Cyclist association proposes moving faster riders onto roads

The Danish Cyclist Federation has proposed allowing all cyclists aged 15 and over to choose between using bike lanes or the road, according to an interview with Jyllands-Posten.

The move targets faster cyclists, such as racers and e-bike riders, who “feel safe and can match the pace of car traffic.” The federation argues this would improve safety on bike lanes, which are often too narrow for the mix of users and speeds.

In the same interview, federation chair Jens Peter Hansen also called for reducing speed limits for cars in urban areas to 30 km/h to lessen injury severity in accidents.

Current Danish traffic law requires cyclists to use bike lanes where available, prohibiting them from riding on the road instead. There are no separate speed limits for bike lanes, but all vehicles must comply with area-specific limits, according to Ritzau.

Both the Danish drivers’ organisation FDM and Jakob Bøving Arendt, director of the Road Safety Council, rejected the proposals. Arendt acknowledged space constraints on bike lanes but argued for stricter enforcement against illegal riding, particularly speeding e-bikes, rather than moving cyclists onto roads.

E-bikes have become a growing factor in cycling accidents, according to the Danish Road Directorate’s 2025 traffic accident report, which noted an increase in cyclist injuries and fatalities compared to 2020–2024.