Learning from Copenhagen

Jul 2010

By Karen Cilento — Filed under: Architecture News ,Sustainability ,Urban Design , Copenhagen, Denmark

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We admit it…we get caught up in the “green” sensation that is taking over our era. While we love new green products/technologies and different green alternative systems for buildings, we become inspired when designers tackle tough issues about transforming an urban metropolis into a greener environment. This green transformation can occur with the creation of new parks or public spaces, or even creating a new concept for urban transportation to reduce congestion and pollution.

We all know how harmful vehicle emissions are to the environment and in the past, we’ve featured different ideas for eliminating our dependence on the car (such as Martin Angelov’s Kolelinia), but sometimes, their ideas are just that… ideas. It becomes hard to see how ideas about a city using bicycles as a main form of circulation could actually become a reality. Then, along comes Copenhagen. Check out this video we found on StreetFilms about the city’s crazy biking system and it is perfect proof that we can change our ways and be on the road to becoming a little greener in no time. While the kind of city life portrayed in the video may seem foreign to us, it is not far-fetched. If we use Copenhagen as a model, new urban design efforts can focus on incorporating more bike friendly systems that can completely change our perception of “the street.” If our visions illustrate the importance of a well-designed and developed cycling component, city planners will quickly follow suit and more cities all over the world will opt for greener transportation methods.

Cite:
Cilento , Karen . "Learning from Copenhagen" 17 Jul 2010. ArchDaily. Accessed 25 May 2012. <http://www.archdaily.com/69212>

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Stan says:

Isn’t Amsterdam also a proof that cycling through cities is the best solution against heavy traffic.

# July 17, 2010 at 10:30

Lodewijk says:

Learning from copenhagen? Look at the Netherlands…………already green for years

# July 17, 2010 at 15:35

zigwin says:

…Copenhagen too! It is important note that Copenhagen (and Denmark in general) has a very long tradition for biking as means of transportation. True, that resent changes have been made to encourage even more citizens to use their bikes, but still.
I imagine that it will take more of an effort in a country where culture and city structures ‘celebrate’ the tradition of motorized transportation (USA – for instance). Most of city centers in the larger cities in Denmark are not really suited for cars. They are established long before the invention of the car, and the culture does not support large scale demolitions in old city centers. Which some European countries did in the 50′ies and 60′ies. Something that Denmark and the Netherlands have in common…

# August 3, 2010 at 06:49

Dion says:

I think it’s a good, but also kind of a strange movie. They make you think that this is the first time the bicycle is part of the traffic system in a city, which is not. Like Lodewijk and Stan said before, everyone should come to Amsterdam and find out that this Copenhagen green sensation is not innovative but just a rip-off. Once again: Learning from Amsterdam. I’m so glad I am a Dutchman…

# July 18, 2010 at 14:05

…see comment above.

# August 3, 2010 at 06:50

R Goldschmidt says:

“Learning from Copenhagen” it is just a green name. There are a lot of city in Europe, ore Asia werw cycling it is just part of the day life. It is just a name for other cities or state form the entire world to take this example and use the green alternative.

# July 18, 2010 at 16:22

Johann says:

How on earth can one call it a “rip-off” when one city get’s inspired by another cities innovative ideas in *sustainability*? The whole thing is designed from Dutch ideas, you should be proud for christ’s sake!

# July 18, 2010 at 21:57

victor hugo says:

Always a bicycle is a good alternative for transportation, but what about the cities with hills?

# July 18, 2010 at 22:23

Kalle J says:

I cities with many hills or mountains you need to have a bike with more gears, most bikes in Oslo have many gears (also known as mountain bikes) i some cities in denmark steapest hills have a lift/escalator for the bikes.

# July 30, 2010 at 05:49

and electric bikes: Some models get recharged as you pedal or go downhill, and as pedaling becomes more difficult on inclines, the motor delivers more power.

# July 30, 2010 at 06:04

niko says:

“a simple little backtire lock”… Don’t they have them in North America? It’s not really a new invention…

# July 19, 2010 at 03:49

anyway, I don’t care which city will be “the” example for the rest of the world in greener transportation, as long as there is one. Funny how people get annoyed and call it a rip-off if good things spread. I don’t think it will help a lot if one city has a monopoly on greener living.

# July 19, 2010 at 03:57

I’m happy for reciving your comment. For the rest of people how comment. This is not the thing:”My city is greener then your”. Please, not be childish. It is just one exemple to go green. I live in a country where green is not so “green”. So, if you live in a greener city then Copenhagen, don’t be upset, that it is not here present, just be glad that you live in it, and try to keep it green, or make it greener.

# July 19, 2010 at 06:17

P. Nielsen says:

@Dion and the rest of the dutch crowd. Rip-off? Grow up. Bicycles have been the danes preferred means of transportation for over a hundred years. It’s not something we just recently learned from the dutch.

That aside, I agree with you people, that the video is a little strange – but then, it wasn’t targeted at people who live in Denmark or the Netherlands or other countries where cycling has been a part of the cityscape since the dawn of time. I guess, this video was not made to tell the world, that Copenhagen is the best bike city on the planet, because that doesn’t really matter. What matters is, which city will be the next great bike city.

# July 22, 2010 at 10:22

Flo says: