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Seen at Penny Licks, 158 Bedford Ave.

Vote, Tuesday Nov. 4th & for Mayor in 2009!

These photographs come to us from Jason Gardner, who commutes by bicycle from Brooklyn to Manhattan every day. Thanks for getting the bike lane in there!

All Americans vote on the same day, November 4th, for the President. Don't let anyone stop you - and don't accept a provisional ballot unless there is absolutely no other option. Whatever you do, don't walk away without voting! And if you do vote on a provisional ballot - document the whole process.

You can find your polling place or learn about early voting here (http://www.voteforchange.com/).

Report any voting problems here (http://truth.voteforchange.com/).



And get ready to campaign over the next year to get a real progressive mayor in New York City. The huge network that we've organized for Obama over the past year can be put to good use in preventing Emperor Bloomberg from buying yet another term in office.

Enough with the subsidies for Trump-esque developers building multi-million dollar condos and the Financial Industry's predatory practices. Where has that brought us? Billion dollar bonuses for wall street while people loose their homes. New York wants CHANGE.

My great grandfather worked in a steel mill here in Brooklyn. That makes me a 4th generation New Yorker. It's time to make this a city for the people again. So that people like my great grandfather aren't pushed out by the rich, so that they aren't burdened with debt and forced to close their family business when the chain stores move in. Hard working New Yorkers deserve a mayor who works for them, not for the corporations, developers, bankers and brokers.

It's time to get the "Republican in Independents Clothing" OUT and give New York City back to the people. These are our streets, not Wall Street.

Dragør

Dragør city bicycle.

Dragør city bike hard at work.

Bike in Dragør, not working so hard.

Vesterbro to Nørrebro & well, Fisketorvet

They've been repaving the cycle paths on Vesterbrogade, which we ride on every day - doing the work at night.

I don't know how the US survives without the Red, Yellow, Green lights for both stopping and going.

Browsing the photo exhibition of Christiania residents with bike.

Either a quick stop or every other bike already left and this one remains...

One of the most fun night rides I've had in Copenhagen - riding into Nørrebro and back.

Nørrebro Train Station

Fisketorvet is a mall that brings a special suburban feel right into the heart of Copenhagen. It could be a US mall, except for the housewares stores full of Danish design, oh and the prominent bicycle parking that you can just glide right into. It's 20 feet from the entrance. Even the sprawl in Copenhagen gives bicycles priority.

Malmö

We popped over to Sweden today for lunch and some shopping. Yeah, I just wanted to write that. It was raining but very lovely even so. Fall was in full effect, and the city was full of cyclists.

Cycling wasn't allowed through the cemetery, but I don't think the residents mind.

Air for your tires, right next to the bike path.

Under the cycling bridge, another form of transport.

Thanks for thinking of those who need to bring their bicycle up! These are all over Denmark as well.

It's always nice to walk with your friend who didn't bring a bike.

Fishing for Frøsnapper

I had to bike, in the rain, to two places this morning before I found the Frøsnapper that I wanted. No, it's not a fish, it's my favorite Danish Pastry. It's sprinkled with poppy and sesame seeds and then twisted and baked. It's sweet and wonderful for breakfast.

I first went to a Bakery on Istegade, drawn in by the classic pretzel shaped sign that indicates a bakery in Denmark. This one was OK, but what I would call a 2nd tier bakery. After veering off the busy street and looking for that hidden bakery that always exists, I found Enghave Konditori on Enghave Plads 7.

They had exactly the Frøsnapper I was looking for. I'll definitely be back.

Relaxed Copenhagen Rush Hour

I wouldn't dare try to match the eye of Copenhagen Cycle Chic's stellar photographers. But I did happen to be coming home today during rush hour, and really loved cycling with these people. The Danes may be the happiest people on earth, but put me on a bike with them, and they make me the happiest person on earth.

Could he have been any more comfortable waiting for the light to change?

Copenhagen cycles home during rush hour.

Coming off of the path, order is maintained.

Shop Hours, Credit Card Chips & Pastries

There are two things that US Americans usually find really annoying when they visit Denmark. First, everything closes really early, and many (most) shops aren't open at all after 6pm or at all on Sundays. Second, for the most part, Danish businesses require that credit card transactions are made with a card containing a chip, and if you are lucky enough to have a card with a chip, you'll still be charged a 5-7% fee for using a 'foreign' credit card. A quick Google search will find many ex-pat blogs bemoaning the fact that they can't participate in normal Danish life until they get a Dankort, the ubiquitous danish credit card that incurs no fee and has the required chip.

To prepare for your trip to Denmark, don't plan on shopping from 9am to 9pm like you would in most big American cities, if you do, you'll be disappointed. Also, prepare to take out lots of cash from the ATM and use that to pay. You'll get a better price in the stores and in some cases this will be your only option. (And don't bother trying to explain that it's actually impossible to get a credit card with a chip in it to anyone at a store in Denmark, they don't want to hear it.)


These are two issues I've known since I first lived here in the 90s. But today, I discovered a new one. You can't buy contact solution in the pharmacy or grocery store. Yes, New Yorkers, you heard that correctly. That one product that we're always buying at 3am on the way home from a bar, cannot be purchased anywhere in Denmark except (are you ready for this?) at an Opticians shop. That's right, you have to depend on the opening hours of a glasses shop to get contact solution.

