Copenhagen is one of the great cycling cities of the world, and its cycle tracks are busy, fast and taken very seriously. For runners that is mostly good news: the city is built for people out of cars. But it comes with one golden rule. The bike lane is sacred. Here is how to run safely and politely in a city of bikes.
Rule one: do not run on the cycle track
Copenhagen's cycle tracks, cykelstier, are usually raised lanes between the road and the pavement, separated by a kerb on both sides. They look smooth, empty and inviting, especially when the pavement is crowded. Do not use them. At rush hour they carry a steady stream of commuters at 20–25 km/h, cargo bikes with children on board and fast electric bikes, and a runner in the lane forces all of them to swerve.
Run on the pavement, on park paths or on dedicated shared paths. If the pavement is too busy to run comfortably, slow down or choose a different route; that is what the Lakes and the harbour quays are for.
Crossing a cycle track
This is where most close calls happen. To get from the pavement to a pedestrian crossing, or from a park onto the street, you often have to cross a cycle track first.
- Stop and look both ways. Bikes come from behind you, round corners and, occasionally, the wrong way.
- Do not dart. Cyclists predict where you will be from how you move. A runner who suddenly changes direction is the hardest thing for them to avoid.
- Use crossings and lights. Many junctions have separate signals for bikes and pedestrians. Wait for the pedestrian green, even if the road is empty; the cycle track may not be.
- Watch bus stops. On many streets, bus passengers step off directly onto the cycle track. When you pass a stop on foot, look out for bikes and for people getting on and off.
Shared paths and bridges
Some of the best running in Copenhagen is on paths and bridges shared by walkers, runners and cyclists. Most are clearly divided into a pedestrian side and a cycle side, with painted symbols or a change of surface.
The harbour bridges are the classic example. Inderhavnsbroen, Bryggebroen and Cirkelbroen carry huge numbers of bikes at peak times. Stay on the marked pedestrian side, keep right, and do not stop suddenly to take photos in the middle. Cirkelbroen is pedestrian-friendly, but its circular platforms create blind corners.
Around the Lakes, the lakeside paths are for people on foot and the busy streets alongside have their own cycle tracks. Problems arise at the bridges at the ends of each lake, where you have to cross both a road and a cycle track to continue your lap. Take your time at Dronning Louises Bro in particular, which is one of the busiest cycle routes in the city.
Keep right, pass on the left
Danes keep to the right on paths, just as on the road. On shared paths and busy park paths:
- Run on the right, leaving the left free for passing.
- Pass slower runners and walkers on the left, giving them space.
- Run at most two abreast when it is busy, and in single file on narrow paths.
- Groups, especially big social crews, should be ready to string out on the busiest stretches.
Hand signals and bells
Copenhagen cyclists use hand signals: an arm out to show a turn, and a raised hand to show they are about to stop. Learn to read them, as they tell you what the bike in front of you is about to do. A ring of the bell usually means "I am coming past, please hold your line", not "get out of the way". Do not jump sideways; just keep running straight.
Headphones and awareness
You do not have to give up your podcast, but keep the volume low enough to hear a bell, or use open-ear headphones. Many collisions between runners and cyclists happen at crossings, when one of the two simply did not hear the other.
Being seen, especially in winter
From October to March many of your runs will be in the dark. Wear something reflective and consider a small light. Cyclists are required to use lights, but a dark-clad runner stepping off a kerb on a rainy evening is very hard to see. Our winter running guide has more advice.
When you are the cyclist
Many runners cycle to the start of a run, or rent a city bike to reach the harbour. Once you are on a bike, the same rules apply in reverse: ride on the cycle track, keep right so faster riders can pass on the left, signal before you stop or turn, and do not ride on pavements or through pedestrian streets. Walk your bike across busy squares and through crowds.
Where to run if you want to forget about bikes
- Fælledparken and Frederiksberg Have and Søndermarken, where cycling inside the parks is restricted or slow.
- Amager Fælled, with its gravel and dirt paths.
- Dyrehaven, where you will share the gravel roads with deer, horse riders and the odd mountain biker rather than commuters.
Follow these few habits and you will find Copenhagen one of the most relaxed cities in the world to run in. The cyclists are not your enemy: they are why the city has so much space for you.