Make Way For Bike Lanes: 10 Best Cycling Cities in the U.S.
Portland: Portlandia may have a militant biker as one of its stock characters, but you don't need to be quite that hardcore to explore one of America's top cycling cities. Evidence? A bike path that leads from the airport to downtown, 180 miles of bike lanes, mountain bike trails, and bike commuting trains. And, because this is Portland, a Naked Bike Ride for good measure.
Photo courtesy of FogStock/Vico Images/Erik Palmer/Thinkstock
Austin: Leave it to Texas's hipster enclave to foster a thriving community of bikers. The city has been molded to fit their needs: like the Lance Armstrong Bikeway, built in 2009. And how could we forget the Austin Bike Zoo, where giant critters are bike-powered?
Photo courtesy of Steve Rainwater
New York: You wouldn't necessarily equate the bustle of New York with bike friendliness but the fact is, the city is now better equipped for bikers than ever before. Between the newly launched Citi Bike share program, the addition of new bike lanes across town, and trails with a view (like the West Side Highway path, which overlooks the Hudson), New York is fast becoming a top spot for cyclists. Just don't tell that to the cabbies or pedestrians.
Photo courtesy of Peter Spiro/iStock/Thinkstock
Washington, D.C.: Three whole years before New York got in on the action (so there!), D.C. was ahead of the curve with its Capital Bikeshare program. It's also privy to some pretty incredible trails: those looking to stay in the city boundaries can pedal through serene Rock Creek Park, while the historic C&O Canal trail provides a scenic glimpse of the Potomac for those who wanna get out of town.
Photo courtesy of John MacIlwinen/iStock/Thinkstock
Seattle: Portland isn't the only Pacific Northwest biking enclave. Seattle brings some serious competition in the form of a soon-to-be-launched bike share program, the country's biggest biking club (The Cascade Bicycle Club), and gorgeous trails like Bainbridge Island path alongside Puget Sound. Just take it from us: don't forget that raincoat.
Photo courtesy of Darrell Kirk/iStock/Thinkstock
Minneapolis: Minneapolis, you think to yourself. It gets pretty snowy there. While the Midwestern winters here are no joke, the city is so up on its cycling culture that it even plows its bike paths! Also on offer: the Nice Ride bike share, miles upon miles of newly constructed paths, nearby mountain bike trails, and a scenic byway flush with the Mississippi. For a unique ride check out the Martin Olav Sabo bridge, the first cable-stayed suspension bridge in the state.
Photo courtesy of nikitsin/Thinkstock
Boulder: Biking is to Boulder as driving is to LA: pretty much everyone here does it. Nearby Rocky Mountain trails are a siren call for hardcore mountain biker types, though commuters are just as likely to grab a ride in town. Made for everyone, from casual riders to thrill-seekers, is Valmont Bike Park, though you may want to leave the BMX-style tricks to the kiddies. Just a suggestion.
Photo courtesy of Dave Wright
Philadelphia: A population of biking devotees can be spotted zooming around on their fixies in Center City, but Philadelphia's wide-ranging bike trails are appealing to more than just the hipster set. Try leafy Fairmount Park on for size, or the riverside trails along the Schuylkill (that's pronounced "SKOO-gul" for all you non-natives).
Photo courtesy of Dylan T. Moore
Boston: Boston's got it all: its own bike share, plenty of pretty trails that wind through the historic city, and sponsored events like Bike Fridays. Now, Boston doctors are even prescribing bikes as preventative medicine: if it's a choice between an apple a day and a daily bike ride, we'll opt for cycling every time.
Photo courtesy of Oleg Podzorov/iStock/Thinkstock
Tucson: While Tucson may not first spring to mind as a bike lover's dream destination, it should: the city has, with a whopping 620-odd miles, more bike lanes than any other destination in the U.S. When you combine that number with the sunny climate and accessible mountain biking, you've got the picture of idyllic cycling conditions. Minus the cacti – keep those eyes on the road.
