One of the first things I fell in love with in Copenhagen during my first visit there aged 14 and then again in Nov 2015 as an adult was their bicycle usage. They cycle everywhere, anytime and with anything with them!! It is the casual ease, familiarity and wholeness of their cycling that has really impacted on me!

At home cycling is now seen as an adult sport and it is at a ‘set time’, can be fast, can be competitive, it’s a group thing, it’s a hobby – 

In Copenhagen cycling is every moment, every day.. no expensive equipment, clothing or clubs.. kids are attached or bunked into the bike box, the other day George and I counted three aged 2-8 in dads bicycle box (my terminology)!

In conversation at dinner last Saturday night with out Danish relatives we were discussing how much driving I do as a single mum to three very active Cups! Louise (Danish) asked ‘why doesn’t Nikki cycle to rowing?’ The question was met with aghast by the aforementioned Cup. ‘It’s five miles!!’ To which both Stuart and Louise replied, ‘we do that to work and back or even more every day’ – (they smiled!!).

Then we reflected on why it’s not possible in NI. Copenhagen a busy beautiful City supports its citizens to cycle – there are appropriate cycle paths, respect for the cyclist and very loud bells if you are in the way!!

What I mused upon was – when we start to integrate positive action into our everyday moments it becomes an ingrained natural way of living! On the plane home I noticed the Danish gentleman beside me working on a PPP entitled – ‘Is health awareness a citizens responsibility or government socio demo-graphics?’ I asked him what was his conclusion? Like me he believed it was the citizens individual choice but there has to be support from government! The cycling in Copenhagen reflects this – the Government has invested in the infrastructure to support cycling in the Danish citizens lifestyle and as citizens they make the individual choice to make it a life choice to cycle, and thus show example to their Cups!

There is learing here for all of us – we should all learn to be mindful of how our daily choices impact on our own well being emotionally, mentally and physically (Denmark is often cited as one of the happiest Countries to live in – it is somewhere the Dishwashing Family have all agreed they would move too!)….being mindful of our own well being and health has an impact on our Cups – I know this with having travelled the cancer journey with Gary and in coping with his death – I needed to be healthy in mind, body and spirit to support my Cups! (Often and still now I’m not but I’m mindful to keep trying and readjusting to be so).

Copenhagen cycling is family centered, all ages and not seen as an effort (remember those carefree days of childhood cycling!)

I’m not berating how we cycle here at home, it’s just an interesting reflection on the use of the bicycle – I guess I’m more akin to the Copenhagen cycling as it’s simple, cheaper, a lifestyle and healthy xox