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 sidewalk or in the car lane is illegal and fin...
Read this before you push off
The safe cycling cheat sheet for Copenhagen
The rules that matter most, in the time it takes to unlock your rental.
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. Steady or flashing is your choice - a flashing...
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 lights.If you need the map, do what locals do...
One bike, one person
Passengers on the luggage rack are illegal, however charming it looks in films. Children may only be carried in an approved child seat or a cargo bike - which i...
Learn the two hand signals
Copenhagen traffic runs on two signals: an arm stretched out to the side means "I'm turning that way"; a hand raised straight up means "I'm stopping". Use them...
The Copenhagen left turn
Cyclists never turn left like cars. Instead: ride straight across the intersection, pull in at the far corner, re-orient your bike in the new direction, and rid...
Stay out of truck blind spots
The most serious cycling accidents in Copenhagen involve trucks turning right across the bike lane. Never wait beside a truck or bus at a red light - hold back...
Keep right, overtake left
The bike lane works like a road: slower riders keep right, faster riders pass on the left. Never overtake on the right, and check over your left shoulder before...
Never stop in the bike lane
The cycle track is moving traffic - stopping in it to check a map or take a photo is the fastest way to cause a pile-up and hear some Danish words you won't fin...
Rush hour is real traffic
Between 7:30-9:00 and 15:30-17:30 the cycle tracks carry tens of thousands of commuters moving fast and predictably. If you are sightseeing, consider riding out...
The short version, shorter
The same rules, on film
If the list is still too long, watch it instead: 93 seconds on cycling safely in Copenhagen, with subtitles in nine languages.
Spoken English by default. Every version is the same 93-second film, so pick whichever language you read fastest.
Big thanks to Copenhagen Bicycles The videos on this page were created by Copenhagen Bicycles, who kindly let us share them. Go and say hello at copenhagenbicycles.dk.