Robert Goodwill and Chris Boardman head to Copenhagen to discuss Danish cycling infrastructure (+ video)

Robert Goodwill is just doing this for publicity. He will not go on to do anything at all in the "Danish style" for cycling in the UK. His hypocrisy is disgusting.

Boardman might just as well have taken a shop dummy to Copenhagen with him.

While I'd welcome any open approach to consider how Copenhagen (and Groningen) have succeeded, it should be clear that decades of investment in completely re-designing traffic infrastructure are required to come anywhere close. £200m is a very small drop in that ocean and until investment in cycling infrastructure consistently matches or comes significantly closer to that invested in cars then we won't see major steps forward.
Education in tolerance and respect for all road users needs to be close to the top of any Governments priorities, along with some simple but effective law changes that would help to remove conflicts, for example, a minimum passing distance of 1.5 to 2.0m for cyclists along with an assumed liability of the larger vehicle in any accident.
I have no option but to travel half of my 18 mile commute on a busy A road (half of it currently in the dark morning) and regularly had cars and lorries pass me within inches and force me into the gutter while trying to stay within the central lines to avoid oncoming traffic, despite using 4 half watt and 70 lumen rear lights and a Pro-Viz 360 reflect vest. Alhough, the further out into the lane I now ride and the more they have to consider choosing to pull out into the opposite lane and avoid danger to themselves, the more space and time I am given. It does come at the cost of far more frequent and increasingly aggressive abuse as drivers evidently consider cyclists both an unnecessary irritant and less entitled to occupy 'their' roads, largely on the basis of varying levels of ignorance of the law and Highway Code.

Great. I suppose it has to start somewhere although I like many would like to see more emphasis on general road manner etc. Boardmans videos etc should be shown on BCC tv at prime time etc.
As don't live in London I actually care little about what happens. Its the open road that worries me.

Denmark was an interesting place to cycle when I visited it this summer. The thing that struck me most was how good Danish drivers were (particularly in Copenhagen) about not right-hooking (left-hooking in UK terms) cyclists at junctions. They would ALWAYS wait to make sure cyclists, even those behind them, were clear before making turns - a significant difference from SMIDSY UK drivers.

On the other hand, particularly when outside towns, we were subject to a number of extremely close passes by drivers which was not very pleasant, so Danish drivers are not perfect by any means. However, they have learned how to manage junctions safely with cycles. Will British drivers ever manage the same? I have my doubts...

Great initiative ...make sure you both take a train /metro using your bikes to highlight the fact that bikes are part of an integrated transport system ...also Mr Goodwill take note of the tow ball bike carriers on taxis in Copenhagen .

Perhaps Robert Goodwill can introduce a law setting out minimum passing distances between motors and cyclists.

Until he does that, I'm not going to believe anything he says about wanting to get more people cycling, it takes more than empty words.

£200 million is peanuts, stop investing in car infrastructure, spend the money instead on cycle infrastructure - it's much better value for money.

Can only be a good thing. Perhaps they can also stop off in the Netherlands on their way back.

Recently spoke a female cyclist who had given up cycling in the UK after being taken off her bike by other vehicles for the third time in Lancaster, and was selling her bike. She also has Danish links and spend some her time there travelling around by bike. It would appear that perhaps one of the biggest differences to her is that car drivers are more aware of and considerate to cyclist in Denmark. Perhaps not surprising when so many people cycle, and the chances are that most car drivers cycle at some time. It a kind of critical mass thing once a curtain proportion of the population do it then attitudes change or at least curtain negative attitudes become socially unacceptable.
So yes intelligent cycling infra structure is important to get people on and staying on bikes giving them and society the accrued health benefits, but the attitude of other road users is another important factor. If the UK is ever going to match the benefits Denmark has gained from having so many journeys made by bike (particularly in cities) then it is going to have to place cycling, walking and public transport needs above those of motorists for the foreseeable future when planning transportation within our cities. This is not ever going to be popular/accepted until a critical mass is reached, planners will just have take the flak until then.

RE Video: CO2 isn't the main problem in cities, trees can eat it, it's all the other byproducts of burning mainly diesel.