About cycle superhighways

A cycle superhighway is a cycle route, where the commuters’ needs have been given the highest priority. The cycle superhighways of the Capitol Region is a coherent network of cycle highways which provides a safe, smooth ride with fewer stop and increased safety – offering an alternative to car commuting also on longer distances.

Meeting the cyclists’ needs

A cycle superhighway is aimed towards accommodating the commuters needs and allows the cyclists to anticipate the same level of standard even across municipal boarders. The cycle superhighways are planned to provide the most direct route, with as few stops as possible, and with a higher level of comfort. The paths have even coating, a high degree of maintenance and extra service facilities such as foot rests and service stations.

The purpose with this unique collaboration is to create better cycling infrastructure making the bike competitive to cars and public transport and with this, increase the numbers of commuters on bike in the region. More cyclists provides a better urban environment, less congestion and increased health – for the benefit of all. The bike takes up less space in traffic and in the same time reduces polution and strengthens the health of the individual commuter.

Coherent across municipal boarders

28 municipalities and the Capital Region of Denmark have joined forces to create better bicycle infrastructure across municipal boarders. The aim is to make it smoother and safer for commuters to choose the bike as their mode of transport.

Today the cycle superhighway network connects 21 municipalities via 16 established cycle superhighways but this network is expanding every year. The vision for the Collaboration is to create a network which connects municipalities and the region through more than 60 routes, corresponding to more than 850 kilometers of cycle superhighway.

More cycle superhighways gives more cyclists

All cycle superhighways are assessed before and after construction and implementation to document the effects of upgrading the infrastructure to cycle superhighways. The number of cyclist on the routes are further counted year after year to keep track of the development over time.

The key figures coming from these assesments are updated annually around the turn of the year. Below are the latest key figures from 2023.

Cycle superhighway effects

Bicycle traffic on the 16 existing cycle superhighways has on average increased by 52% from before the routes were built to one year after the routes opened – indicating an immediate effect of establishing cycle superhighways.

The annual bike counts from 2023 additionally show that the effect of the routes over time is even greater. From the pre-assesment meassurents of the 16 routes to the 2023-meassurements bicycle traffic has on average increased with 75% in total.

The average length of a trip on a cycle superhighway is 12 kilometers.

20% of the users on the newest eight cycle superhighways use an e-bike.

85% of cycle superhighway users bike on the routes daily or more than once a week.

Of new users of cycle superhighways 14% previously commuted by car.

For commuters on the cycle superhighway, exercise is the main motivation for choosing the bicycle.

The bike trip is often experienced as time efficient even though actual travel time on a bike sometimes exceeds travel time by car or public transport. This is because commuters both get daily exercise and a mental break during the trip.

The overall satisfaction with the route scores 3.9 on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the best.

82% know cycle superhighways as a type of infrastructure.

The cycle superhighway network has an internal rate of investment of 23% making cycle superhighways one of the most socioeconomically profitable infrastructure projects in Denmark. 77% of the benefits stems directly from health benefits.

FAQ

The purpose of the cycle superhighways is to offer cohesive commuter routes of high quality and to make the bicycle an attractive means of commuter transport equal to cars and public transport. This will make it easier for more people to bike to and from work which is beneficial to both the individual commuter and society.

Bikes pollute less and makes less noice, they cause less congestion and therefore contribute to a better urban environment. The cycle superhighways’ purpose is to create increased accessibility on the bike paths, provide a better flow and offer an accessible network that connects residential-, study- and work areas across municipal boarders.

The cycle superhighways must:

Connect the municipalities of the Capital Region of Denmark in a high-quality network of bicycle routes.
Provide a high level of service to cyclists.
Develop innovative solutions that makes it easier to choose the bike as a mode af transport.
Increase the numbers of commuters who bike daily on distances between 5-20 kilometers.

The Cycle Superhighway Collaboration is a collaboration between 28 municipalities and the Capital Region of Denmark working to establish good and coherent bicycle infrastructure across municipal boarders. The Collaboration is anchored in the Office for Cycle Superhighways which facilitates the cooperation between the municipalities and is endorsed by the Capital Region of Denmark. Everyone in the cooperation support the common concept for cycle superhighways with a focus on accessibility, availability, comfort and safety.

In 2024, a total 16 cycle superhighways has been established. The first route Albertslundruten opened in 2012 while Farumruten opened in 2013 and Ishøjruten opened in 2016. Five new cycle superhighways opened in 2017: Indre Ringrute, Ring 4-ruten, Værløseruten, Allerødruten and Frederikssundruten. In the fall of 2020 Farum-Allerødruten opened and Jyllinge-Stenløseruten opened in 2021. Roskilderuten, Ørestadsruten, Lyngbyruten og Københavnerruten all opened in 2022. Avedøreruten and Ryparken-Valbyruten both opened in 2023. Find more information about all the routes here and press here.

If you have any further questions about the cycle superhighways which you can not find the answers to here, please don’t hesitate to contact us.