Recommended by
Rådet for Sikker TrafikRecommends safe cycling in Copenhagen
Denmark's road safety council recommends BikeSafe CPH to visitors who want to ride Copenhagen safely. Their advice is the source we check our rules against, and this page shows you both: our guide in English, and theirs in Danish.
Who Rådet for Sikker Trafik are
Rådet for Sikker Trafik, the Danish Road Safety Council, is the organisation behind most of the road safety work you will notice in Denmark: the campaigns on the back of buses, the traffic teaching in Danish schools, and the advice that shapes how Danes cycle, drive and cross the street. They advise, teach and campaign with one goal, which is fewer people killed and injured in traffic. You can read about the organisation and its work on sikkertrafik.dk.
They are based in Copenhagen, and their cycling material is written for people who ride here every day. That is exactly the standard we want a visitor to meet on day one.
What the recommendation means
It means our cycling guidance has been judged good enough to hand to a visitor. It does not mean we speak for Rådet for Sikker Trafik, and they do not write or approve individual pages here. Where Danish law or official advice is involved, we cite them and link to the original so you can check it yourself.
BikeSafe CPH stays editorially independent. A recommendation from a partner organisation does not change which routes, rentals or repair shops we list, or how we rank them. Paid placements elsewhere on the site always carry a "Partner" label, as required by the Danish Marketing Practices Act. We explain the whole policy on our about page.
Straight from the source
The official Danish cycling advice
These pages are on sikkertrafik.dk and are written in Danish. Browser translation handles them well, and the illustrations speak for themselves.
Færdselsregler for cyklister
The traffic rules for cyclists in Denmark, from the body that teaches them. Our rules guide covers the same ground in English.
Se og bliv set
Seeing and being seen: lights, reflectors and the blind spots that cause the worst collisions in city traffic. We cover the same habits in practical tips.
Cykelhjelm
Helmets: the law, the facts, and how to wear one so it actually helps. Not mandatory in Denmark, still a good idea. See also our FAQ.
Cyklens udstyr
The equipment a bike must legally have in Denmark. Worth a glance before you accept a rental bike.
El-cykel
E-bikes: what counts as one, where you may ride it and how the extra speed changes your braking. Handy before an e-bike rental.
Børn på cykel
Children on bikes, age by age. Useful if you are renting a cargo bike, or picking a kid-friendly route.
The same rules, in English
Start with these before you ride
Written for visitors, checked against Danish traffic law and the advice above.
Ride in the bike lane - always
Bike lanes are mandatory in Copenhagen where they exist. Learn where you must ride, why sidewalk cycling is fi...
02Lights on after dark
Bike lights are required by law in Denmark after dark: white front, red rear. Learn the rules, the fines, and...
03A legal bike: bell, brakes and reflectors
Every bike in Denmark must have a bell, brakes and a full set of reflectors by law. See the exact equipment re...
04Keep your phone in your pocket
Holding your phone while cycling in Copenhagen is illegal and fined around 1,000 kr. Learn the rules and the s...
05Helmets: optional, but smart
Helmets are not legally required in Denmark for adults or children, but they are recommended. What tourists sh...
06One bike, one person
Riding two on a bike is illegal in Denmark unless the passenger is in an approved child seat or cargo bike. Th...
Then go and ride
Rules learned. Now the fun part.
Knowing the rules is what makes the rest of Copenhagen open up. Pick a route, pick up a bike, and go.
Start with A Little Paris: The Frederiksberg Ride, Bring a Towel: The Swim & Sauna Ride, Built for Bikes: Crossing Copenhagen's Bridges .
Rent a bike
Shops, app bikes and cargo bikes, with what each one actually costs.
→Repair shops
Where to get a puncture fixed, plus the free public pumps around town.
→Practical safety tips
Locking against theft, riding in rain and winter, and what to do after an accident.
→Tour de Table
Where to eat and drink along the way, all of it reachable by bike.
Still have a question? The FAQ answers the ones visitors ask most, or you can write to us.
The essentials
The 3 rules that keep you safe in Copenhagen
However you got here, start with these. They are the rules visitors get wrong most often, and the ones that carry a fine.
Ride in the bike lane - always
Where there is a cycle track (the raised lane between the pavement and the road), you must use it - riding on the sidewa...
Lights on after dark
From dusk to dawn you must have a white light at the front and a red light at the rear, visible from 300 metres. Police...
Keep your phone in your pocket
Using a handheld phone while cycling is illegal in Denmark and fined around 1,000 kr. That includes texting at red light...