Surfing the Green Wave in Copenhagen

In Chicago we have what's known as the "Chicago Pace" (not to be confused with the PACE buses).  Simply put, if you walk at the right pace you can cruise from intersection to intersection without stopping (not that jaywalking is unknown among Chicagoans).  I've been able to walk from my office on the corner of Wacker and Adams to the Art Institute (Michigan Ave and Adams) in under ten minutes; a distance of about 1 km. The same applies when walking up Wacker Drive from the Sears Tower to the Wrigley Building on Michigan Avenue.

In Copenhagen they use the term "Green Wave". If you cycle (Danes cycle everywhere) into Copenhagen on certain high traffic streets (Nørrebrogade being one of them) and maintain a ~20 km/hr pace you will be into city center in no time at all. Colville Andersen has produced a neat little video capturing the 'green wave' in action. Have a look at and treat yourself to a little Danish 'bicycle' rock; Iben's Jeg savner min blå cykel - (I miss my blue blue bicycle) and Tue West's Sæt dig bag på min cykel - (Sit up on the back of my bike).


The Green Wave in Copenhagen from Colville Andersen on Vimeo.

Notice, in the video, the street lights changing to green in the upper right hand corner.  Also take note how the Danes have separated the main street (lowest level), the bike path (cyclevej) on the next level up from the foot path (highest level).