Photo courtesy of Elvira Butler/iStock/Thinkstock
Portland: Portlandia may have a militant biker as one of its stock characters, but you don't need to be quite that hardcore to explore one of America's top cycling cities. Evidence? A bike path that leads from the airport to downtown, 180 miles of bike lanes, mountain bike trails, and bike commuting trains. And, because this is Portland, a Naked Bike Ride for good measure.
Photo courtesy of FogStock/Vico Images/Erik Palmer/Thinkstock
Austin: Leave it to Texas's hipster enclave to foster a thriving community of bikers. The city has been molded to fit their needs: like the Lance Armstrong Bikeway, built in 2009. And how could we forget the Austin Bike Zoo, where giant critters are bike-powered?
Photo courtesy of Steve Rainwater
New York: You wouldn't necessarily equate the bustle of New York with bike friendliness but the fact is, the city is now better equipped for bikers than ever before. Between the newly launched Citi Bike share program, the addition of new bike lanes across town, and trails with a view (like the West Side Highway path, which overlooks the Hudson), New York is fast becoming a top spot for cyclists. Just don't tell that to the cabbies or pedestrians.
Photo courtesy of Peter Spiro/iStock/Thinkstock
Washington, D.C.: Three whole years before New York got in on the action (so there!), D.C. was ahead of the curve with its Capital Bikeshare program. It's also privy to some pretty incredible trails: those looking to stay in the city boundaries can pedal through serene Rock Creek Park, while the historic C&O Canal trail provides a scenic glimpse of the Potomac for those who wanna get out of town.
Photo courtesy of John MacIlwinen/iStock/Thinkstock
Seattle: Portland isn't the only Pacific Northwest biking enclave. Seattle brings some serious competition in the form of a soon-to-be-launched bike share program, the country's biggest biking club (The Cascade Bicycle Club), and gorgeous trails like Bainbridge Island path alongside Puget Sound. Just take it from us: don't forget that raincoat.
Photo courtesy of Darrell Kirk/iStock/Thinkstock
Minneapolis: Minneapolis, you think to yourself. It gets pretty snowy there. While the Midwestern winters here are no joke, the city is so up on its cycling culture that it even plows its bike paths! Also on offer: the Nice Ride bike share, miles upon miles of newly constructed paths, nearby mountain bike trails, and a scenic byway flush with the Mississippi. For a unique ride check out the Martin Olav Sabo bridge, the first cable-stayed suspension bridge in the state.
Photo courtesy of nikitsin/Thinkstock
Boulder: Biking is to Boulder as driving is to LA: pretty much everyone here does it. Nearby Rocky Mountain trails are a siren call for hardcore mountain biker types, though commuters are just as likely to grab a ride in town. Made for everyone, from casual riders to thrill-seekers, is Valmont Bike Park, though you may want to leave the BMX-style tricks to the kiddies. Just a suggestion.
Photo courtesy of Dave Wright
Philadelphia: A population of biking devotees can be spotted zooming around on their fixies in Center City, but Philadelphia's wide-ranging bike trails are appealing to more than just the hipster set. Try leafy Fairmount Park on for size, or the riverside trails along the Schuylkill (that's pronounced "SKOO-gul" for all you non-natives).
Photo courtesy of Dylan T. Moore
Boston: Boston's got it all: its own bike share, plenty of pretty trails that wind through the historic city, and sponsored events like Bike Fridays. Now, Boston doctors are even prescribing bikes as preventative medicine: if it's a choice between an apple a day and a daily bike ride, we'll opt for cycling every time.
Photo courtesy of Oleg Podzorov/iStock/Thinkstock
Tucson: While Tucson may not first spring to mind as a bike lover's dream destination, it should: the city has, with a whopping 620-odd miles, more bike lanes than any other destination in the U.S. When you combine that number with the sunny climate and accessible mountain biking, you've got the picture of idyllic cycling conditions. Minus the cacti – keep those eyes on the road.
Photo courtesy of Elvira Butler/iStock/Thinkstock
