Do as the Danes do - bike to work!

June 2026

In Copenhagen, a third of people cycle to work and school - far more than in Sweden. Cycling to work is an easy way to reduce your climate footprint, and with an e-bike or e-moped you can go further without breaking a sweat.

Illustration about cycling to work

Did you know that in Copenhagen a third of people cycle to school and work? That's far more than the average in Sweden. A recent survey shows that a third of people employed in Sweden could cycle to work in just 15 minutes - are you one of them?

Illustration about cycling to work

Results from the national travel survey show that cycling to work clearly varies between the summer and winter halves of the year in Sweden. During the summer half, around 21 percent of Swedes cycle to work more than four times a week. During the winter half, that share drops to 13 percent.

It's above all focused urban planning, with new pedestrian and cycle bridges across the water in the harbour area, that has helped the number of cyclists rise quickly in Copenhagen. But the general attitude towards travelling in an eco-friendly way and the arrival of e-bikes have played a part too. Do you think we Swedes can catch up with our Danish neighbours? How does it look for you? Do you already cycle, or could cycling to work more be a way to reduce your climate footprint? Do you have colleagues you could motivate to do the same?

A bike-friendly workplace with a bike rack

We've put together a couple of tips for successful bike commuting: 1. Champion the cause of a bike-friendly workplace For you and your colleagues to choose the bike, it helps to have secure storage for the bikes, somewhere to change and so on. Team up with your colleagues and see what you can do. Your employer can become certified as a "bike-friendly workplace" by meeting at least 5 of these criteria.

An e-bike

2. Consider investing in an e-bike or e-moped if you have a long way to go An e-bike costs more than an ordinary bike, but it also has plenty of advantages. It helps you up hills and into headwinds and gives a smooth ride, so you can avoid getting too hot. With an e-bike you can travel longer distances at 25 km/h, which means a 5 km commute takes just 12 minutes.

Do you have a much longer way to work? Or simply don't feel like pedalling? Then perhaps an e-moped could be a good alternative? With an e-moped you can commute the climate-smart way at 45 km/h, with a range of over 70 km per charge.

Do you know your climate impact?

With the ClimateHero climate calculator, you can measure your footprint in 5 minutes!

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