In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of cyclists of all ages riding through the city.

Several factors suggest that this trend is likely to continue. The distances within the municipality are relatively short, with many people needing to travel less than 5 km for school, work, or leisure activities. Moreover, cycling offers both physical and mental health benefits, is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly mode of transport, and with the rise of electric bikes, navigating steep hills is no longer a challenge.

Many of us wish to use our bicycles more frequently, but various concerns often hold us back. Chief among these are safety worries. A key solution will be to enhance both bicycle accessibility and road safety for cyclists. Existing bike lanes should be more effectively promoted, and traffic should be optimised to ensure the safety of non-motorised users.

The benefits of sustainable traffic are well established. Research from abroad shows that children’s concentration levels improve for up to four hours on days when they walk or cycle to school. Similar effects are likely for adults as well. Studies also indicate that 9 out of 10 parents would prefer their children to cycle to school, but they are deterred by concerns about traffic safety, hilly terrain, and distance.

These are all issues we can address, and we should begin without delay.

We could enhance the cycling infrastructure in our municipality by:

• Making existing walking and cycling paths visible on popular online maps
• Extending bike paths along suitable roads and coordinating traffic with a focus on accommodating diverse modes of transport
• Educating drivers and cyclists on best practices for sharing the roads
• Installing public bike sheds near bus stops to encourage the combined use of bikes and buses for short- and long-distance travel
• Allowing bicycles on buses
• Removing some of the barriers that currently prevent bikes and prams from using gravel paths within the municipality

In the coming years, we must prioritise improvements to cycling infrastructure throughout the municipality of Tórshavn and work towards transforming Tórshavn city into a truly bike-friendly place. What suggestions do you have for getting more bikes safely on the roads?

Elsa Berg

Candidate for Tjóðveldi in the Tórshavn Municipality Elections