Velo-City 2010: Copenhagen Bike Parade
Last week, Copenhagen was the host for the Velo-City Global 2010 conference featuring over 1,000 attendees, advocates, and bike enthusiasts from all over the world. It was awesome and awe-inspiring. The city that loves biking welcomed us with open arms.
On the third night of the conference, Copenhagen did something it doesn't do often: holding a spectacular bike parade! This critical mass-style celebration featured the young and old on all sorts of bikes and filled the streets with laughter and music. In fact, some participants told us they thought it was the first of its kind in 24 years. I guess when every day is a massive critical mass of cyclists (38% of all trips are bike) then what is the need for ever needing to declare your right to the road?
The optimistic mood of the conference and the gaining momentum for bicycling facilities worldwide was as inspiring as the people of this great, livable city. Don't miss the next one in March 2011 in Sevilla, Spain which we were told is seeing skyrocketing numbers of those taking to the velocipede!
[music]
Clarence Eckerson Jr.:
[00:14] Everybody, welcome to Copenhagen Ride Velo-City 2010, and of
course this is probably the largest gathering ever in the history of
human kind of cycling talent and professionals and very interesting
people who ride bikes. And inside going on all week has been seminars
and meet-ups and plenary speakers that have featured everyone from Jan
Gehl to Janette Sadik-Khan. The amount of knowledge that is transpired
and exchanged here has been just infinitesimal, it just goes on and
on to space at this point. Now comes a little less serious, more
fun part where we’re going to be on a bike parade through the streets
of Copenhagen with many residents here, but also hundreds of conference
goers. So we’re going to go out and have fun now.
[music]
Speaker: [01:24] Just follow this on your mode with a speed of 53 miles an hour, follow this bike.
Speaker: [01:29] Okay.
Speaker: [01:30] It’s really easy.
Speaker: [01:32] Let’s follow you.
[music]
Speaker: [01:36] I went by the counter last night and I was cyclist 10361. That is amazing.
Speaker: [01:43] How’s it going?
Speaker: [01:44] Great, this is fun. I haven’t even been in here before.
[music]
Speaker: [01:55] I think it’s amazing. I’ve never been in a critical mass before even though I’ve been living in Copenhagen for 16 years now.
Speaker: [02:01]
Public parade, it’s great.
[music]
