(upbeat intro music)
- It's that time in the biennial cycle again
where Copenhagenize.eu announce their winners
and losers in the world of city cycling provisions
and there are quite a few surprises this time round.
Before we get going though, please
give this video a big thumbs up and
if you haven't already done so, subscribe to the channel.
Now once every two years, Copenhagenize.eu
take time out from their day to day work of
planning, design and analysis of city infrastructure
to provide an index of how cities across the world score
based on a wide variety of parameters for cycling,
14 of them to be exact.
We're now onto the fifth release of their index
with the first one coming way back out in 2011.
So we thought now would be a good time
to update you with the new top 10.
Just before we start with the top 10 though,
I do feel an honorable mention should go to
Bogota in 12th place.
Will we see a dramatic rise in investment
to the city after the phenom of Egan Bernal
at this year's Tour De France?
Ciclovia, which is a weekly activity
where hundreds of city roads are closed to vehicles,
is cited for their dramatic rise into the top 20.
The goal for the city is for all residents to
have a bike lane within 500 meters of their front door.
First up then, in 10th place with a score
of 59% is Helsinki, and it's a huge jump up
from 18th the year before.
They now boast three and a half thousand share bikes
across the city.
Helsinki have their sights set on
becoming the world's best metropolis
for sustainable transport, which, considering
just how regularly they have heavy snowfall
each winter, is a commendable goal.
They currently have 1300 kilometers of cycling
provisions in place, and they're aiming to have
a total of 160 kilometers of uninterrupted
cycle highways built.
Although right now, they do only have 20.
But, it's a clear sign of their intent for the future.
In at number nine and climbing rapidly since 2015,
is Vienna, with 60.7% on the index.
Recent initiatives including the hashtag,
why don't you cycle, have really helped boost
the popularity of cycle use across the town.
300 cargo bikes have even been purchased
via a subsidy scheme for local businesses.
Cargo bikes have long been popular in Vienna
as they've been free to rent for locals
who wish to use them for heavier deliveries
than could be carried on a regular bike.
How does 5,000 bike parking spaces built over
the last two years sound?
In at number eight is Paris.
Since 2011, Paris has suffered a little
in comparison to other members of this top ten club.
They are now two places behind their previous
best of sixth.
However, they are a lot higher than their
worst position of 19th.
The score this time round is 61.6%
which shows two things, just how much
other cities are working for their cycle provisions,
meaning anyone that doesn't continue to
develop their infrastructure will be left behind,
it also shows that if you do commit to a scheme,
you can quickly turn these results around.
Paris currently has over 14,500 hire bikes
in their network used by 150,000 members of the service.
But, there is work to do.
Currently only 5% of all journeys
are currently completed by bike,
which is a far cry from their 2020 goal of 15%.
In at number seven, and the rising star award
goes to Oslo.
Last time around, they made 19th spot,
and they have seriously climbed this time.
62.5% on the leaderboard or on the index.
For hilly, wintery cities, Oslo is a leading force
proving that terrain and weather should not be
excuses for avoiding sustainable transport.
Cars have been banned from the city center,
the center one point three square kilometers
and 1,000 car parking spots have been removed.
Again, like Vienna, subsidies are in place
for people to purchase cargo bikes
and secure bike parking has been invested in too.
The Sykkel Hotell, that's what it's called.
And if you were worried about riding in the winter,
400 of their hire bikes from their share scheme
come with studded tires.
At number six, 68.8% of the score on the index
goes to Bordeaux in sixth place.
Despite only 35 kilometers of dedicated cycle lanes,
13% of all journeys are made by bike.
There are dedicated areas of the city
where vehicles are now banned,
which has seen a growth of 20% of cycle use in these areas.
When you consider trams and pedestrians
still use the same area, that is an incredible statistic.
To improve though, they will need more
dedicated cycle tracks, parking and hire bikes,
but they have so far held a steady position
within the top 10.
Fifth on the first edition, sixth, sixth and sixth again.
In at number five, and down one spot from
last time is Strasbourg.
They are our first entry above 70% on the index.
16% of all residents are currently
already commuting to work by bike,
with many of the intercity deliveries
also now dropped via a cargo bike
rather than the traditional van method.
The main focus of the city is to remove vehicles,
introducing a safer environment for pedestrians
and cyclists alike.
In at number four, and already showing
steady progression is Antwerp.
73.2% on the index.
Now any professional cyclist that has ever
raced the Antwerp zeehavenbahn will know
that the main obstacle in this Belgian city
is actually negotiating the railway and tram tracks.
Now almost all joking aside, I got another one in a minute,
33% of journeys are made by bike in Antwerp,
and the city center now has a blanket speed limit
of 30 kilometers an hour for safety.
Antwerp is also home to Europe's largest
free to use car park underneath the Kennedytunnel.
This is otherwise known as the E17 A14 motorway.
That's the joke.
So perhaps it's no surprise that they want
to rid the city center of this congestion
in favor of free flowing cycle infrastructure.
Into the top three now, and it is tight at the top.
Utrecht actually drops a place down to third,
but to highlight just how far ahead
these top three are, Utrecht score a whopping
88.4% on the index.
Now for years, I lived outside of the city
and I do know the area incredibly well,
so to call cycling infrastructure in
the Netherlands world class is truly an understatement.
It literally could not be easier to
complete daily life chores, tasks
and transport any other way.
That said, times are changing.
So to stay at the top, you also need to progress as well.
Smart traffic signals that stop other traffic
and go green for cyclists will honestly
be life changing to how thought free cycling is
in the Netherlands.
They've been trialed and tested in various places
and they do look set to become more common place
across the cities.
Utrecht's plans for the future revolve around
bike parking, making it even easier for locals
and visitors to access the city center.
Can you imagine what central station will look like
with nigh on 33,000 bike parking slots?
High up on our list, and yes I do know
what I just said, is Amsterdam.
Second place and scoring 89.3%,
Amsterdam has never fallen out of the top three,
and if you've ever been there,
it's more than understandable.
Amsterdam has focused on the ability to quickly
and effectively transport the sheer volume
of cyclists in and out of the city every day,
nicknaming what are effectively cycle super highways
the royal routes.
Mopeds are set to be banned from cycle paths
which is a big issue in parts of Holland and Belgium.
Amsterdam will also be replacing car park spaces
with bike parking spaces.
Bike paths will be widened to make the flow easier
for all users and sign posting looks set to be improved.
Can they jostle back into first position
next time round?
Holding strong at the top of our list is Copenhagen.
90.2% on the index, Copenhagen is
for the third time in a row, the top ranked city
for cycling in the world.
How about some stats for Copenhagen?
62% of their trips to school or work
are now made by bike, which is phenomenal.
A series of bridges have been, or are
under construction across the city,
shortening journey times and taking cyclists
away from traffic.
40 Euros per person is spent annually
on cycling infrastructure, which ensures
they remain the benchmark for all other
cities to aspire towards.
Five and a half meter wide bike lanes
make for safer and more comfortable use
for all people on bikes.
Frankly, Copenhagen know what they're doing.
So there you have it, the Copenhagenize.eu
top 10 cities for cycling across the world.
Do you have any suggestions for any cities
that you feel should make it into the top 10,
or top 20 next time round?
Drop them in the comments below
and for more city cycling videos,
click just down there.