic, cheap, quick, and simple. It saves the individual from bus fare and automotive costs, while saving the government on infrastructure and public health costs. Bike paths face little wear and tear, and contribute to a healthy population. This leaves everybody with more time and money! The individual choice may carry small benefits, but the combined effort creates a pool of benefits that grows and grows until it is big enough to tackle the planet's larger social, environmental, and economic issues.
Finally, people cycle in Copenhagen because the activity is socially normative. When you see everybody else behaving in a certain manner, it is human nature to mimic this behavior. Especially in Danish culture, fitting in with the rest of society does not carry negative connotations. In fact, I think it is commended. Conclusively, cycling's practicality, accessibility, and breadth work together to make this sustainable activity irresistible in Copenhagen.
The bike culture in Copenhagen shows us that simple daily choices can provide effective solutions to sustainability issues when executed by the masses. These choices are easy, accessible, and do not drastically change one's lifestyle. They are also completely ineffective without collective and sustained effort. Every Dane that commutes by bicycle makes a conscious decision to use this form of transit. No different than choosing to compost, or intentionally changing your diet to reduce your carbon footprint, riding your bicycle is a small activity with a big communal impact. In the context of a day, this decision is small and meaningless. In the context of a lifetime, these tiny choice could be the difference between the life and death of our planet.
-Ethan Howard, '18, Sustainability Office Assistant
People don't bike Copenhagen because the city lacks public transit; in fact, the buses, trains, and metros in Copenhagen are bizarrely peaceful. They bike because it is the fastest, most seamless, affordable, and beloved way to travel around the city. Understanding the factors working to popularize a sustainable activity can help us understand how to approach sustainability, both as individuals and as a society. More importantly, it exemplifies the effectiveness of simple, sustainable activities when adopted by large groups of people.
Copenhagen wasn't always a hub for cycling. During the 1950s, the city's urban planners prioritized the automobile. New roads lacked space for bikers. Streets filled with cars and public spaces were reduced to parking spaces. The wealth, luxury, and independence associated with auto-ownership was quite attractive. The number of cars increased at the expense of the safety and quantity of cyclists. During the 1970s, this mentality changed. Due to the confluence of a growing environmental movement and the energy crisis, urban planners eventually shifted focus back to the bicycle. From this point onward, biking in Copenhagen steadily became safer and more accessible. Today the roads, routes, stop lights, and other infrastructure caters to the biker. Personally, the commute from my apartment in Valby to the city center took 15-20 minutes by bike, depending on how motivated I was feeling that morning. By train, getting anywhere took around 20-30 minutes. By bus, each trip took at least half an hour. Making an activity safe and appealing impacts an individual's decision to engage in said activity.
Although appeal is important, a sustainable activity must also be accessible. Cycling is democratic, cheap, quick, and simple. It saves the individual from bus fare and automotive costs, while saving the government on infrastructure and public health costs. Bike paths face little wear and tear, and contribute to a healthy population. This leaves everybody with more time and money! The individual choice may carry small benefits, but the combined effort creates a pool of benefits that grows and grows until it is big enough to tackle the planet's larger social, environmental, and economic issues.
Finally, people cycle in Copenhagen because the activity is socially normative. When you see everybody else behaving in a certain manner, it is human nature to mimic this behavior. Especially in Danish culture, fitting in with the rest of society does not carry negative connotations. In fact, I think it is commended. Conclusively, cycling's practicality, accessibility, and breadth work together to make this sustainable activity irresistible in Copenhagen.
The bike culture in Copenhagen shows us that simple daily choices can provide effective solutions to sustainability issues when executed by the masses. These choices are easy, accessible, and do not drastically change one's lifestyle. They are also completely ineffective without collective and sustained effort. Every Dane that commutes by bicycle makes a conscious decision to use this form of transit. No different than choosing to compost, or intentionally changing your diet to reduce your carbon footprint, riding your bicycle is a small activity with a big communal impact. In the context of a day, this decision is small and meaningless. In the context of a lifetime, these tiny choice could be the difference between the life and death of our planet.
-Ethan Howard, '18, Sustainability Office Assistant
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