Green Transportation

Cyclists and pedestrians first priority at DTU

Cars will take up less space at DTU Lyngby Campus, while conditions for pedestrians and cyclists will be improved. It is part of the campus development that will ultimately boost DTU’s position as an international technical elite university.

Cyklist biking along bike path. Photo: DTU
Bicycle street on Koppels Allé. Photo: DTU/Maria Damborg Rosenberger

Tuesday 28 May 2024

Christina Tækker

Step by step, DTU Lyngby Campus will be transformed into a place where cyclists and pedestrians have first priority. You can see this on the bicycle street Koppels Allé, which is for pedestrians and cyclists. You can also sense the major transitions on Anker Engelunds Vej and Asmussens Allé, where rails have now been laid for the Greater Copenhagen Light Rail, which will have three stations on Lyngby Campus.

The vision is to make it easier and safer for students, employees, and neighbours to choose modes of transport such as light rail and bicycle. Both for going back and forth to the University, and for moving around campus. In time, there are plans to free up some of the paved parking areas for future buildings and recreational squares. This is part of DTU’s continued development towards an even better campus environment, says Ina Borup Nørløv, Head of Section at Campus Service:

“DTU is competing with the whole world to attract the best students and researchers. So we always need to offer attractive research and study environments with world-class facilities on a par with our attractive mobility solutions and an inspiring campus environment that accommodates recreational activities and contemplation.”

Light rail as a catalyst

According to Ina Borup Nørlev, the light rail has meant that DTU is changing our way of moving around campus.

When completed in 2025, the light rail will connect DTU Lyngby Campus to central Lyngby’s rail network and further south to Ishøj. This significantly improves the connection from the outside world to DTU. Over time, a network of pedestrian and cycle paths will also be connected directly to the three light rail stations at DTU, and there will also be a southbound-northbound cycle street from Akademivej to Nordvej.

It is also planned to establish cross-sections that will serve as east-westbound bicycle links. Along the paths, there will be a street food stand, you can experience the life on the campus squares, or just rest on one of the benches and enjoy nature.

Footbridge DTU Lyngby Campus
New footbridge connects 3rd and 4th quadrant. Photo: DTU/Maria Damborg Rosenberger

Safe to move around campus

For motorists, change is also on the way. Once the light rail is established, the four quadrant roads at Anker Engelunds Vej will close. Instead, cars must go via Nordvej in the north and Akademivej in the south to enter the campus area.

It is also planned to reduce the speed from 50 to 40 km per hour and in the long term, car parks will be built on the periphery of the campus. The car parks will be established as needed and will move the cars out of the central part of campus. With the speed reduction, this will make it safer to move on foot and by bike.

Finally, the vision is to reduce the number of parking spaces. Today, there are approximately 4,000 parking spaces at DTU Lyngby Campus, but on average only about 60 per cent of them are used.

“We’re currently seeing a parking space surplus at DTU—especially in the northern part of campus. In the upcoming local plan for Lyngby Campus, we’re therefore working to adjust the parking norm to suit the needs. In addition, we’re working on establishing a system so drivers can see where parking spaces are available,” says Ina Borup Nørløv.

She explains that DTU wants to change the transport culture at DTU Campus. Where drivers have previously been used to parking very close to their destination, they now have accept a slightly longer walking distance—like those who use public transport.

Once the light rail is established, virtually all buildings at DTU will be within a distance of 500 metres from one of the three light rail stations. The distance from a building at DTU to a parking lot on one of the two parking avenues will always be less than 300 metres.

How to move around DTU Lyngby Campus in the near future

Facts

Green transportation

The transportation sector is emitting more and more CO2 from cars, trucks, planes and shipping. To reverse this trend, more of the known solutions and technologies need to come into play.

DTU is a leader in research and education in key technologies such as green electricity, green fuels, electrification of society and battery technology development.

Read more on the green transportation topic page.


Contact

Ina Borup Nørløv

Ina Borup Nørløv Head of Section Planning- and Development Campus Service Mobile: 2112 9189

Mobility