Copenhagen’s 2026 Budget Locks in Record Investment for Cycling
Copenhagen’s town hall - Rådhuspladsen
In a rare moment of cross-party unity, Copenhagen’s city council reached a historic agreement on the 2026 municipal budget. All elected parties, plus independents, came together under the mantra “Sammen om København” - “Together for Copenhagen” agreeing to a future-focused investment plan that places cycling infrastructure at its core.
Cycling Infrastructure: A Budget Like No Other
At the heart of the agreement lies an extraordinary allocation: 602.4 million DKK earmarked for cycling projects. It’s the single largest cycling budget the city has ever committed to by a wide margin.
What’s Included
A new cycling and pedestrian bridge connecting Østerbro and Refshaleøen. The municipality is contributing 333.8 million DKK toward the estimated 660 million DKK project, with annual operations and bridge attendants budgeted at 21 million DKK starting in 2033.
Safe school routes, including redesigns near Mimersgade and a broader 30 million DKK pool for corridor improvements, aiming to protect the city’s youngest cyclists.
Investment in underground bicycle parking, especially targeting metro stations like Sundbyøster Plads and Lergravsparken to ease congestion and support modal flexibility.
Enhancements like green wave signaling tuned to cyclists and separated infrastructure on Refshalevej to protect bike and pedestrian flow.
Why This Budget Matters
This is more than a symbolic gesture—it’s a shift in urban governance. Prior budgets hovered between 160–175 million DKK annually for cycling. Now, that number has not just increased, it has multiplied.
For Copenhagen, a city where over half of residents already commute by bike, this level of investment ensures that cycling remains integral to its identity and scalable to future population growth and climate goals.
From Modest Beginnings to Bold Commitment
Cycling in Copenhagen didn’t begin with this budget. It grew, block by block, bike lane by bike bridge, rooted in public activism, experimental planning like Strøget’s pedestrianization, and incremental infrastructure improvements. The city’s cycling mode share rose, but funding was incremental.
Now, the 2026 budget marks a generational leap. It ensures that cycling infrastructure is not just maintained - it is expanded, secured, and future-proofed.
Join a Nordic Path tour to see how Copenhagen turns budget priorities into reality. From safe school routes to new bike bridges, we walk and cycle through the places where political decisions translate into urban change.