Of course, these aren't big deals, and as long as you're prepared, they won't get in the way of enjoying the worlds best bicycling country and I might add, the worlds best pastries. I had one today at Jakob's Bageri (Holmbladsgade 9) on the way to Amager Strand Park. It was unreal how good it was, and no matter how many times the lovely girl at the bakery tried to help me say the name, I couldn't. I should have bought six.

1st Rental Bike

In case you've wondered what I've been riding... here's the first bike I had until Sunday. It has since gotten a punctured tire (somewhere near Christiania) so I had to trade it in for another.

This one was a Batavus with brooks saddle - SRAM, etc. It was a very nice ride!

I specifically asked for a girl's bike with a basket - otherwise, the standard Danish men's bicycle is nothing like this. Most of the men I've seen are riding with the seats quite high, on a sporty carbon frame - and I'm really shocked at the number who are wearing helmets! It really never used to be that way.

Explore Development and Architecture in Copenhagen Online

This is the coolest site I've found so far for exploring the new developments in Copenhagen. If you're visiting the city and want to get a sense of where you can go see new or recent development projects (all of which incorporate the old and the new in really clever ways)- check out COPENHAGEN X.

I especially suggest you play around with the map - here is a link to it in English.

Culture Night

Culture Night in the Parliament (Folketing)

Once a year in Copenhagen, government ministries, cultural institutions and more open their doors for the Danes to come in and see what they're all about. You buy a button for 75 kr. and you get entry to any of the events. It's called Culture Night. We joined our friends Pi, Jakob, Ane and Maj for dinner at Kitt's house along with her friend Sidsel. Afterward, we all toured the city on our bikes. We visited Galleries, the Parliament (with no security or searches at all), a Transvestite fashion show and more, ending the night at a cozy bar in Fredericksberg.

Danes touring the seats of representatives on the floor.

You can try to explain the intensity of the cycle culture here in Denmark to someone who hasn't been here (as Copenhagen Cycle Chic and Copenhagenize do every day), but it's almost impossible to really understand until they visit. It's a lot like the vast spaces of the western USA, which are very difficult to convey to someone who hasn't visited.

Entrance to Parliament

Kitt tries out speaking in Parliament

The Wicked Witch and her flying monkeys.



Each party hosted an open house in Parliament, the ruling conservative party (Venstre) let you color the PM.



Reminds me of George Bush, looks like him too...



Venstre also had a bicycle on display.



Gregory experiences his first night of cycle culture.

In Copenhagen there are literally thousands of bicycles everywhere, everyone is riding, and everyone is respectful of them. Cars are being driven by people who also ride bikes, they don't honk, they respect the bicycle. And the cyclists respect the cars and the people as well. If the light is red, you stop on your bicycle. This is something that New Yorkers really need to learn. If you want bicycles to become a normal mode of transportation, you have to start obeying the traffic rules. The whole system breaks down otherwise. Pedestrians, cars and bicycles all get a chance to go, and they all have a lane to go in. That's how it should be, and how it is in Copenhagen.

Pi and Jakob share a beer as we wait for the light to change.



Historical bicycles on display in the Workers Museum



Outdoor exhibition of photographs of the residents of Christiania

Jakob, Pi and Maj at Café Intime Bar.

How many Carlsberg does it take to get to the soft chewy center of Denmark? After about 6 beers, champagne and Schnapps made by someone's dad, we biked home to Vesterbro to get some 3am falafel. We joined all the other Copenhageners on the bike lanes at 3am who were also drunk and in charge.

At the falafel place, we found a relative of Jenny's bicycle.

Red and White vs. Red and White

Søren Larsen

Denmark is playing Malta tonight here in Copenhagen - and I'm watching.
At the moment it's 3-0. Two thoughts on the game so far:

1. Isn't Søren Larsen the bomb? And he's a good footballer too.
2. Malta just sucks, right?!

The absolute BEST bicycle rental shop in Copenhagen.

First thing today, after sleeping in, we walked over to Baisikeli to rent bicycles. This is not your average bicycle rental business - they're a bicycle rental business with the mission of building a sustainable bicycle industry in Africa. The name is the swahili word for bicycle.

They've already managed to engineer bicycle ambulances for use in Africa, and distribute bicycles to children so that they can get to school faster (which helps encourage the parents to let them take a break from working at home to attend). By simply choosing Baisikeli for your Copenhagen bicycle rental, you're supporting the delivery of thousands of bicycles to people who need transportation in Africa. It's such an easy choice - when you're in Copenhagen, you must rent here.

They were brilliant, friendly and quick to outfit our chosen bicycles with baskets, lights and hand us the keys. The prices are extremely reasonable (see them here) and you can pop in and out with a bike in no time. They're also very conveniently located near Ørstedparken which is a lovely park just a few blocks from the main train station (København H.).

Henrik and Niels are the creators and owners of the project and, let me tell you - this is about helping people. It's about their vision for a better world. It's a powerful statement in a world where ego and get-rich schemes often dominate small business. They've made an ethical and moral choice - and Denmark should be so proud of these two native sons.

If you're lucky enough to see Niel's beautiful little boy - you'll see that the Danes take to bikes at a very young age! He was ready to climb right out of the carriage and onto that shiny red one. More about Baisikeli in upcoming posts...

København - Kastrup Airport - Ankomst - Arrival