Copenhagen is famous for its walking streets & the colourful buildings of Nyhavn – best explored by foot or bicycle. It is one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the world; and this is no accident. The city is planned that way. Already in the 1970s, stubborn and foresighted 
architects &urban planners challenged the Danish capital to be more than just a bustling car-infested hub. Jan Gehl (author of Life Between Buildings & other titles, and a founding partner of Gehl Architects) envisioned a city where people – not cars – would be a determining 
factor. It is today renowned as a bicycle champion, winning awards, media attention and a common destination for urban planners. Its cycling infrastructure is abundant (bicycle paths, bicycle parking, storage on trains & free bicycle rentals for tourists), making cycling an easy & preferred option, even in the rain. And while exploring its cycle paths is more enjoyable in the spring or summer, the autumn rain also has its charm.
Copenhagen’s foresighted planners & its cycling infrastructure is impressive; but, it is the city’s stubborn Viking mentality to endure on the bicycle/ footpath (and to do so in style) that caught my attention. Weather & long periods of winter darkness undoubtedly influence this city. This darkness, however, has its own colourful reflection: Copenhagen’s buildings and city squares are bathed in bright hues, bringing sunshine despite the rain. Similarly, Copenhageners, prefer colourful rain gear – fashionable yet functional – to ‘enjoy’ the rain. Just like the buildings of Nyhavn, Danes sport colourful rain gear, adding a touch of brightness to otherwise gloomy weather.
A common Scandinavian proverb states, “There is no bad weather, only bad clothing…” Perhaps it follows: good – and stylish – clothing (e.g. rain gear) can make even the worst weather fantastic – sort of. 🙂 While sunshine is preferred, when the autumn rain pours, a different side of the Copenhagen Cycle City is presented – one of color & creativity. Instead of simply jumping in the car, children & adults (of all ages) dawn brightly coloured raingear, traipsing through the city’s streets and parks. In Copenhagen cycling endures, regardless of the weather or season. Perhaps, when promoting city cycling, in addition to safety, infrastructure and planning tactics, fashion opportunities should also be explored – touting poor weather as an asset to promote bold and colourful new trends. 🙂
Danish designers use a lot of colour when expressing themselves – in buildings, in furniture and in clothes (even rain gear). I have one myself from my time living in Malmö (across from Copenhagen) and battling the rain. It is bright green with flowers – keeps me dry and always gets a bit of attention.
This October, 11 PhD candidates, from Wageningen’s Environmental Policy Group (Netherlands) travelled to Scandinavia to learn about various PhD programmes, build research collaborations and explore different theoretical approaches to our research. In the process, we also became familiar with city planning tactics, by experiencing them.
Links:
- Copenhagen Cycle Chic – one of my favourite cycling blogs. Author Mikael Colville-Andersen also happens to be from Copenhagen… so many of the stories feature this fine city.
- Danefae – Danish rain clothing brand, protecting against the weather & making a statement
- Gehl Architects – Urban Quality consultants
The Urban Observer 
Northern Europe demands Gore-tex! But that’s no reason to stay inside, cooped up in a car. Nice article, UrbanObserver!
Thanks Doctor Dolittle! You know what they say: “There is no bad weather, only bad clothing…” 🙂