CAPITAL ON TOP CYCLING CITIES LIST

CNN hails infrastructure that requires cars to drive slower

CHRISTIAN WENANDE

COPENHAGEN has been named one of the world’s top 10 cities for cycling by CNN, which praised the capital’s infrastructure.

“Thanks to Danish design innovations, such as narrowed streets and textured surfaces, cars drive slower,” it noted.

No room for Amsterdam

AMSTERDAM, traditionally Copenhagen's biggest rival for the title of world's best cycling city, was a surprise omission, but on a list comprising 10 countries, Utrecht was chosen instead.

Melbourne, San Francisco, Strasbourg, Leipzig, Antwerp, Bern, Montreal and Tel Aviv were also included.

WHEN STORM Otto hit Copenhagen on February 17, wind speed reached 100 km/h at Copenhagen Airport, causing havoc to local transport. The closest the capital came to a calamity was at three apartment blocks at Østerbrogade 110, where residents were advised to stay indoors, due to falling debris from the building's copper roof.

Huge tunnel plans

A CITY Hall majority backs plans to submerge parts of Bispeengbuen, the six-lane road that slices through the heart of the city from Nørrebro past the Lakes to Ørestads Boulevard in Amager. Green areas will then take its place on the surface. There are two plans under consideration costing 5.5 or 10.5 billion kroner, which are achievable in seven or eight years.

Former mayor dies

RITT BJERREGAARD, the mayor of Copenhagen from 2006-2010, has lost her battle with cancer. She was 81. The Socialdemokratiet member blazed many trails for women in politics after becoming an MP back in 1971, and then a minister in 1973 – the youngest woman to ever hold a seat in the cabinet at the time.

Men feel more welcome

IN RESPONSE to the perception that 'Barselsgrupper' (maternity groups) are mostly prioritised for new mothers, Copenhagen Municipality has launched 71 'Forældregrupper' since September 1. The new groups are equally welcoming to men, and this has been a big hit with gay couples, reports TV2.

PLANS for Kranparken, a new 10,000 sqm park in west Nordhavn near the harbour quay, where biodiversity will be prioritsed to reconcile urban life with nature, are accelerating. The public are being asked for help to design the park. More meetings are forthcoming in March.

Escalator promise

DSB HAS confirmed that renovation plans for Nørrebro Station will include the graffiti-strewn escalators. Its deputy head, Lars Gøtke, told CopenhagenLIV that the outdoor escalators are unduly influenced by weather conditions.

Outgoing at the mall

AN EXODUS is ongoing at the Vestamager Centret shopping centre in Kastrup due to high rental prices, which are believed to be as high as 70,000 kroner per month. Bents Bazar, Ekelunds Damp and Centerbageren all recently decided to terminate their lease agreements.

Job centre satisfaction

DESPITE the government's proposal to close down job centres, 79 percent of job-seekers have expressed high satisfaction with the ones in Copenhagen, according to a VIV survey. More charging stations

BY & HAVN has reached a deal with Spirii to place an additional 649 electric charging stations in the city by 2026. Currently, there are 154 stations. By 2030, 1,583 will be operational.

Saunas reopen

THE CITY’S public saunas have reopened. Closed to conserve energy costs on November 7, City Hall estimates it saved about 340,000 kWh.

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