The Life-Sized City Blog: Bicycle Innovation Lab - Denmark's First Cultural Centre for Bicycle Culture


This Friday, in Copenhagen, Copenhagenize Consulting is proud to present the opening of Denmark's first cultural centre for cycling - Bicycle Innovation Laboratory. Together with our colleagues at the NGO Miljøpunkt Amager we've created a space where Danish bicycle culture can be celebrated, as well as further developed. The Bicycle Innovation Lab - B.I.L. for short (which, by some strange coincedence looks remarkably like the Danish word for car - 'bil'... hmm) has been made possible through funding from the government's Bicycle Fund (Cykelpuljen) administered by the Danish Road Directorate. I first developed the idea that Danish bicycle culture needed a physical home back in 2008. A place where ideas could be fostered and discussed. A launch pad for innovation. Now, three years later, the time has come. This Friday that home will open its doors to the public. Danish bicycle culture enjoys global exposure thanks to the internet and not least thanks to both Copenhagenize and Cycle Chic. We can now offer not only citizens but visitors to the city a place where they can enjoy a focused view of our diverse bicycle culture. Our inspriation sources for the cultural centre include the Danish Design Centre and the Danish Architectural Centre.

B.I.L. will be many things gathered under a big bicycle umbrella. The nature of the funding means that B.I.L. will grow along a upwards curve. In the first phase: - There will be a Bikeotheque - a library where people can borrow various bicycles for three or four days. - We will create a forum for keynote speakers from around the world to present their ideas on urban cycling. - We have built a workshop for citizens to come and learn to build their own frames, work on their bicycles and, hopefully, develop new ideas. - We'll be leading urban planning bicycle tours in 2012 for interested parties.

The list of upcoming projects is long and exciting but let's just get this puppy inaugurated first, shall we? We're done painting, welding, sawing and building. We are looking forward to sharing now. And we'll kick it off at 11:11 on 11.11.2011.

Here's the Facebook group, too.

If you're in Copenhagen on Friday, you're welcome to come to an Open House between 14 - 17. Bicycle Innovation Laboratory is located at: Prismen Holmbladsgade 71 2300 Copenhagen S.

Hope to see you there!


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