Latest news with #bicycles
Irish Times
26-05-2025
- Irish Times
Visit Copenhagen: Great food, self-assured style and bicycles in Denmark's capital
It's the bicycles you notice first when you arrive after the 15-minute journey by metro from Copenhagen Airport into Kongens Nytorv, the large cobbled square in Copenhagen city centre. Cycling with confidence and speed along cycle lanes that run between the footpaths and roads, these bipedal owners seem to be going in all directions but the pedestrians, bus drivers and the trickle of cars seem to understand the hierarchy. The bicycle is king in the Danish capital, and you'll see adults carrying children, shopping and sometimes even another adult on their bikes. We even witnessed two people transporting a sofa on a large front carrier of a bicycle during our visit. Copenhagen is one of the best cycling cities in the world, and is nearing its goal of becoming a carbon neutral city by 2025 with more cyclists than cars. READ MORE Although smartphones have made paper maps almost obsolete for most of us, one of my favourite things to do when I arrive in a new city is to wander aimlessly with a paper map. Somehow it gives you a different perspective on the city, Copenhagen included, allowing you to discover a low-key place to eat along the interconnecting lakes that divide the city centre (Indre By) to Norrebro in the north, or a stylish coffee shop in the elegant streets of Frederiksberg in the west, or the vintage shops in the slightly grittier streets of Vesterbro in the south. We spent our first day of three walking through elegant palace yards (and even caught the formal changing of the guard, which happens at noon every day at Amalienborg Palace), along pedestrian shopping streets, into city gardens, past monumental museums and crossing over canals. Copenhagen: Nyhavn at sunset. Photograph: iStock There is plenty to see in Copenhagen beyond the brightly coloured facades of restaurants and bars in Nyhavn, the new harbour area, which is a magnet for tourists. And since the city streets aren't dominated by motorised vehicles, spending time here is a less stressful experience than in other car-clogged places. But all those bicycles are hard to ignore, so we decided to do as the Danes do and hired some on day two. Travelling at a slower pace than the locals, cycling allowed us to cover more ground and explore further. We opted to cycle north of Nyhavn along the harbour side to see the statue of the Little Mermaid, one of the symbols of Copenhagen. Perched on a rock near Churchill Park, the tiny sculpture by Edward Eriksen was inspired by ballerina Ellen Price, who in 1909 danced the leading role in a ballet based on the Hans Christian Andersen's 19th-century fairy tale. The Little Mermaid at the harbour in Copenhagen on October 9, 2015. Photograph: Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Bicycles are a great way to explore the outer reaches of the city too. And while Christianshavn, with its famous hippie quarter, Freetown Christiania, is perhaps not as relaxed as it was in previous decades (Pusher Street, where cannabis was openly sold despite being illegal in Denmark, was closed down in 2024 after gang-related violence), it still draws tourists. Freetown Christiania. Photograph: Getty We cycled north to the former industrial site at Refshaleoen, passing by the world-famous restaurant Noma, in its low-key site surrounded by glasshouses and wetlands. We were in awe of the new residential buildings in this expanding quarter. Onwards we went to see the floating student houses at Urban Ritter, passing another urban farm and one of Copenhagen's coolest restaurants, La Banchina. Gro Spiseri, also surrounded by an urban farm in Osterbro district, is another popular eating spot with sustainability credentials. And, not to be overshadowed, Copenhagen's waste to energy plant, Copenhill – another short cycle away – also attracts visitors to ski down its purpose-built ski slope or rock climb, and the views are spectacular from its rooftop cafe on a clear day. This whole Amager quarter has undergone urban renewal with lots of striking residential buildings. Although we arrived too early in the season to indulge in the warm evening atmosphere, I have fond memories of a previous visit, sitting close to the stunning Opera House, eating street food from the popular, Reffen Street Food Market. Broens Street Food (Bridge Street Kitchen), just over the Inderhavn's bridge on the Christiania side, is another popular outdoor eating spot where everyone can grab a dish of their choice. The indoors Tivoli Food Market near the central train station is an good option for rainy days. Smørrebrød – open sandwiches with rye bread loaded high with everything from herring to roast beef – are a must. Smørrebrød with prawns, chives, dill, lemon slices and edible flowers. Photograph: Getty Organic food is a big thing in Denmark; a quarter of all food sold in Copenhagen is organic, and due to a a government policy, it makes up 88 per cent of food served in schools, hospitals and other public institutions. We didn't have deep enough pockets to sample the many Michelin star restaurants, but the pastries in the artisan bakeries were too hard to resist. A cube-shaped pastry filled with pistachio cream and an excellent almond croissant were among the highlights. There is also a rich choice of museums – from Danish 19th- and 20th-century art in the Hirschspurng Collection just north of the National Gallery, to the Museum of Danish Resistance, to the tiny Happiness Museum with its focus on wellbeing and quality of life. Although it rains a lot and the winters are long, the Danes are deemed to be among the happiest nationalities in the world. We opted to visit the Danish Design Museum, housed in a former city-centre hospital with a stunning courtyard garden. With