ABSTRACT
In this chapter we survey the contemporary conditions of cycling in Copenhagen, describing emerging crowding and capacity problems, and a potential plateauing of Copenhagen’s cycling rates. The municipality of Copenhagen recognizes that cycling capacity must be expanded to maintain high rates of cycling, but this requires the reallocation of car space. At the same time car ownership and car use are increasing, especially in Copenhagen’s suburbs. This makes it harder to reallocate space in the city because many car trips start or end in the municipality of Copenhagen. The plateauing of cycling and increased driving is reflected in Copenhagen’s failure to reduce transportation emissions as part of the celebrated Copenhagen 2025 Climate Plan. Instead, clever gimmickry is used to cloak rising emissions from private cars. Copenhagen is at a crossroads and the image of the green mobility capital is called into question.
