Free Bikes, Copenhagen – Transportation

Transportation in Copenhagen Free Bikes

Copenhagen is a city where bicycles are one of the main forms of local transportation. Did you know that during your visit to the city you can borrow free bicycles?

Free Bikes, What Gives?

A few thousand bikes have been sponsored by various companies and are offered for use in the city. They are available for a 20kr deposit that you get back once you finish using the bike. The system works like supermarket carts where you insert a coin to unlock the bike and, when you return it, the coin is returned. You can deliver the bike to any bike rack in the city center. The free bikes are small and have solid wheels (no spokes) with funny pictures on them, so they kind of look like toys. Bikes are available from May until October.

Benefits of Biking in Copenhagen

The bikes can be cycled anywhere within the inner city – there is a map on the handlebars showing the limits. Getting around Copenhagen on a bike is a great way to see the sights and cars are very courteous to cyclists. There are many bike paths throughout Copenhagen.

Caveats

Bikes are often in short supply and can be hard to find. Other things to know:

• Bikes have solid rubber tires, making them heavy and slower moving than you might be used to.
• You can return the bike anywhere, but to get your money back you have to find a locking device, which is sometimes tricky to locate.
• There are no lights or cable brakes, you have to pedal backwards to brake.
• Cycling at night without lights is illegal, if you want to ride after dark, you’ll have to buy lights

Be careful when you leave the bike outside a café, shop or other place during the day, it’s not uncommon to find someone else has walked off with it. If this isn’t for you, or you can’t find a bike, there are also several bike rental shops in the city and many hotels rent them out too.

Editor’s Note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about free bikes in Copenhagen.