exhibitions on patterns, lamps and table setting through the ages and 19th- and 20th-century chairs, it is a great place to gain an understanding of the key principles of Danish design, which first came to international prominence in the mid 1950s and continues to flourish. Copenhagen takes its design seriously, and although you mightn't get beyond a glimpse through apartment windows to see how the residents live, you can wander through the numerous furniture design showrooms antique shops, clothing boutiques and art galleries at your leisure. If you have more time, there are lots of other museums, including the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, which would require a day trip from the city centre. And, as mentioned, the contemporary architecture in this city is so striking that Copenhagen is the Unesco-UIA World Capital of Architecture from 2023-2026. You'll see most of it as you wander by, but essential buildings to keep an eye out for include the Black Diamond Royal Library on the harbour, the nearby Blox Danish Architecture Centre, the Royal Danish Playhouse and of course the Opera House. Finally, if you're travelling in the summer months, pack your swimming gear and join locals in one of the seven swimming spots on the harbour. Proud of the cleanliness of the harbour water, taking a lunchtime dip is as popular as weekend trips to places such as Island Brygge. You can also rent boats ( ) to tour the harbour and canals in your own time afterwards.
Irish Times
26-05-2025
- Irish Times
Visit Copenhagen to unlock the secrets to happiness: great food, self-assured style and bicycles
It's the bicycles you notice first when you arrive after the 15-minute journey by metro from Copenhagen Airport into Kongens Nytorv, the large cobbled square in Copenhagen city centre. Cycling with confidence and speed along cycle lanes that run between the footpaths and roads, these bipedal owners seem to be going in all directions but the pedestrians, bus drivers and the trickle of cars seem to understand the hierarchy. The bicycle is king in the Danish capital, and you'll see adults carrying children, shopping and sometimes even another adult on their bikes. We even witnessed two people transporting a sofa on a large front carrier of a bicycle during our visit. Copenhagen is one of the best cycling cities in the world, and is nearing its goal of becoming a carbon neutral city by 2025 with more cyclists than cars. READ MORE Although smartphones have made paper maps almost obsolete for most of us, one of my favourite things to do when I arrive in a new city is to wander aimlessly with a paper map. Somehow it gives you a different perspective on the city, Copenhagen included, allowing you to discover a low-key place to eat along the interconnecting lakes that divide the city centre (Indre By) to Norrebro in the north, or a stylish coffee shop in the elegant streets of Frederiksberg in the west, or the vintage shops in the slightly grittier streets of Vesterbro in the south. We spent our first day of three walking through elegant palace yards (and even caught the formal changing of the guard, which happens at noon every day at Amalienborg Palace), along pedestrian shopping streets, into city gardens, past monumental museums and crossing over canals. Copenhagen: Nyhavn at sunset. Photograph: iStock There is plenty to see in Copenhagen beyond the brightly coloured facades of restaurants and bars in Nyhavn, the new harbour area, which is a magnet for tourists. And since the city streets aren't dominated by motorised vehicles, spending time here is a less stressful experience than in other car-clogged places. But all those bicycles are hard to ignore, so we decided to do as the Danes do and hired some on day two. Travelling at a slower pace than the locals, cycling allowed us to cover more ground and explore further. We opted to cycle north of Nyhavn along the harbour side to see the statue of the Little Mermaid, one of the symbols of Copenhagen. Perched on a rock near Churchill Park, the tiny sculpture by Edward Eriksen was inspired by ballerina Ellen Price, who in 1909 danced the leading role in a ballet based on the Hans Christian Andersen's 19th-century fairy tale. The Little Mermaid at the harbour in Copenhagen on October 9, 2015. Photograph: Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Bicycles are a great way to explore the outer reaches of the city too. And while Christianshavn, with its famous hippie quarter, Freetown Christiania, is perhaps not as relaxed as it was in previous decades (Pusher Street, where cannabis was openly sold despite being illegal in Denmark, was closed down in 2024 after gang-related violence), it still draws tourists. Freetown Christiania. Photograph: Getty We cycled north to the former industrial site at Refshaleoen, passing by the world-famous restaurant Noma, in its low-key site surrounded by glasshouses and wetlands. We were in awe of the new residential buildings in this expanding quarter. Onwards we went to see the floating student houses at Urban Ritter, passing another urban farm and one of Copenhagen's coolest restaurants, La Banchina. Gro Spiseri, also surrounded by an urban farm in Osterbro district, is another popular eating spot with sustainability credentials. And, not to be overshadowed, Copenhagen's waste to energy plant, Copenhill – another short cycle away – also attracts visitors to ski down its purpose-built ski slope or rock climb, and the views are spectacular from its rooftop cafe on a clear day. This whole Amager quarter has undergone urban renewal with lots of striking residential buildings. Although we arrived too early in the season to indulge in the warm evening atmosphere, I have fond memories of a previous visit, sitting close to the stunning Opera House, eating street food from the popular, Reffen Street Food Market. Broens