Copenhagen launches 5 urban space experiments to reduce traffic

It will remove 66 parking spaces from 5 areas in the Medieval City

The City of Copenhagen is searching for new ways to improve the quality of life of residents and tourists. For this reason, it has now announced that it will launch 5 urban space experiments in the Medieval City. With these pilot schemes, the municipality seeks to facilitate mobility for pedestrians, reduce noise pollution, and create greener urban spaces.

Removing parking spaces from 5 areas until September

In a press release, the municipality explained that it will remove a total of 66 parking spaces from 5 well-known areas in the capital. More specifically, 19 spaces will be removed from Dyrkøb, 13 from Skindergade, 13 from Vestergade, 12 from Klosterstræde-Hyskenstræde-Naboløs, and 9 from Lille Kongensgade – Store Kirkestræde.

Although the city will eliminate parking spaces from each of these 5 areas, it will do so for different reasons. Taking a case in point, the municipality will use the Vestergade experiment to investigate how reducing traffic will impact nightlife, behaviour, and noise. Meanwhile, it will replace the parking spaces in Dyrkøb with trees and benches to create greener urban spaces that create intimacy and tranquillity in the square by the Cathedral.

Mayor of Technology and Environment Ninna Hedeager Olsen explained that the city hopes these experiments will make the Medieval City more attractive: “It has long been a great wish for me and for many Copenhageners to get as many of the cars as possible away from the street in the Medieval City, where the narrow streets and cosy squares are not suitable for cars.

By reducing car traffic to what is absolutely necessary, we can create a district that is much more attractive. With the experiments, it will become concrete, and I look forward to better understanding how we can make it nicer to live and move around in the Medieval City.”

Seeking feedback

The municipality will monitor each of the pilot schemes and collect feedback from residents, visitors, and businesses. Moreover, it emphasised that it understands many drivers will initially struggle with the lack of parking spaces. As such, Olsen urges all residents to share their experiences.

“I hope that many will engage in dialogue and contribute their views on what works and does not work. The experiments are precisely to make us wiser about how car traffic and the number of parking spaces can be reduced in a way that creates a good development for the Medieval City. That is why we must listen to both criticism and praise,” Olsen concluded.