In the municipality of Herlev, just outside Copenhagen, a group of nurses (sygeplejersker) and social and healthcare assistants (SOSU-assistenter) have traded in their car keys for electric bikes (elcykler) as part of a new initiative to cut emissions and improve staff welfare through sustainable healthcare transport.
The pilot project, called Fra bil til cykel (“From car to bike”), started on March 11, 2025, and involves home care workers who normally drive municipal vehicles to reach elderly or vulnerable residents. The initiative is part of a broader effort to promote green mobility in Danish municipalities.
“We want to reduce the use of cars in favor of electric bikes. It can both promote sustainability and climate-friendly transport, while also reducing travel time and increasing well-being and health among our employees,” said Pernille Bidsted, Head of Health and Elderly Services (funktionschef for sundhed og ældre) in Herlev Kommune.
Herlev’s compact size makes cycling feasible
With a population of around 30,000 and a small geographic footprint, Herlev offers ideal conditions for short-distance mobility. According to Bidsted:
“The conditions for this kind of project don’t get much better than here, where it’s not far from one end of the municipality to the other.”
Short distances between appointments make the transition to electric bikes more realistic and efficient for staff, especially in the context of sustainable urban planning. So far, feedback has been encouraging.
“The response has so far been positive,” Bidsted told Danske Kommuner. “But there will still be a need for cars in the future.”
While full elimination of car use is not on the table, Herlev hopes the project can at least reduce the fleet’s size, cutting municipal fuel costs and lowering emissions through climate-friendly healthcare services.
Mayor joins the ride to show support
Herlev’s mayor Marco Damgaard (Socialdemokratiet) recently joined nurse Anne Marie Rasmussen for a bike-assisted workday to demonstrate his backing for the initiative. His ride highlighted both the feasibility and the visibility of the project as a symbol of local commitment to sustainable public services.
The pilot is part of a broader ambition to make public sector operations in Denmark more sustainable, aligning with national and EU-level climate goals. Health sector transportation may be a small piece of the puzzle, but local authorities see it as a symbolic and practical shift.
Could this become a model for other Nordic municipalities?
As more Nordic municipalities explore ways to green their operations, Herlev’s electric bike trial may offer inspiration. The combination of health benefits for staff, reduced emissions, and cost savings presents a compelling case for eco-friendly municipal strategies.
If the project proves successful, it could pave the way for similar initiatives in towns with short travel distances and existing cycling infrastructure — a common scenario in many parts of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. The project highlights how green mobility in Nordic countries can intersect with everyday public services, setting a precedent for future climate-conscious policies.
