New figures from the Danish Cyclists’ Federation, Cyklistforbundet, show that four in ten children almost never cycle to school. The organization says the trend has stood still since a national cycling strategy was launched in 2014.
The figures were published as the school summer holiday ends and classes resume across Denmark. DR reports that far from all schoolchildren pick the bicycle, despite years of political ambition to change that.
Kenneth Øhrberg Krag, director of Cyklistforbundet, told DR that fewer children cycle to school today than before. Looking back 30 years, he said, the share has almost halved. He added that Denmark defines itself as a cycling nation, and said he fears that image will not hold in 20 or 30 years.
Asked why their children do not cycle more often, just under half of parents pointed to the distance to school, saying it was either too long or too short. Beyond distance, just over one in four said they do not feel safe about the route to school, according to the figures cited by DR.
A 12-year-old strategy
The then government launched a national cycling strategy in 2014, partly aimed at getting more children to cycle to school. According to the strategy document published by the Ministry of Transport, the plan covered everyday cycling, school cycling and recreational cycling. The ministry’s strategy text also described support for bicycle paths at schools and work toward so-called School Cycling Cities.
DR reports that the development has been flat since then, and that the share of children who rarely or never cycle to school has grown slightly. Øhrberg Krag described the 12-year-old strategy as mostly letters on a piece of paper. He said a new national strategy with greater ambitions and more funding is needed.
Jens Høyer-Kruse, a sports researcher at the University of Southern Denmark, told DR that Denmark has a strong cycling culture, but that there are signs it could weaken markedly. He said that will happen unless young people learn to take the bicycle instead of the car or public transport. He pointed to benefits for heart and lung function, bones and physical fitness, as well as mental health and quality of life.
According to Høyer-Kruse, a morning bicycle ride can also reduce restlessness in classrooms and strengthen pupils’ concentration.
Transport Minister Signe Munk wrote to DR that bicycle paths at schools will receive extra support when money from the 2026 cycle fund is allocated later this year. She said she agrees that an effort is needed to get more children cycling. The minister did not address whether a new national cycling strategy is coming, but noted that most municipalities work on safe school routes and that she wants to back that up.
Public information from Lifeindenmark.dk states that school transport is provided if the school route is too long or if traffic on the route is dangerous.
