We’re making biking better in California through funding local bike projects, supporting pro-bike policies and legislation at the local and state levels and highlighting great hometown routes on Ride Spot. In March 2020, we helped stop a measure in Marin and Sonoma Counties that would have eliminated the voter approved plans to finish building the North-South Greenway, a bike/pedestrian path that would connect residents between Cloverdale to Larkspur. In spring 2020, our Community Grant Program helped fund the relocation and rebuilding of the Silver Dollar BMX tracks in Chico.

Last year was another banner year for the creation of great places to ride a bike across the U.S. New bike infrastructure was fueled by funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which made billions in federal dollars available for bike projects, alongside billions of additional state and local funding measures supported by PeopleForBikes. 

As a result, Americans enjoyed hundreds of new places to ride in 2024. We collected some of the best bike projects built in the last year to celebrate how all kinds of communities are benefiting from safe, fun, and connected places to bike.

This project converted a one-way, high-speed arterial into a two-way street with protected bike lanes, including protected intersections. Reversing design decisions made in the 1960s urban renewal era, the project also eliminated highway-like slip lanes and improved pedestrian crossings. What was once a highway now feels like the neighborhood street that it is. It also closes key gaps in the city’s growing network of protected bikeways, linking to existing facilities on Negley Avenue, Centre Avenue, Broad Street, and East Liberty Boulevard. 

Clark Street Protected Bike Lane | Chicago IL

PHOTO CREDIT: John Greenfield/Streetsblog Chicago
Clark Street is the southbound twin to the northbound bikeway on adjacent Dearborn Street, connecting Oak Street to Grand Avenue in central Chicago just north of the Loop. It’s already one of the city’s most popular bikeways. Beyond Clark Street, Chicago installed a total of 47 miles of new bike facilities across the city, including 31 miles of low-stress, protected bike lanes and neighborhood greenways. 

PHOTO CREDIT: San Diego County Bicycle Coalition

San Diego’s new Pershing Bikeway connects the diverse North Park neighborhood to bike lanes near downtown through Balboa Park. The 2.3-mile project combines a two-way protected bike lane, a separate bike path, and one-way protected bike lanes to provide safe and comfortable bike routes for people of all ages and abilities. Key elements include a 75-foot bridge over Florida Canyon Creek, a new roundabout at a formerly dangerous intersection, and five new pedestrian intersections equipped with 70 path lights to improve visibility. 

Named in honor of boxing legend Joe Louis, the Joe Louis Greenway is a planned 28-mile loop around central Detroit. Hailed for the revitalization and economic development it will bring, the trail connects 23 neighborhoods within Detroit as well as the cities of Dearborn, Hamtramck, and Highland Park. In 2024, residents celebrated the opening of the section between W. Warren Avenue and Joy Road. Just a short mile, this segment includes the Warren Gateway Trailhead and several spurs into surrounding neighborhoods, carrying on the trail’s critical role in connecting the local community.

Napa Valley Vine Trail | Calistoga-St. Helena, CA

PHOTO CREDIT: Rails to Trails Conservancy

Officials cut the ribbon on a new 9-mile section of the Napa Valley Vine Trail in August. Residents and visitors can now travel between the small towns of Calistoga and St. Helena in the Napa Valley on a gorgeous new bike path alongside vineyards. Twenty nine of the 47 miles are now complete, and the other sections are in the final design stage. 

Many cities are seeing the value of integrating low-volume, low-speed neighborhood streets into their bikeway networks. In Bloomington, Indiana, city planners are emphasizing the community benefits of slow streets by converting streets into “neighborhood greenways.” Every year, the city funds the conversion of at least three streets into greenways and works with residents to determine design details. 

As more people see the success of Bloomington and other cities creating neighborhood greenways that serve as a bikeway network, they will want to copy that success in their own communities. In 2024, PeopleForBikes awarded two grants to develop a model for greenway advocacy and a guide to encourage and support city leaders and advocates to develop them. 

