Copenhagen - don’t they all ride bikes there?
Why yes they do! And so do I … with both children in front. Our bike of choice is the kangaroo bike and the children love it. Well - Hugo loves it because it means he doesn’t have to walk, and he’s nice and warm and cosy. Every time we leave the apartment he asks “will we take the bike, Mum?”. Sophie doesn’t mind it too much although she gets a bit wiggley and whingey if we’re out for too long (as she does on the bus, in the stroller, in the car … nothing a biscuit doesn’t fix, at least briefly).
I have to admit, the first time I took the bike out I was very extremely anxious. My last bike riding experience in Canberra, with the children in a trailer did not go very well. And that was on a bike path, away from traffic, in a normal climate (ie not freezing cold!) in a country where I spoke the same language as most of the other people. So the first trip was a bit fraught with tension, although nothing untoward happened. And the second trip was a bit fraught with agony as my poor, unfit body was assaulted by unaccustomed muscle-use. And the third trip was actually not too bad … I was even getting used to riding alongside traffic. Stick to the right, and it’s fine.
It’s a bit depressing being taken over by 4 year olds on tiny pushbikes with trainer wheels but hey, you get that. And a few times people have commented as they pass me. I don’t know what they’re saying but I’m telling myself that it’s “Hey, that’s a really cool bike, and you look totally Danish, that’s why I’m assuming you can understand what I’m saying” rather than “Get out of the way you slow, non-Danish speaking foreigner who can’t even ride a bike properly!”.
And now of course it’s fine, and I’m all full of grand plans for taking the bike back home and keeping it up (although I know Sydney just doesn’t have the bike infrastructure that Copenhagen has … nor does it have the extremely high income tax that Denmark has, or the 25% VAT, OR 180% taxation on cars … all the things that help pay for the infrastructure. And it’s also a lot sprawlier and a lot hillier).
This is our bike, complete with a light frosting of snow! 