Street Food (Bridge Street Kitchen), just over the Inderhavn's bridge on the Christiania side, is another popular outdoor eating spot where everyone can grab a dish of their choice. The indoors Tivoli Food Market near the central train station is an good option for rainy days. Smørrebrød – open sandwiches with rye bread loaded high with everything from herring to roast beef – are a must. Smørrebrød with prawns, chives, dill, lemon slices and edible flowers. Photograph: Getty Organic food is a big thing in Denmark; a quarter of all food sold in Copenhagen is organic, and due to a a government policy, it makes up 88 per cent of food served in schools, hospitals and other public institutions. We didn't have deep enough pockets to sample the many Michelin star restaurants, but the pastries in the artisan bakeries were too hard to resist. A cube-shaped pastry filled with pistachio cream and an excellent almond croissant were among the highlights. There is also a rich choice of museums – from Danish 19th- and 20th-century art in the Hirschspurng Collection just north of the National Gallery, to the Museum of Danish Resistance, to the tiny Happiness Museum with its focus on wellbeing and quality of life. Although it rains a lot and the winters are long, the Danes are deemed to be among the happiest nationalities in the world. We opted to visit the Danish Design Museum, housed in a former city-centre hospital with a stunning courtyard garden. With exhibitions on patterns, lamps and table setting through the ages and 19th- and 20th-century chairs, it is a great place to gain an understanding of the key principles of Danish design, which first came to international prominence in the mid 1950s and continues to flourish. Copenhagen takes its design seriously, and although you mightn't get beyond a glimpse through apartment windows to see how the residents live, you can wander through the numerous furniture design showrooms antique shops, clothing boutiques and art galleries at your leisure. If you have more time, there are lots of other museums, including the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, which would require a day trip from the city centre. And, as mentioned, the contemporary architecture in this city is so striking that Copenhagen is the Unesco-UIA World Capital of Architecture from 2023-2026. You'll see most of it as you wander by, but essential buildings to keep an eye out for include the Black Diamond Royal Library on the harbour, the nearby Blox Danish Architecture Centre, the Royal Danish Playhouse and of course the Opera House. Finally, if you're travelling in the summer months, pack your swimming gear and join locals in one of the seven swimming spots on the harbour. Proud of the cleanliness of the harbour water, taking a lunchtime dip is as popular as weekend trips to places such as Island Brygge. You can also rent boats ( ) to tour the harbour and canals in your own time afterwards.
Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
How to cycle in London as a tourist (without annoying locals)
For a quarter of a century in a bygone age, I was a Londoner who used a bicycle for travel to and from work and play; to the office, the pub and the Café des Artistes. London made no provision for us. Apart from a few bus lanes, we shared the same spaces as cars, motor bikes, lorries and buses. We were minnows in the slow-moving river of traffic, ducking and diving to keep out of trouble. There were scary moments and a few painful collisions, usually with a car door that opened into my path. Since moving away from London, I have kept up the cycling and swear at motorists about as often as I curse cyclists while driving. There's no escaping the fact that sharing the road is a confrontational experience. Or is there? Word has trickled out to the shires that 21 st century London is a city transformed by cycling superhighways, special 'bike friendly' traffic lights and widely available public bikes for hire (both the official Santander Cycles, which have permanent pavement docks, and a raft of e-bike options from the likes of Lime, Forest and Dott). A friend whom I would never have imagined on a bicycle tells me she uses the Santander Cycles because there's a docking station near her flat. 'It's efficient and I've started using their e-bikes,' she writes. 'After a busy day the bike is a breath of fresh air that pushes me home.' Clearly, it was time to give London cycling another go, this time as a tourist. I downloaded the Santander app to my phone and paid £3.50 for as many sub-60-minute rides as I could manage in 24 hours. Having found a docking station – with some difficulty, such is the chaos of building work at Paddington – I took possession of my first Boris bike (as they are still affectionately known, named for the city's erstwhile mayor who was in power when they arrived) and embarked on a 20 mile tour of central London: to the Bank of England and back via many famous monuments, museums, bridges, parks and shopping streets. An energetic cyclist could manage that in a couple of hours, but I took most of the day over it, stopping to change mount, eat, drink and see the sights. And loved almost every minute of it. How could I not? On a sunny but not oppressive May day, London was looking its best, decked with blossom and VE Day flags. As I paused at the Serpentine to survey the colourful scene, the heart swelled with unexpected pride at the beauty of our great capital city. Has earth anything to show more fair? What better way to see London and get the feel of how it fits together than on a bicycle? London used to swing. Then it rocked, got rich and stayed cool. These days, London rides. All cycling life is there – delivery boys and girls on bicycles, cyclo-taxis and gaudy rickshaws, students, bankers, tourists. In Chelsea, I suspended docking negotiations