Copenhagen cycle mayor on how to build 'a city for the people'

Cycling schemes need consistent and unflinching political backing, says Klaus Bondam

Cycling schemes need consistent and unflinching political backing, says Klaus Bondam

The Danish politician who became known as Copenhagen’s ‘cycling mayor’ has urged local authorities in the UK to develop long-term strategies to make streets more pedestrian and cyclist friendly.

Speaking at the London Cycling Show, hosted by the London Borough of Waltham Forest, Klaus Bondam said that “strong political backing” was vital to ensure that cycling schemes were a success. He praised Waltham Forest for pressing ahead with its Mini-Holland programme despite angry protests from the pro-car lobby.

Bondam was Copenhagen’s Mayor for Technical and Environmental affairs from 2006 – 2009. “I secured strong political backing for the ‘Eco-Metropolis’ and ‘A Metropolis for People’ policies, which are still, and will be for many years to come, the core of the urban development in Copenhagen. This serves as an inspiration to many other cities in Denmark and around the world.”

Copenhagen’s cycling revolution?

But Copenhagen was not always a cycle city, Bondam pointed out. “In the late ’60s there were plans to cover up three lakes surrounding the inner city with new highways. That caused an enormous public uproar. The citizens of Copenhagen made it clear that they wanted an urban development with a stronger focus on, in the words of [Danish architect and urban design consultant] Jan Gehl, “a city for people”. These days cycling in Copenhagen is a majority activity so “if there is any fierce resistance to giving cyclists space tends to come from a minority,” Bondam explained. “But anyone with a democratic mindset must, off course, listen to minorities.”

Over the past 25 years Copenhagen has consistently invested in kerbed segregated cycle tracks, green routes in car-free areas and the reconfiguring of intersections to make them safer for pedestrians and cyclists, he said.

“One of the latest milestones in the city’s effort for cycling are ‘super bike paths’. These cycle paths target the needs of cycle commuters, who can expect the same high standard of cycling path in routes up 13 miles, all though crossing different municipalities. And even longer routes are being planned.”

Longer cycle journeys will become more common as electric bikes grow in popularity, Bondam predicts. “E-bikes offer an excellent solution for more cycling in hilly cities and/or in mega-cities with quite long commuting distances.”?In Copenhagen 45% of journeys to places of study are made by bike, with the average length of the trip being 3-5km, Bondam said.

“The e-bike should allow journey distances to at least double. Secondly, e-cargo bikes can be used for a lot of commercial purposes in densely populated and congested areas.”

‘White lines are not good enough’?

Bondam told delegates more people will only cycle if they feel safe and secure. “There is no doubt that if you build safe and secure infrastructure, people will also start to cycle. It has to be safe and secure, and not just some white paint on the surface if the road.”

Getting children to cycle is vital, he said. “If you make sure that children can cycle safely and securely to school and around in their neighborhood, you start a new generation of lasting future cyclists.”

Klaus Bondam is now CEO of the Danish Cyclists’ Federation (DCF). He originally trained as an actor and starred in the highly acclaimed first Danish Dogme film Festen in 1997 before turning to politics, serving as a member of Copenhagen’s City Council from 2002 to 2010.

He was among the guest speakers at the London Cycling Show, hosted by Waltham Forest and organised by Landor LINKS. He also presented the Cycling Champion of the Year award to Clyde Loakes, Waltham Forest’s deputy leader, at the inaugural Cycle Planning Awards.?To see to full list of winners go to:?

http://www.landor.co.uk/cycleplanningawards/winners.php