Study abroad program aims to examine Copenhagen's bicycle culture

Bicycling is deeply engrained in the Danish culture and to better understand the nuances of Copenhagen's cycling infrastructure, a group of landscape architecture and kinesiology students is travelling to Denmark's capital city. Copenhagen offers almost 250 miles of biking lanes and the city's annual biking report released last year confirmed that biking continues to be the preferred method of transportation for citizens, with just more than 60-percent of Copenhageners choosing to bike to work or school. "Biking Culture and Urban Design" is a faculty-led program in its first year that offers students the opportunity to observe bicycle infrastructure and multi-modal transportation solutions, learn from programs and policies that support biking, and learn about the role of biking in sustainable, livable communities. The program joins the list of 150 faculty-led study abroad programs University-wide and fits well with the mission of global programs, according to Kristi Wormhoudt, associate director of education abroad. "When we look at proposals for programs, we want to see opportunities in nontraditional locations that combine academic departments to serve a broader need and Copenhagen offered that in an interesting and differently organized city," Wormhoudt said. "There's a lot to learn and a new place to learn it and we're thrilled to offer it." Eleven students‚ seven landscape architecture and four kinesiology‚ will embark on the two-week journey that is scheduled to begin on May 12. Mallika Bose, associate professor of landscape architecture, and Melissa Bopp, associate professor of kinesiology, will lead the program, which, upon completion of online course work, will earn the students three credits in their respective disciplines. For more information on future offerings of the program or any of the University's study abroad programs, visit http://gpglobalea.gp.psu.edu