to watch an old couple pedal slowly up the King's Road on a tandem. The sight of a cyclist with what looked like a coffin over the front wheel gave me an idea for a start-up, but Cycle Hearse UK has beaten me to it. Helmet wearers were, it must be said, in a minority; headphone wearers not so. Dangerous? Of course it is. I saw two near-calamities, cyclists entirely to blame in both cases. At the Vauxhall Bridge crossroads, a cyclist too deep in conversation or music to hear the siren of a police car on a mission pedalled serenely across its bow, inches from the front bumper, while all other traffic stood still. Later in the day, at Marble Arch, I watched two cyclists converge at full tilt like jousting knights. After a clash of handlebars, a skid and a shouting match, they went their separate ways, doubtless excited by the cut and thrust. Those incidents seem symptomatic of the state of things. Motorists I found less numerous and far more aware and considerate than of old. Not once did a black cab squeeze past me in a narrow lane and turn hard left. As for any change in cyclists' behaviour, there are many more of them and I even saw a handful of them on the phone. In many languages they ride and chat, some with phone in hand, others hands-free. Rules of the road are there for the flouting. It is as if the improved infrastructure has brought a sense of herd immunity. Well done London, for putting up with us and making it such a pleasure, and so easy, to ride a bike. What (and how) to hire Your first decision is which provider to opt for – the two most readily available of which are Santander (both pedal and electric) and Lime (electric only). The Santander day pass (£3.50 for an unlimited number of rides of up to 60 minutes each) suited me best, and for a mostly flat ride I felt no need of an e-bike. The bikes were fine for the purpose, comfortable and easy to adjust. Santander also has e-bikes (£1 per ride extra), but not everywhere. Using the app, it wasn't difficult to find docking stations close to popular sights. Of the dozen I looked at, only one station had no spaces, but several had no e-bikes. Limes are more expensive (£6.99 for 60 minutes, or £18.99 for 200 minutes valid for a week) and heavier; easy to handle once you get going, but less manoeuvrable slowly in tight spaces. The advantages are clear: Limes have a phone holder, the app connects seamlessly with satnav, they go faster for less effort and you don't have to park them in a dock. I saw many more Limes than Santanders in use, and little evidence of the much-publicised issue of abandoned bikes obstructing the pavement. Forest e-bikes operate in much the same way as Limes and are to be found in many of the same places. Practical tips Do Charge your phone. Santander bikes can be unlocked and paid for with a bank card, but the app is essential for finding stations where bikes and spaces are available. Using Lime involves a QR code. Prepare your route in advance. If you don't already know your way around London, navigation is not straightforward. Useful websites include TfL's cycling routes and maps page, Visit London's cycling guide, and the London Cycling Network, which has created a fantastic map of the city's cycle superhighways. Check the bike before committing to it. I didn't see any obviously broken ones, but the state of repair varies. Wobbly pedals and bald tyres are bad indicators. Does it have a bell? Adopt a defensive mindset. Don't be seduced by the specious argument that you're less likely to be hit if you go as fast as everyone else. It's not dodgems. Keep an eye on parked cars as you approach: if there's someone inside, a door may be about to open. Keep to the left in the cycle lane, and only overtake when necessary. Consider buying a helmet if you plan to use the bikes a fair bit during your visit. Likewise, invest in a fluorescent vest if you plan to cycle after dark. Wait in the 'cycle box' (in front of queuing cars) at traffic lights. Don't Get straight out onto the major thoroughfares (or on-road routes) – find somewhere quieter to get into the rhythm first. Rush. Most other cyclists are, understandably enough, in a hurry, working, delivering food or people – but you needn't be. You'll have far more time to enjoy your surroundings if you take things at a more leisurely pace. Speed. Rental e-bikes are said to be limited to 15mph, but there are plenty of cyclists going much faster than that on their own machines. You'll have more time to react and make decisions if you keep your own speed down. Run red lights: you will likely see many other cyclists doing it, which is exactly why you shouldn't. Assume pedestrians on the pavement will stay there. On shopping streets popular with overseas visitors, they're likely to look the wrong way and step out into the road. Wear headphones. It sounds obvious, but it's increasingly common and makes it impossible to be sufficiently aware of what's around you. The golden rules of London cycling etiquette Give clear hand signals, and look over your shoulder to check before making a move. In addition to giving yourself time to get comfortable before heading out onto busy sections, make sure your first forays onto London's cycle lanes do not coincide with rush hour: nothing is more irritating than being stuck behind a slow and weaving tourist when you're trying to get to work. Never abandon your dockless e-bike (eg. Lime) so that it's blocking a pavement or bike lane. Thank other riders or waiting cars with a nod or a raised hand as you would when driving. Do your fellow cyclists a favour and, should your Santander bike develop a major issue while you're using it, flag it by holding down the 'fault' button on the docking point within 10 seconds of returning the bike. It will then show a flashing red and be inaccessible to fellow riders until the fault is fixed.
