In Bike-Friendly Copenhagen, Highways For Cyclists
Copenhagen has finally transitioned into the eco-friendly world. The city has decided to pave highways specifically for cyclists to get from place to place. This change will surprisingly do much more than solely removing some of Denmark's carbon footprint. It is estimated that fifteen thousand more people will make the switch to a bike from a car after the highways are completed. The goal is to have this change positively impact the air, public health, and finances, supposedly hoping to save Copenhagen roughly sixty million dollars a year.
This article gathered information from a variety of sources such as pedestrians, cyclists, and city officials within the Copenhagen region. While stopped at a red light, commuter Cona Endelgo says, "It gives you more exercise and motion, and it's more free, and it's quicker. When I pass the harbor, I wave to the cars." Another biker, eighty-three year old Soulva Jensen was also stopped on the highway, saying that bikes have lasted through the ages, which has clearly proven to be true to this day.
The content seems to be targeted at any person that commutes, drives a car, or even uses public transportation. The common goal of this project is to inform as many people as possible that there are other ways to go about getting to a destination. Any person that is interested in "going green" may also enjoy this article as it is greatly targeting the sustainability aspect if the future. Not only does riding a bike reduce air pollution, but it would reduce noise pollution. Living in a heavily populated area can be overbearing and disliked, but reducing those unnatural noises such as car honks and engines can make the space that much more enjoyable. Additionally, the space cars take up is extremely inconvenient for crowded places.
The elements that helped shape this article came from the author's personal experiences. He physically got on a bike and headed to the highway to test the process himself. Although the article does not specifically state that he is an advocate for all things green, he may be attempting to take a step in that direction with this project. The subject clearly interests him, so perhaps he wants to continue on in the path of sustainability.
As Copenhagen starts the journey into making the world a better place, they hope to obtain a substantial amount of people that will take the journey with them. This project may spark an interest in many other places across the continent, or ideally the world.
Emily Robertson did a great job describing the purpose and the benefits that surround building a highway for bicycles. After reading this article, I can clearly envision what it would look like, and in what way the country of Copenhagen would be improved.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I do believe that a freeway for bicycles in an ingenious idea, I have to wonder about the cons. For example, will there be traffic rules? Will a speed limit be implemented? If so, how will bicyclists be able to measure their speed? These are all questions that should be taken into account when building something like this.
I have also found myself wondering about how practical this is for people commuting to work. I doubt that riding a bicycle is faster then driving a car. This means that what might take a person 10 minutes to drive somewhere, could take an hour riding a bicycle. Also, what about weather conditions? If there is a heavy downpour of rain with lightning, it will be dangerous to be on a bike.
After weighing both sides, I still think that a freeway for bicycles is a great idea. It is a more energy-efficient and cost-efficient option for locals. I would also imagine that it would be a much more pleasant riding a bicycle outdoors than sitting in a car, weaving through traffic. Altogether, Copenhagen will reduce the amount of pollution in the air, and will create a quieter, and more pleasant country to live in.