Biking offers a healthy, eco-friendly way to get around, but not all cities are equally welcoming to cyclists. Advocacy nonprofit PeopleForBikes has released its annual City Ratings, spotlighting the most and least bike-friendly cities in the U.S. and beyond.
Top Bike-Friendly Cities
Leading the rankings this year are Mackinac Island, MI; Davis, CA; and Minneapolis, MN, recognized for their exceptional bike infrastructure, safety measures, and accessibility.
On the flip side, cities like Gulfport, FL; Mount Vernon, NY; and Richland Hills, TX scored poorly, highlighting a need for significant improvements in bike-friendliness.
What Makes a City Great for Biking?
Cities were evaluated in six key categories, each contributing to an overall score out of 100:
- Safe Speeds: Lower speed limits to reduce accidents.
- Protected Bike Lanes: Adding designated lanes and off-street paths.
- Reallocated Space: Designing streets to prioritize bikes and pedestrians.
- Intersection Treatments: Creating safer crossings for cyclists.
- Network Connections: Ensuring bike routes link to key destinations.
- Trusted Data: Improving data accuracy via OpenStreetMap.
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Top 10 U.S. Cities by Size
Small Cities
- Mackinac Island, MI: 99
- Provincetown, MA: 96
- Harbor Springs, MI: 92
- Springdale, UT: 89
- Washburn, WI: 89
- Fort Yates, ND: 88
- Crested Butte, CO: 87
- Blue Diamond, NV: 85
- Murdock, NE: 84
- Sewanee, TN: 83
Medium Cities
- Davis, CA: 78
- Cambridge, MA: 72
- Berkeley, CA: 71
- Boulder, CO: 70
- Corvallis, OR: 70
- Ankeny, IA: 70
- Ames, IA: 66
- Anchorage, AK: 64
- Hoboken, NJ: 62
- Grand Forks, ND: 61
Large Cities
- Minneapolis, MN: 71
- Seattle, WA: 65
- San Francisco, CA: 64
- St. Paul, MN: 61
- Portland, OR: 59
- Philadelphia, PA: 58
- New York City, NY: 56
- Arlington, VA: 53
- Washington, D.C.: 46
- Denver, CO: 46
Expanding Beyond the U.S.
For the first time, PeopleForBikes included international cities in their rankings. Top global destinations include The Hague, Netherlands (89); Brussels, Belgium (87); and Paris, France (87). Notable mentions also include cities in Germany, Australia, and the U.K., further showcasing a growing global commitment to bike-friendly infrastructure.
Cities on the Rise
While some cities lead the way, others are making strides toward improvement. Since 2019, the number of U.S. cities scoring above 50 has increased from 33 to 183. Some of the most improved cities include:
- Salt Lake City, UT: From 46 in 2020 to 52 in 2024.
- Ames, IA: From 40 in 2020 to 66 in 2024.
- Cambridge, MA: From 36 in 2020 to 72 in 2024.
What These Rankings Mean
According to Rebecca Davies, director of the City Ratings program, “The cities that perform best are those that take bold steps to redesign streets, making biking safer and accessible for all ages and abilities.”
Curious where your city stands? Check the full rankings and see how your community measures up.
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