The Top 10 U.S. Cities For Biking (SLIDESHOW, POLL)

Americans overwhelmingly continue to drive alone to work. With more than nine out of 10 workers favoring driving. But these 10 cities are definitely taking the initiative to change that. Here are the top 10 U.S. cities for bicycling commuters. And remember to send us a photograph of your favorite biking city.

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Vote and Share Choose Your Top 5 I'd rather take my car than drive here I've got my helmet ready Now Make Your Own Top 5 And Share with Your Friends RANK: AVERAGE:  OUT OF 10 Portland, OR: Voted as one of the most bike friendly cities in the World across most lists, Portland's bicycle network has grown from 60 to 260 miles since the early 1990s and bicycle use has quadrupled. It's Create-a-Commuter program is the first project in the United States that provides low-income adults with commuter bicycles.

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[factotem]

This page exemplifes the idiocy of sequenced lists.

[Copenhagenize]

Interesting list. Although if you look at the list of the world's most bicycle friendly cities - the top 25 - the only US city on it is Davis, California.
http://www.copenhagenize.com/2009/07/worlds-most-bicycle-friendly-cities.html

You know there's work to be done when Oulu, Finland is way ahead of you. :-)

[EgyptianMysterySchool]

Doesn't surprise me that two of my former childhood homes are on this list - Madison, WI. and Boulder, CO. I've biked many of those miles w/ my family, Madison especially has a beautiful arboretum that travels by, through and around 2-3 major lakes, the zoo and of course the forest.

I miss them both.

[LetsGetDumbAmerica]

I just got back from a bike ride here in Los Angeles. It's sad that the top 3 cities are known for extreme weather (rain, cold) while LA has about 3 weeks of clouds a year yet is still such a car centric mindset.

I have to bike around cemeteries to get a nice breezy undisturbed ride. Santa Monica/ Venice/ Hermosa has a nice long sidewalk stretch though. Too bad I'm in East Los.

[Godzilla1916]

Once again Portland, Oregon has shown its true qualities for biking; a shining example of how bicycles and bicycle culture can lead the local economy. Absolutely the best city on the west coast!

[RGKahn]

Another great small city is Peachtree City GA. They have built about 65 mile of bike/golf cart paths that have reduced the need to share the street and roads with cars and trucks etc. Peachtree City is south of Atlanta's Harts Field.

[dutchman]

A bicycle revolution is hitting most cities, but not so much in America. Most European cities now have some type of bike sharing program, with Paris' Velib leading the way. For those not familiar with it, it's a system of 10,000 bikes spread out over Paris and well integrated into its public transportation network. Even cites like Montreal and Toronto are getting into the act, those negating a common argument that cold weather/snow is a deal breaker.

And America could certainly stand to learn a thing or two from The Netherlands, which has the world's greatest network of bike paths, effectively connecting all of our cities and making car free live fun, healthy and safe.

Arguments that there is not enough land in congested cities like Boston or New York for dedicated bike paths are also countered by the fact that Amsterdam - one of the most densely packed cities on earth - has them everywhere. Dedicated grades and right of way make the system safe and out of the way of automobile traffic.

Bikes are one of the lowest hanging fruits for solving so many of America's problems - road congestion, dependence on foreign oil, pollution/­greenhouse concerns, and of course, obesity.

It's hard to think of a smarter investment in US cities than bike paths. It's a shame so few are doing it.

[TazoWolf]

They forgot Fort Collins, colorado! Fort Collins even has a "Bicycle Library," where people can check out bikes like books... for free!!! Bike lanes EVERYWHERE too. As an undergrad there, I lived all over the place, but always rode my bicycle to school, no matter whether I was a block a way, or 10 miles!

[Annieke]

While I was in New York last April I was amazed to see so little bikes. It seems like the perfect city to commute per bike. If more poeple would think that, less cars would be present, making the streets safer for the increasing amounts of bikes.

Being Dutch (an riding my bike since I was 5 years old on an almost daily basis) I am of course prejudiced, but biking has so many advantages.
One of them is doing my work-out while going to work and cycling back.

[techfin]

Cities suck for biking, how about getting on your bike and riding down some country road with
little or no autos.
how about best cities for farming or raising animals.

[MajorKong]

There are problems with country roads too -

1. No shoulder.

2. Everybody in the country seems to drive an F350 truck that is roughly as wide as the road I'm on.

3. Farm dogs.

[mathme]

Cities that are bike friendly are far better for biking than "the country."

[spindoc]

I hate to rain on everybody's parade, but people riding bicycles add to traffic congestion in most cities when they ride in the road. Instead of inspiring more people to ride bikes, it just pisses them off. It appears that Seattle is a good model for solving this problem. Create lanes exclusively for people riding bicycles -- not on sidewalks; not in car lanes.

[MisterHands]

What backwards state do you live in, that doesn't have bike lanes?

[Stayalert]

Coachella Valley. with all the land, half bike path, half hard to figure out, lots of traffic crossing.

[ctown2atl]

I live in Atlanta, which has to be one of the WORST cities for biking.
I love the place. But biking in this city is like rolling the dice with your life.

[silk olive]

i love atlanta too, but agreed. i would never bike there.

[silk olive]

as a cyclist in Portland i do have to say that it is so much more relaxing to bike to work, alongside the willamette river, than to sit in I5 rush hour traffic. every time i get lazy and drive in, i regret it almost immediately. i hope more cities start to veer this way, its a quality of life issue.

[Ametista]

Why do they have Boulder instead of Denver? I bet Denver has more trails and cyclists than any of the cities listed.

[ecotopian]

Why do they have Portland instead of Eugene? I have lived in both cities and would rather bike in Eugene. There is less traffic and better bike lanes and paths. Not to mention that more people seem to bike in Eugene than Portland. It could be that the numbers are skewed. Since the article states that Portland ranks high world wide, it could be that they are getting votes from tourists and not people who actually live there. Fewer people go to Eugene and that could explain its absence.

[Ametista]

Well so why did they pick the cities they picked?????

[Ametista]

Actually its because Portland and Boulder are both liberal havens, that's why. No "are there jobs there" logic applied.

[mathme]

Huh, no Denver? Surprising.