Copenhagen mayors to discuss tourist cycling issues

Copenhagen's mayors are seeking solutions to the growing problem of tourist cyclists disregarding traffic rules on the city's bike paths. Business Mayor Andreas Keil and Climate, Environment, and Technical Affairs Mayor Line Barfod announced a meeting with relevant stakeholders to address the issue.

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I know we will be invited, there just isn't a date yet.

Klaus Bondam, director of mobility, culture, and destinations at Wonderful Copenhagen, welcomed the initiative. He noted a recent debate and a study by the Council for Safe Traffic, which found that eight out of ten Copenhagen cyclists perceive tourist cyclists as a traffic safety hazard. Bondam believes continuous, widespread information is key, rather than a short campaign.

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It is a positive initiative. We also noted the completely justified debate that took place before the summer holidays, and we also saw the study that the Council for Safe Traffic had conducted.

While acknowledging the need for better communication, Bondam expressed skepticism about implementing a cycling license for tourists, citing control difficulties. He suggested alternative measures, such as requiring rental companies to provide a brief introduction to foreign guests. The issue of bicycle parking and the number of rental bikes also needs attention, potentially through stricter municipal requirements for rental services.

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Our suggestion is that broad-based and continuous information is important, so it's not just a campaign week you run, but that we all draw attention to this on all channels.

Bondam also pointed out that Danish cyclists themselves often break traffic rules. He observed that tourists tend to imitate local behavior, hoping to avoid accidents. This suggests that addressing the behavior of all cyclists, not just tourists, is crucial for improving safety on Copenhagen's busy bike paths.

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One thing is to create campaigns, advertisements, and communication, but if you start talking about cycling licenses for tourists, it becomes very complicated, because who is going to control it?