Copenhagen: How to use bike share as a visitor

Copenhagen's bike share is an easy way to explore. Photo: Comrade Foot

Copenhagen (along with Amsterdam) is known as one of the world’s most bike-friendly cities. There are as many bikes as citizens in this Scandinavian hub in Denmark.

Another thing Copenhagen is famous for? Very expensive prices on everything from restaurants to taxis. However, you can still find some deals. For example, exploring the city by bike doesn’t have to cost a fortune for a tourist. With the city’s new bike share program, Bycyklen, it’s possible to get around like a local for only a few Danish crowns a day.

Before the new bike share system launched in 2014, visitors could rent bikes for free thanks to a system called Copenhagen City Bikes, the world’s first-ever bike share program that started in 1995. (We took it for a spin back in 2008.) Those freebie days might be long gone, but if you plan on biking more than once during your visit, it’s still possible to keep your bike rental budget in check with the new system.

Related: Keep it cheap with the Copenhagen Card

How it works

Just like other bike share programs, you only need a credit card to get started, and the first step is to create an account online with a username and password. Make sure to write this down, because this is how you will access your bike. You can rent up to two bikes on the same account.

When you are ready to go for a ride, find one of the 30 docking stations, and just use the tablet that’s built into each of the 450 bikes near the handlebars. There’s no kiosk to visit before you hop on a bike like in London, New York’s CitiBike, or Velib in Paris. Simply log in with your information and start pedaling.

According to Bycyklen officials, the program will be expanding soon, and the goal is to have 1,860 bikes at 105 stations by October 2015.

A weather-proof tablet with GPS is built right into the bike. Just log in to check your bike out. Photo: Tony Webster

Pay by the hour or month

There are two pricing options with Bycyklen, and choosing the best one for your needs depends on how long you will be in Copenhagen and how much you want to bike. Checking out the bikes costs 25 kr per hour. At just under $4 per hour (at current exchange rates), it’s not a bad deal for those looking to hop from place to place on a flexible schedule.

However, another option that might just save you money is to get a monthly plan for 70 kr (a little it over $10). Every ride under 30 minutes is free on this plan, so you if think you’ll be using your bike as a main mode of transit for quick trips, this is definitely a better deal than the hourly plan. Note: It’s 6 kr/hour after the free 30-minute period.

If you really want to go for a serious five-hour bike ride around the city, it’s cheaper to rent a bike from a local shop, which costs around $20 for a 24-hour period. There are several shops that offer all kinds of bikes and even tours around the city.

Note: When you first sign up, they take an initial deposit of 200 kr on your credit card that you will get back after a few days. Also, many of the bikes are equipped with electronic locks that let you park it anywhere you please. Again, just use your log-in information to lock and unlock the bike, but be aware that you are still being charged while the bike is parked.

High-Tech bikes with built-in maps

The new system features easy-to-use electric rides from Gobikes. For tourists visiting the city, there is one other big feature that should be very appealing. Built into each bike is a weather-resistant tablet with GPS capability. There’s no need to pull out your iPhone (and maybe rack up charges!) or guidebook to see where you are going.

There’s a map right between your handlebars that tracks your exact location, and it can help guide you to popular landmarks, restaurants, and sights. When you are ready to return your bike, just use the tablet to find the nearest docking station.

Is it worth it?

Even if Bycyklen might not save you a lot from renting a bike from a shop, we think many visitors will find it a great option, because of the convenience. You can explore the city with ease on your own schedule, take spontaneous trips at any time of day or night, and don’t have to worry about where you will lock it. Plus, using the built-in tablet is a fun way to discover new places.

A free alternative

If you are an extreme Cheapo, the most affordable bike rental option in town won’t cost you a single Danish crown. Copenhagen Free Bike Rental is an organization that fixes up broken bikes and rents them out to visitors for no charge.

Participating, however, takes a bit of advance planning. First, fill out a form on their website at least seven days before your bike rental. Next, someone from the organization will meet you in Trianglen Square in Østerbro. They do ask for donations to keep the service going. It may not be as simple as checking out a bike from Bycyklen, but for the intrepid traveler, you can’t beat the price!