Danish Cyclists Federation (DANSK)

The Danish Cyclists Federation is a NGO devoted to promoting bicycling as means of transportation ad recreation. With approximately 40 local branches throughout Denmark and a membership of 20,000 it is firmly rooted in society.

Based mainly on voluntary work and a small group of paid staff in the Copenhagen headquarters our activities are financed by members' fees, private sponsorships and proceeds from the sale of bicycles and biking equipment from the federation shop.

Founded in 1905, the Danish Cyclists Federation is one of the oldest cyclists' organizations in Europe. The main goal of the organization has always been to strengthen the cycling culture in Denmark and promote the bicycle as a healthy and safe means of transportation.

In 1910 we assisted in the introduction of traffic regulations. From the 1960s motor traffic grew fast - and so did concerns over environmental costs and the rising number of traffic accidents. For a while the Danish Cyclists Federation joined the battle against cars. Nowadays our work is not directed against cars, but at the happy coexistence between the different means of transportation - guided by the wish for a healthy and sustainable development of the Danish transport sector.

Cycling should be a safe, fun, easy and obvious choice everywhere in Denmark.

The Federation's members' magazine, Cyklister ("Cyclists") is published bimonthly.

Every year the DCF runs two mayor campaigns. In May, Vi cykler til arbejde ("We ride to work"), is very successful in making approximately 100,000 Danes cycle to work every day for a full month. In September another campaign encourages more than 5,000 school classes all over Denmark to compete at cycling to school for two weeks.

Alongside these activities, our organization is successfully lobbying for better safety and infrastructure for cyclists - both on local and national levels. The Danish Cyclists Federation has been a member of the ECF since 1991.