Biking

Four years ago is when I made my first visit to Denmark.  T met me at the airport, and we stayed in Copenhagen for a couple of days.  Just an hour after arriving, from my hotel room's window, I looked at the city below.  One of the most memorable images was that of a VERY pregnant woman, just biking along on the bike path of the street with the other able-bodied cyclists.  I was astounded.  Actually it was as if I saw her big belly button first, and then the rest of her maternal body on the bike. "Why isn't she in bed, feet propped up, eating bon-bons and watching Days of Our Lives?!?!" I wondered.  "Doesn't she know she shouldn't do ANY physical activity in such a state!!!"

My city of Odense has been called the most cyclist-friendly city in the country.  I am quite glad for this, because it means that about 95% of the way from my apartment to the university has bike paths.  These provide a great deal of security for the cyclist.  The paths are wide enough for two bicycles (which was also good for the people who needed to pass this slow cyclist!).  The usual laws of the road apply: slow people on the right, overtakers on the left.  If there's a slow person on the left, then one rings her bell, and the slow person moves over to the right (hopefully, if she isn't tuned out on an iPod!).

Helmets are not required, although I seemingly notice more and more of them.  Using a mobile, whether calling or texting, is not illegal for cyclists.  But it is for motorists.  If you're driving, there is also no turn on red, and when one does make a right turn, it is VERY important to check the passenger's side mirror, and/or look behind to the right, to make sure to turn when there are no cyclists coming.  This is also tricky, because one must also make sure that there are no pedestrians crossing as well!

Parents actually drive their kids on bikes!!!  A baby 'bike' seat is attached to the back of the bicycle.  For toddlers, a parent can attach a 'doggie house' (a nylon and plastic-covered type of trailer where the kids can sit down) to the back of his bicycle.  I don't even want to know how much muscle that takes to power.

Another major impression for me was going to uni for the first time, on my second trip here.  A huge courtyard extends out from the main entrance.  It was nearly covered with bicycles.  I could just imagine if every bicycle was a car, how much parking space would have been needed instead.  Simply incredible to think about such things.

Before I moved here, I had not ridden a bike for 7 years!  Granted, riding a bike again was pretty shaky at first, but having to bike to uni 4 or 5 days a week quickly gave me my 'cycling legs' back again.  Then the moment came when I did not have to bike the 4 miles out to uni anymore.  whoohoo!  This resulted in nearly 1.5 years of biking only one time, and that was just for a couple of miles.  I do love living in the city, where everything is within walking distance!

Now I am getting back into biking, mostly due to home renovation shopping trips to Ikea.  I really like biking!  This is most likely supported by the lack of rain or strong winds, I admit.  It feels great to have the wind in my hair, know that I'm not using any fossil fuels, save ~$8 from not taking the bus, and get in a great workout while running errands.  (A couple of big hills do exist!)

Today I biked over 8 miles while running said errands.  The last part of the trip was to somewhere I had not yet been, and the bike path was located apart from the road.  Biking on a paved path through a very otherwise natural setting was so calming and relaxing.  I am glad that this city has so many bike paths, and I can use my body's own energy to power the bicycle to get me to the destination.