Living Car Free - Bicycle Rush Hour in Copenhagen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXw_t172BKY&feature=player_embedded#!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXw_t172BKY&feature=player_embedded#!

Enjoy after your own hectic day.

LOL, I said that before when seeing a video like this: if this was in USA there would be a pileup 20 feet high within 60 seconds :D It's amazing how they flow smoothly without any conflicts. And no helmets! Surely, the number of fatal accidents must be really high :rolleyes:

I like the way some of them do a left turn at a light. Very cool.

I like the way some of them do a left turn at a light. Very cool.

And it drives the bike safety experts here in the states crazy!

One thing that bugs me: many wear no headwear at all in Winter, my ears would fall off :D

This was lovely, appropriate music and editing.
Thank you so much.

One thing that bugs me: many wear no headwear at all in Winter, my ears would fall off :D

Average high in January and February is about 36F. That's not too different from New York, right? Maybe a tad cooler. Probably that Viking blood.

Maybe it was the subdued music or the weather or the fact that they sped it up in parts even though the music didn't match the speed of the frames but it was freaking depressing to watch.

I do like the large lane devoted to cyclists. However, it just reminded me of a different type of rush hour and rush hour (whether you're walking, driving or riding) is not necessarily pleasant, just bearable for most.

Maybe it was the subdued music or the weather or the fact that they sped it up in parts even though the music didn't match the speed of the frames but it was freaking depressing to watch.

I do like the large lane devoted to cyclists. However, it just reminded me of a different type of rush hour and rush hour (whether you're walking, driving or riding) is not necessarily pleasant, just bearable for most.

But rush hour with bikes is bound to be more pleasant, since you can actually communicate with your fellow commuters.

Average high in January and February is about 36F. That's not too different from New York, right? Maybe a tad cooler. Probably that Viking blood.

Yup, it has to be the Viking blood because I wear a skullcap below 45F :D And a balaclava when it's freezing. Although, NYC has sometimes high humidity and winds that make the cold weather all that more miserable.

But rush hour with bikes is bound to be more pleasant, since you can actually communicate with your fellow commuters.

I communicate with my fellow commuters:

- Wrong way!
- F**k you!
- You too!

I communicate with my fellow commuters:

- Wrong way!
- F**k you!
- You too!
One thing that makes bikes more humanizing is that you're communicating with a human being that you can clearly see, hear, even touch. That's not the case with cars, except maybe convertibles.

I'm constantly amazed by the volume of bike traffic in these type videos, but I do note:

1. Denmark and Holland have been building up capability for more than a generation. When the bike boom petered in North America, the Danish and Dutch governments were trying to wean their economies off fossil fuel.

2. There's some serious government support for this activity. This is only just starting in the US, with several cities having commuter mayors and the Feds have Ray LaHood as the Transportation secretary. We see things like tax breaks in Holland for buying a commuter bike. We see more and more bike infrastructure being added in both Holland and Denmark. The US is really way behind.