CBC
15-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Shared electric bikes, scooters arrive in Halifax
Social Sharing Hundreds of electric scooters and bicycles can now be found across Halifax, a move some are hopeful will decrease congestion and improve safety for all micromobility users. The Halifax Regional Municipality on Thursday officially launched its micromobility pilot program, delivered by Bird Canada. The company is starting with about 300 bikes and 300 scooters, but those numbers could grow depending upon demand. The bikes and scooters can only be picked up and dropped off in specially designated stations. Each device has an attached helmet, or people can use their own. "I think it's a great idea. I hope that it will give people an opportunity to … realize that getting around, especially the peninsula, is so much easier with a bike than with a car at rush hour," Maxime Gauvin said Wednesday at a Bird demonstration outside Halifax city hall. Gauvin, who has his own e-bike, said he looks forward to seeing more people cycling around the municipality because there's "safety in numbers." "The more people ride bikes … the more regular drivers will get used to the presence of bikes on the roadway, pay more attention and be more careful when they're driving around. So I think it's going to be a win-win for everybody and especially it's going to help reduce congestion," Gauvin said. The bikes and scooters are available throughout Halifax, Dartmouth, Fairview, Spryfield, Westphal and Woodside, with plans to expand in the next phase to areas like Burnside, Bedford and Sackville. Riders can download the Bird app to find a scooter or bike in their area, input payment information and decide how much time they want to buy for their ride. The United Way is a partner in the program. People living in "flex-fare zones" on the service map can register with the United Way in their neighbourhood to get a 50 per cent discount on the bikes and scooters. Any low-income residents, veterans, seniors, newcomers and non-profit employees can also register with the charity as part of their community pricing program to get the discount. "Bird's being an amazing community partner and know that accessibility for everybody is important and they want to be accessible to everybody," said Sue Lapierre, senior executive director for mainland Nova Scotia for the United Way Maritimes. The municipality's website says the devices are not allowed on Halifax Transit buses or ferries. Scooters are treated like bicycles under the Motor Vehicle Act and must travel in bike lanes or the roadway. Riding on sidewalks is already illegal for both bikes and scooters, although enforcement is difficult. The Bird devices have technology that will bring them to a stop in some "no ride zones" like the MacKay Bridge, or restrict their speed to 15 kilometres an hour in "slow ride zones" with lots of pedestrians. Bird has also said their scooters can detect when people ride on the sidewalk. The company's website says riders travelling on a sidewalk receive an "audible alert and mobile notification" before the device is brought gradually to a stop. Stewart Lyons, Bird Canada CEO, said Halifax marks the 28th Canadian city for the company's program and its first in the Atlantic region. They are found in Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa. "We do millions of rides every year across the country. We save thousands and thousands of car trips, which is really what this is all about is sustainable transportation," Lyons said. The pilot program will run for two years. The municipality has budgeted between $387,000 and $590,000 for this fiscal year, but staff have said they hope to offset some costs through rider fees and fines for improper behaviour such as abandoning a vehicle outside a designated station.
BreakingNews.ie
15-05-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Three cyclists injured in Cork hit-and-run
Three people have been injured in a hit and run incident in Co Cork. Gardaí responded just after 8pm on Wednesday night on the R627 near Westpark, in Middleton. Advertisement The incident involved a car and three bicycles. The car failed to remain at the scene. Three cyclists received medical treatment for injuries not believed to be life-threatening.