This dedicated bikeway uses a former railroad right-of-way to connect Philippine Sea Road in ‘Ewa to Waipahu Depot Street. After the construction of retaining walls, utility relocation, and the reconstruction of bridges at Waikele Stream and Kapakahi Stream, the Leeward Bikeway extends the Pearl Harbor Historic Trail, creating an 11-mile route from ʻAiea Bay State Recreation Area to the Hawaiian Railway Society in ‘Ewa Beach. After just a few more gap closures, people will be able to ride on a 24-mile car-free bikeway from the eastern suburbs of Honolulu all the way to Diamond Head, connecting with the airport, downtown, Waikiki, and more.

The Moosup Valley State Park Trail | Connecticut

The Moosup Valley State Park Trail opened six miles of trail from the town of Moosup to Rhode Island. The trail spans 62 acres of wetlands, rivers, ponds and natural beauty, hugging the Moosup River until it connects with the Trestle Trail in Rhode Island. Each segment is a part of the East Coast Greenway, a safe biking and walking route connecting 15 states and 450 cities and towns for 3,000 miles from Maine to Florida. 

Know of a great bike project planned for 2025 that should be on our radar for next year’s list? Make sure it’s included in our National Bike Project Tracker! To learn how to add planned projects to the list, check out our FAQ page.

Los Angeles Bike Academy Executive Director Damon Turner coaches young athletes as part of the many neighborhood services of the South Los Angeles nonprofit. PHOTO CREDIT: Science in Sport

Each year, PeopleForBikes supports transformative bike projects and advocacy efforts across the U.S. through our Industry Community Grants program. Many of those projects, like Apache County's pump and skills track in Arizona, Los Angeles Bicycle Academy’s youth programs, and the Lodestone XC mountain bike park in Kearns, Utah, are creating safe and inclusive spaces for the next generation of riders.

In 2017, Chief Judge Michael Latham in Apache County, Arizona, decided to convert a juvenile detention center into a teen resource center to give the county’s youth a safe place to gather and recreate. The center, called the LOFT, provides a technology space, rooms for music and games, a sound recording studio, and an education room, along with a lounge, kitchen, and enclosed outdoor courtyard. Soon they’ll have another amenity: a first-class pump and skills track. Thanks to a PeopleForBikes Industry Community Grant and other support, the pump and skills track is currently under construction in the community’s existing skatepark. 


“When will it be finished?!” is a question LOFT Manager Kyle Mayer has to answer almost daily, he says. The track will serve the growing demand for youth bicycling opportunities in Apache County. The local high school recently started a mountain bike club, with residents donating bikes to families who can’t afford them, and LOFT is also working with IMBA to improve existing mountain bike trails in the region. The new pump and skills track will give Apache County youth a safe and accessible place to practice their skills and connect with the local community.

The Los Angeles Bicycle Academy (LABA) was founded by former amateur racer and long-time community leader Damon Turner to support his local community and improve diverse representation in the sport of bicycling.


The Academy’s vision is simple: “We’re passionate about bicycles. We believe that bikes offer a simple solution to many of our communities’ complex problems. Bikes are great for your personal health and for the health of our environment. Bikes can help you save money on transportation, and bikes can provide you with endless miles of fun with your family and friends.” Among the many services the Academy provides are periodic family rides that give local youth the freedom to explore their neighborhood and their parents the confidence that they can do so safely.

“Getting involved with LABA was a turning point for me. I learned countless lessons — not just about bikes, but about community, patience, and persistence,” says Academy member Fareed Mumin. “I also grew closer to the amazing community that supports LABA. I started participating in Wednesday night rides which deepened my love for cycling and strengthened my connections within the cycling community. I also encouraged my little brother, little sister, and a few friends to enroll in LABA’s earn-a-bike program. To this day, they still ride the bikes they earned through LABA.”

“LABA isn’t just a bike program — it’s a community, a space for growth, and an incredible resource,” says Mumin. “I’ll always be grateful for the experiences I’ve had there and for the opportunity to share that with others.”

