Can I cycle on the pavement in Denmark?
No — pavements and footpaths are off-limits on a bike, and the police really do hand out the fines. The rate is DKK 700, and urban bike checks dispense them by the stack. The rule is simple: ride the cycle track, and where there is none, the road — if a cycle track exists it must be used, and you may not simply pick the road instead. The pavement is only for pushing the bike, which is always legal. The key exception: children under 6 may cycle on the pavement, and an accompanying adult rides on the road unless the municipality allows otherwise. A bike must be pushed across a pedestrian crossing — riding across also costs DKK 700. E-scooters follow the same rules.
📋 The rules
- Pavements and footpaths: no cycling — DKK 700 fine
- Ride the cycle track, otherwise the road
- Pushing the bike on the pavement is always legal
- Children under 6 may cycle on the pavement
- Pedestrian crossings: dismount and push
🔓 Exceptions
- Signed shared paths (pedestrian + cycle): riding allowed with care
- Pedestrian streets: cycling only where signs allow (often time-limited)
- An adult accompanying a child under 6 rides on the road, unless the municipality allows otherwise
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Cycling on the pavement costs DKK 700, and riding across a pedestrian crossing costs the same — during urban bike checks the fines are handed out by the stack. But the fine is not the worst of it. If you hit a pedestrian, you are liable for the damage, and in serious cases there can be a prosecution for negligence. If you come off a pavement into an exit at speed, the responsibility is yours precisely because you should not have been there. E-scooters follow the bike rules, so the pavement is banned for them too.
📎 Official sources
- Danish Cyclists' Federation · Fine rates (DA) →
- DR · Bike checks: pavement fines (DA) →
- Police · Indicative traffic fines (DA, PDF) →
❓ Frequently asked
What does pavement cycling cost?
DKK 700. The same rate applies to riding across a pedestrian crossing and cycling through pedestrian zones without permission, and urban bike checks hand the fines out by the stack. Pushing the bike is always allowed.
May my child ride on the pavement?
Yes, children under 6 may cycle on the pavement, and only from 6 may they cycle alone on the road. An accompanying adult rides on the road unless the municipality allows otherwise — the child may stay on the pavement.
May I ride on the road when a cycle track exists?
No. If a cycle track exists, it must be used, and you may not pick the road instead. The exception is a left turn, which the rules allow you to take from the road. Where there is no track, you ride on the road.
Do the rules cover e-scooters?
Yes. E-scooters follow the bike rules, so the pavement is banned and the fines are equivalent. Many people think a scooter belongs with the pedestrians, but it does not — not across a pedestrian crossing either.
May I cycle on the pavement if there is no cycle track?
No. Where there is no cycle track, you ride on the road — the pavement is for pedestrians only. If you want to avoid the traffic, you may push the bike on the pavement, and that is always legal.
🔎 Common searches
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