Rentberry’s Picks: Excellent US Cities for Cycling

If for some weird and unfair reason, you think that bikes are only for kids and sportsmen, you’ll be surprised to learn that 51.4 million Americans ride bikes every now and then. Some of them use bikes as a preferred means of transportation just because it’s healthy and good for the environment. Others choose to ride a bike over driving a car because of the affordability of the first. For some others, biking is the best way to escape traffic jams. As you see, bikes manage to deliver uniquely on all fronts.

In light of this, it becomes clear why bike-friendly cities are getting an increasing amount of respect and adoration in America. Wonder what a great city for biking in the US is? There are plenty of them, actually. Read on to learn which cities deserve the title of ‘biking mecca,’ and get ready for surprises. Some of our choices might seem a little counterintuitive (but it is so only at first glance).

Boulder, CO

Average rental price: $1,821/mo
Bike score: 86 out of 100
Top biking trails: Walker Ranch, Valmont Bike Park, Benjamin Loop

Boulder is one of the US cities to get around on two wheels, and I’m going to explain to you why. Located at the base of the Rocky Mountains, this picturesque spot of Colorado is essentially a cyclist’s heaven. A combination of world-class biking trails, sunny weather all year around, as well as hundreds of miles of amazing bike paths for riders of different skills, make Boulder the top spot for cycling. Due to its location, Boulder is oftentimes called the best city for mountain biking. What’s more, it boasts its Boulder B-Cycle initiative – a city’s bike share program that offers an instant access to bikes at any B-station around the city 24/7. Both natural landscape and urban conveniences make cycling types flock to the city and stay there for good.

Portland, OR

Average rental price: $1,667/mo
Bike score: 72 out of 100
Best biking trails: Powell Butte Nature Park, Forest Park, Waterfront Loop

Portland was meant for biking. If you don’t trust me, ask Nike. A couple of years ago, the brand kicked in as much as $10 million to the city’s bike share system called Bike Town, which eventually doubled the system’s capacity to 1,000 bikes. The local government, in its turn, puts the interest of bikers first by making protected bike lanes the default design for new and existing road projects. Back in 2015, the city boasted an 86-mile network of streets for bike riders, and the network has grown significantly since then. The city might still lack some bike infrastructure in the city center, but it’s got enough to be called the city with the 5th most bike-friendly downtown in the country. We wouldn’t go as far as to call this city the king of cycling culture, but it’s doing kind of cool in inspiring other cities to become more bike-friendly.

Chicago, IL

Average rental price: $1,878/mo
Bike score: 70 out of 100
Best biking trails: Chicago Lakefront Trail, Northerly Island, Sheridan Road

It turns out, the windy city is not only good for chasing the wind. It is just as amazing for evening rides along the shoreline or wandering around the scenic high-rise buildings following one of the city’s bike lanes. This year, Chicago is expected to become the first major city with a network of protected cycling lanes in downtown. It’s also worth being said that Chicago boasts a social program called Divvy For Everyone. The goal of this program is to subsidize bike-share membership for low-income Chicagoans. The city’s beautiful architecture, one-of-a-kind city skyline, picturesque shoreline make Chicago an amazing spot for bikers of all ages and tastes.

New York City, NY

Average rental price: $3,109/mo
Bike score: 65 out of 100
Best biking trails: Governors Island, Central Park Loop, Hudson River Greenway

The idea of jumping into the NYC traffic on two wheels might seem counterintuitive if not crazy, but things are not always what they seem. Thanks to the growing network of bike lanes and the expanding Citi Bike program, biking in NYC gets increasingly simple over time. Of course, Google still showcases articles like ‘Why I’ll Never Ride a Bike in New York City’ or ‘A Nervous Biker’s Guide to Cycling in New York City’ when you type ‘biking in the Big Apple, but I personally know folks who enjoy biking rides in NYC daily.

Washington, D.C.

Average rental price: $2,304/mo
Bike score: 69 out of 100
Best biking trails: Capital Crescent Trail, Mount Vernon Trail, Metropolitan Branch Trail

According to tourist guides, cruising through D.C. on two wheels is the greatest and fastest way to explore the city. So why not pretend to be a tourist in your hometown and start to live traffic jams – free? Got no bike? No problem. Thanks to the Capital Bikeshare program, you can get one out of 1,800 rentable two-wheeled friends at any moment of the day. In fact, the nation’s capital was among the first to implement widespread bike share programs. What’s more, there is a governmental program meant to teach kids how to ride bikes safely. Sounds like a biking paradise, agree?

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San Francisco, CA

Average rental price: $3,803/mo
Bike score: 75 out of 100
Best biking trails: San Francisco Bay Trail, Twin Peaks, Paradise Loop

If you’ve been to San Francisco, you’re likely to argue that this city has nothing to do with an ideal biking situation. Cruising cable cars, never-ending winds, famed San Francisco fog, and wiggle-waggle streets is not what comes to mind when one thinks of a perfect ride on two wheels. But still, San Francisco is an amazing destination for bikers. It boasts incredible views and landscapes that are best experienced by riding a bike. In the last few years, San Francisco installed 800 new bike racks and broadened its bike share network to as much as 4,500 bikes in the city and 7,000 ones across the metropolitan area.

Minneapolis, MN

Average rental price: $1,681/mo
Bike score: 81 out of 100
Best biking trails: Theodore Wirth Park, Brownie Lake, South Loop

Commonly referred to as one of the best cities for biking in the US, Minneapolis surely deserves the title. In fact, the city is so well-planned and convenient for biking, that even brutal Minnesota winters don’t stop locals from pedaling all year round. Residents of Minneapolis are proud of their big bike culture partially because, and there are reasons for that. They’ve got a bike share program Nice Ride Minnesota and over 120 miles of bikeways located mostly on a flat area (huge advantage for beginners and those who use bikes as a means of transportation rather than sports equipment). A vibrant bike culture swirls around Minneapolis making it such an amazing place to live.

The Final Word

If you feel like it’s time to get healthier and more eco-friendly, you should absolutely consider getting yourself a good bike. If it feels like your current place of residence is not the biker’s paradise, you should take a look at the cities from the above list. Biking heaven might not even exist, but some cities are obviously better for getting around on a two-wheeled transport than others. Make a wise choice, and keep pedaling towards a better future.

Boulder, COChicago, ILMinneapolis, MNNew York, NYPortland, ORSan Francisco, CAWashington D.C.