The Los Angeles Bike Academy family ride took members to a nature center in a nearby neighborhood. PHOTO CREDIT: Los Angeles Bike Academy

In Kearns, Utah, just west of Salt Lake City, local high school student athletes on the West Granite Composite mountain bike team have thrived under the coaching of NICA’s Rochelle Bartschi. Unfortunately, unlike teams in the wealthier districts to their east, the team can’t ride to trails for practice and their parents are likely working or lacking an extra car to transport them around. That will all change when the Lodestone XC mountain bike park is finished next summer. Supported by a PeopleForBikes Industry Community Grant, Trails Utah is building a cross-country style bike park on 12 acres of land accessible to thousands of families in the area. The new park’s design maximizes the number of fun, flowy trail miles designed to build fitness while also providing riders with a rewarding, circuit-type experience. The park includes skill areas, bermed turns, drops, and other trail features suitable for helping youth advance their mountain bike skill level.

“What’s really cool about the project is that this park serves a low-income area that’s really underserved,” says Trails Utah Executive Director Sarah Bennett. She says the local kids have really embraced the park, with 20-40 youth showing up every weekend to volunteer to help get it built. “The park just exudes this awesome spirit of inclusion,” Bennett says, citing the community of riders of adaptive bikes and the attention trail builders are giving to features that will challenge and support people with disabilities.

Weekends at the Lodestone Community Park are exciting events for area youth who can’t wait to get a great cross-country mountain bike park and come out in droves to help build it. PHOTO CREDIT: Trails Utah

Communities across the country are demonstrating the transformative power of bicycles to bring people together, create opportunities, and improve lives. From Apache County’s pump and skills track to LABA’s inspiring programs and the Lodestone XC mountain bike park in Kearns, these projects showcase how investments in bike infrastructure and advocacy can ignite passion, foster inclusivity, and strengthen community bonds. With every trail built, bike donated, and skill shared, these efforts are laying the foundation for healthier, more connected communities where everyone — regardless of age, ability, or background — can experience the joy and empowerment found on a bicycle.

PeopleForBikes Industry Community Grants Are Supporting Youth Bicycling Nationwide

In the 2024 general election, PeopleForBikes’ VoteForBikes campaign tracked 30 bike-related measures on state and local ballots across the country. Out of a possible $33 billion available on November ballots, voters approved an impressive $26 billion in funding to support paved and off-road bicycle infrastructure projects. Combined with $1.4 billion approved in earlier elections, VoteForBikes supported a total of $27.4 billion for better biking nationwide in 2024!

Nearly 60% of the approved funding, totaling $16 billion, will go towards projects largely focused on the construction and improvement of safe places to ride including protected bike lanes, bike network expansions, street safety upgrades, and traffic calming improvements. The remaining $11.4 billion will fund the construction and maintenance of off-road trails and the acquisition and management of open space that supports and increases recreation opportunities. 

We collected seven of the most important pro-bike measures from the November election below. Visit our VoteForBikes page for a state-by-state breakdown of other pro-bikes measures in your area and around the country. 


Voters in the Evergreen State successfully voted against this harmful measure to protect critical funding for transformative multi-modal transportation infrastructure. Funding from the 2021 Climate Commitment Act (CCA), Washington’s cap-and-invest program designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, will continue to be available. This program funds the Move Ahead Washington package, which provides $1.3 billion for bike and pedestrian projects and programs that support safe and connected places to ride a bike across the state, including Connecting Communities Grants, Complete Streets, Safe Routes to School, and the School Based Bike Program. 

With a two-thirds majority, Seattle voters approved Proposition 1 and replaced the expiring Levy to Move Seattle. This 8-year, $1.55 billion investment represents a significant proportion of the Seattle Department of Transportation's budget and will increase mobility options across the city. Funding will be used to construct new protected bike lanes and greenways, improve the safety of existing bike lanes, and complete network gaps with an emphasis on southern Seattle. 


Nearly 60% of voters in the Golden State voted YES on Proposition 4, a $10 billion general obligation bond focused on safe drinking water, wildfire prevention, drought preparedness, clean air, and open space preservation projects. Of the $10 billion, nearly $2 billion will support the construction, maintenance, and improvement of recreation and active transportation infrastructure (like bike paths and trails!) to help combat the effects of climate change. 

