This Article is From Oct 23, 2010

A city where cycling is a routine

Copenhagen: Cycling to work may not have caught as a fad in India, but people in Copenhagen are used to this as a routine.

Sixty five percent of people in Copenhagen cycle to work. Now, the Government is trying to woo those who drive long distances for work by a dedicated high speed cycling lane that will connect the city to the suburbs. 

"We have plans for high speed biking lanes where you can just race fast. This is our larger vision," said Lykke Friis the Danish Minister for Climate and Energy.  

Here, cycling for kilometres together is no big deal. What matters most is the concern for environment. Majority of the people in Copenhagen believe that cycling helps cut down on pollution levels and hence prefer cycling more than anything. Don't believe it? Then meet John who cycles 34 kilometres everyday and is happy that the government is constructing the cycling lane.

"Over the last two years I've used my car to office just twice or thrice," said John Kornerup as he hopped on to his cycle.

"We know we are polluting and this is one way of buying little peace of mind," said a couple that was heading to work on their bicycles.

Believe it or not, a city where people worry about cutting down on carbon footprint that rising fuel prices. Yes, Copenhagen is different.
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