Parents seek cycle path on dangerous Ørslevvej
Friday 23rd October 2026 on 07:15 in
Denmark
Residents are pressing for a cycle path along Ørslevvej, a country road they say is dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians. DR reports that Vordingborg Municipality’s council has asked its administration to examine a proposal for one.
Lena Lorentzen is among those who signed the citizens’ proposal. Her 10-year-old son, Aksel, cycles the short distance to school, but she says she worries whenever he sets off. Her six-year-old daughter, Eva, is a capable cyclist but is not allowed to ride on the road.
Ørslevvej connects two small towns outside Vordingborg in southern Zealand. Residents told DR they often drive their children to school and activities, and use cars themselves for journeys they could otherwise make by bicycle. Some said a cycle path could allow them to give up a second car.
The municipality’s council recently asked its administration to look into the proposal. In Vordingborg, building a cycle path costs about 5.5 million kroner per kilometre, according to the municipality. Peter Ole Sørensen, a Venstre member who chairs its nature, technology and environment committee, said the cost would be a factor when politicians consider the proposal.
Jens Peter Hansen, chair of the Danish Cyclists’ Federation, said a lack of cycle paths often keeps people who want to cycle from doing so. He said rural roads feel unsafe for cyclists, and that the problem is growing as cars become wider and electric bikes make longer journeys possible.
Hansen said municipalities face a difficult funding choice because they pay to build and maintain cycle paths, while benefits such as lower healthcare costs may accrue to regions and the state. He called for more state support for municipalities and a legal minimum passing distance for motorists overtaking cyclists.
Lorentzen said a cycle path would give her family more freedom and make residents feel heard. People who live in the countryside, where buses can be infrequent, should also have access to “just okay” infrastructure, she said.