BEST OF
SPOTLIGHT: COPENHAGEN, DENMARK’S CIRKELBROEN
Copenhagen is often called the most bike-friendly capital in the world, with Copenhageners cycling around 895,000 miles daily (rtc.li/copenhagen-biking). At the mouth of Christianshavns Canal is the Cirkelbroen bike and pedestrian bridge by Olafur Eliasson, which has become a star piece of infrastructure—used by some 5,000 people daily—since its opening in 2015. The 130-foot-long structure invokes a vibe of sailing ships from days past and is zigzagged to encourage bicyclists to slow down and enjoy the atmosphere.
VADUZ, LIECHTENSTEIN Liechtenstein Trail + Old Rhine Bridge
Liechtenstein is a small principality, roughly the size of Washington, D.C., but there is much to appeal to trail enthusiasts and cultural thrill-seekers. In Vaduz, the capital, a popular attraction for both tourism and active transportation is the Alte Rheinbrücke, or Old Rhine Bridge, where you can simultaneously stand in both Switzerland and Liechtenstein, as I found out in 2023. The site is also special for other reasons, being a crossroads for several long-distance, themed biking routes as well as the larger 48-mile Liechtenstein Trail that passes through all 11 of the principality’s municipalities (rtc.li/le-bike-tours or tourismus.li/en/the-liechtenstein-trail). Vaduz’ main thoroughfare is located along the trail as well. From the bridge, head east on the Zollstrasse and then take the trail for less than a half mile to the main drag and the landmark Kathedrale St. Florin, a neo-Gothic church built in 1874. Head north on the Äeulestrasse to reach other sites such as the Josef Gabriel von Rheinberger statue and Rheinbergerhaus, as well as museums and restaurants—I’d recommend the Käsknöpfle (cheese noodles)! Also, be sure to stop at the visitors center to get your Liechtenstein passport stamp!
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS Biking Capital + Cultural Capital
It’s with admiration that I mention Amsterdam, where—during my visit in 2019—I often observed that bike traffic was heavier than car traffic, during the day and at night. Amsterdam made a push in the 1970s to reduce bike and pedestrian fatalities, and today it’s one of Europe’s most bike-friendly cities with an estimated 200+ miles of dedicated bike lanes. Iamsterdam.com promotes a variety of walking and “Cycleseeing” routes, which connect the heart of Amsterdam to places farther afield and feature a mix of history, nature and wildlife, art, food and architecture (rtc.li/amsterdam-walk-bike or bikingamsterdam.com). In particular, the 27-mile De Amstel (river tour) and 32-mile Castles & Gardens routes both pass within less than a mile of Oosterpark (1092 AT Amsterdam), the city’s first large-scale municipal park. Laid out in 1891, Oosterpark features a variety of amenities, gardens, wide walking paths and a national monument commemorating the Netherlands’ abolition of slavery in 1863. Pro tip: Get your physical activity in and then find a good restaurant for an Indonesian rijsttafel !
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