A recent study by the Danish Road Safety Council (Rådet for Sikker Trafik) has revealed that although 65% of schoolchildren in Copenhagen live within two kilometres of their school, a significant proportion are still driven there by car. The findings have prompted the Copenhagen City Council (Københavns Borgerrepræsentation) to call for more sustainable and safer ways for children to travel.
Copenhagen school traffic safety: experts urge cycling and walking
The Danish Road Safety Council advises that children learn to navigate traffic best by actively experiencing it. For this reason, the organisation is encouraging parents to walk or cycle with their children to and from school whenever possible. According to the council, cycling offers both safety training and health benefits, while reducing congestion around school areas.
School drop-off congestion and risks near Copenhagen schools
City officials note that high numbers of cars during morning drop-off periods contribute to increased traffic congestion and safety risks near schools. In some neighbourhoods, the volume of vehicles has made it more difficult for children who do walk or cycle to cross streets safely.
Campaigns to change Copenhagen school commute habits
The City Council is considering further campaigns to promote cycling and walking for short school journeys. Similar initiatives in other Danish municipalities have included “cycling buses” (groups of children cycling together under adult supervision) and temporary car-free zones around schools during peak times.
Nordic cycling culture and reducing car dependency
Across the Nordic region, local governments have been increasingly focused on reducing car dependency for short-distance travel, both for environmental reasons and to improve urban liveability. Copenhagen, often cited as a global leader in cycling infrastructure, sees the school commute as a key area where sustainable transport habits can be encouraged from an early age.
