If you are new in Denmark, then you probably been noticing a lot of people biking around. Maybe you’re biking to CLAVIS for Danish lessons in either Roskilde, Aarhus, Ringsted or Holbæk, and if you do, it could be a good idea to read this!
Denmark is known for its bicycle and bicycle paths. Children aren’t very old before they’re getting their first bike and learns how to ride it. People in Denmark are using the bicycle both as an exercise aid but in very high extend as a vehicle used for going to work, school or other appointments. Before you’re getting on your bike and moving out in the traffic, there are some rules that you have to be aware of.
Follow the rules
Bikers has to follow the same rules in the traffic as motorists. That means that you can’t bike through a one-way-road, unless other is shown. You must not either bike in a place that has a sign “no entrance” – unless other is shown. The same rules are for pedestrian streets – here it is only allowed to pull you bike, not riding it. If the police are aware of you riding your bike in a pedestrian street, you’ll get a fine. However, sometimes in some places it is allowed to bicycle in the mornings and evenings – but it will be shown on a sign if this is the case.
If you’re going to the left in a junction, then you’re driving straight and stop on the opposite side of the road, where you’ll wait until the traffic light turns green. Does it take to long? Yes. Is it safer? Yes. Is it illegal? No.
Other than that, you have to make sure that your bicycle is legal. An legal bicycle has to have a bell, reflexes, lights and functional brakes on both wheels – either one foot, – and a handbrake, or two handbrakes.
Just like it’s not allowed to use your phone or be drunk when you’re driving a car, the same goes for riding a bike. It is neither allowed to talk or text messages while driving. Both being drunk and using the phone while you are on your bicycle, you will receive a fine for.
And even if there is a lot a people biking over the pedestrian crossing, this isn’t allowed too. Get of the bike and pull.
Also be aware that, even though cars have to stop for you when they’re turning right and you are going straight, there can be blind spots, especially when it comes to trucks, which means that they can’t see you. So even though you have the right to drive, then always pay attention if they have seen you and wait for you. It can end up in a terrible accident, if you’re stubbornly hold on to your right to cycle straight without having checked that the driver in the car has seen you.
Helmet
It isn’t mandatory to use a helmet when you’re cycling, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t a very good idea anyways. Should it end up in an accident, you can get really hurt as you as a more exposed than the driver in the car, because there’s nothing to protect you. The helmet doesn’t have to be expensive – it is after all, better to have hat-hair than a skull fracture.
Lock
It isn’t mandatory either to have a lock on your bicycle, but none the less, it is really stupid not to lock you bike. Bicycle theft is a normal thing in Denmark, and it is just annoying to find out that your bike has been stolen, when you’re about the go home from work. If you want your bike covered by the insurance, you need to have your bike locked, and in most coincidences, it has to be with an approved lock (and yes, there is a different).
Keep to the right
As so many other places e.g. on the road, in the metro etc. it is good behaviour to keep right on the bicycle path, so other cyclists can pass. If you want to do this yourself, remember to look back over the shoulder, so you don’t crash into someone there is about to do the same. The same applies even if you’re biking with your friends. Don’t drive next to each other – even if it’s really nice to talk while biking, it will irritates a lot of other cyclists on the bicycle path, who can’t pass you.
Bicycle path
Denmark is known for having a lot of bicycle paths (actually we have more than 10.000 km bicycle path in Denmark), so if there is a bicycle path near you, then use it! Some bicycle paths are better than others, but it doesn’t change the fact that you have to use them. If you cycle on the road in front of the bicycle path, you not just annoying the drivers, but you’re also putting yourself in danger, because the drivers don’t count on cyclists to be on the road. Use the bicycle path!
Hand sign
Signals with the hand. Keep the left hand up by your left shoulder when you need to stop, so those behind you can see that you’re about to stop, and they can either drive around or stop too. The hand is the same for cyclists, as the red light is for drivers. Besides that, you also have to put your arm straight out to the side when you are turning left/right. It is nice for both other cyclist and drivers to know which side you’re turning to. But remember to stop fully, when you’re going to the left, you can’t just cross the road and count on the drivers to stop the traffic for you. The car has in the vast majority of cases, the right of way. It is always you who have to held back if you’re going to cross the road – unless it’s a junction of course, then you have to follow the lights.
Light
It can’t be said enough times – besides that it is illegal to cycle without lights when it is dark, it can also be really dangerous. Even if you’re cycling a place with streetlamps and you can see perfectly, then it can be really though for the drivers to see you. The same applies in rain where it doesn’t have to be dark yet, but you can still be hard to see. Remember that there is a big different between lamps for a bicycle. If it both rains and are dark, it can still be very hard for a car to see you, if you just have a tiny lamp on your bike. Therefore: by a proper lamp, that gives you a sharp and clear light.
Remember also, that if you get hit by a car, it will be worse for you physically. So always check if the light on your bicycle works, and if they don’t, pull the bike… Besides light the reflexes can also be a really good idea.
Stop over for the passengers at the bus stop
If you’re bikinb a lot in bigger cities, you’ll probably also pass the bus stops. Here are two rules. If there is a sidewalk between the bicycle path and where the passengers are going out, then you have the right of way and they’ll have to stop for you. If the passengers are stepping right out on the bicycle path, then it is you on the other hand that have to stop for the passengers.