City and County of San Francisco, California

San Francisco residents approved Proposition K to establish a park at Ocean Beach. This measure will amend the park code to permanently dedicate car-free space at the Parkway at Upper Great Highway after a temporary shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic was extremely popular. This initiative will allow people of all ages and abilities to safely gather and enjoy the outdoors for generations to come while also preserving delicate natural resources along San Francisco’s coastline. The park will increase opportunities to safely walk, bike, roll, and use transit, whether for recreation or transportation, without having to interact with vehicular traffic. 


Environment and Natural Resources Fund Amendment 

In a resounding win for the environment, Minnesotans overwhelmingly voted YES to reauthorize state lottery revenue to the Environment and Natural Resources Fund by constitutional amendment. This big win will provide a projected $1 billion in funding for projects that protect, conserve, and enhance air, water, land, and wildlife across the state. These projects include the creation and expansion of biking trails and biking tours that will increase recreation opportunities and continue Minnesota’s efforts to stay at the forefront as one of the best places to ride a bike in the U.S. This amendment also authorizes a 1.5% increase in funding for community grants that invest in underserved communities so everyone can enjoy access to nature. 

Voters in Maine approved Question 4 to authorize a historic appropriation of $30 million to the Maine Trails Program and fund the design, development, and maintenance of recreation and active transportation trails. With a focus on accessibility for all and a significant proportion of funding going towards non-motorized or multi-use trails, this funding will significantly expand opportunities to ride a bike across the state. 


Central Ohio Transit Authority (Franklin County, Ohio)

Voters in the greater Columbus area approved the Central Ohio Transit Authority Sales and Use Tax in a significant win for multi-modal transportation. This tax will generate an estimated $6 billion in revenue over the next 25 years to strengthen the rapidly developing region’s transportation system. While the primary focus is on public transit, nearly one-third of revenue will support transit-supportive projects like safe and connected places to walk and bike that facilitate safe access and first- and last-mile connections. Plans include building 500 miles of new bike paths, multi-use trails, and sidewalks, with 150 miles planned for completion in the next five years. 


Thanks to voters like you making your voice heard, we showed that Americans across the country value access to more safe and connected places to ride a bike. Thank you for joining us in voting to support vibrant communities where people and the environment are happier and healthier and everyone can access affordable and safe modes of transportation and recreation.


Looking for even more ways to get involved and make a difference? Explore PeopleForBikes’ Great Bike Infrastructure Project to support more great places to ride in your backyard and become a PeopleForBikes Foundation member to support better biking in your community and hundreds of others across the U.S.

Voters Approved $27.4 Billion to Support Better Biking in 2024

As we approach 2025, the landscape for mountain bike and recreational advocacy in California is buzzing with action taking place across the local, state, and federal levels. From crucial policy discussions about electric mountain bikes (eMTBs) to pushing for increased funding for trail management, numerous major initiatives are on the horizon. PeopleForBikes attended the California Mountain Biking Coalition’s (CAMTB) Connected gathering earlier this fall and compiled key updates from the event.

Federal Advocacy: Pushing for Progress on Public Lands and Funding

One of the most pressing challenges facing California's recreational landscape is the continued lack of funding for trails and outdoor recreation programs. As budgets for agencies like the U.S. Forest Service continue to shrink, CAMTB and PeopleForBikes are looking for ways to bridge the funding gap. Federal advocacy continues to be a critical area of focus for CAMTB as federal funding for public lands is crucial to maintaining and expanding mountain biking trails and continuing recreational access. With budgets being uncertain, there is a direct impact on trail stewardship and infrastructure. 

Focusing on federal land designations is another major goal. Recreation and conservation groups are anticipating the signing of the Chuckwalla National Monument by President Biden before the Trump administration takes over in January. The Chuckwalla National Monument is seen as a positive step toward achieving California’s 30x30 goal (conserving 30% of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030) without further restricting access to biking. Federal land designations are crucial in maintaining access to public lands while also addressing broader environmental goals.

Local Elections: Building a Pro-Bike Movement From the Ground Up

Another critical focus at the conference was the ongoing work of mountain bike trail and advocacy organizations at the local and municipal levels. This vast network of local and community organizations supports individuals who understand the benefits of biking and helps them run for seats on local boards. Engaging in local-level decision-making is vital to securing long-term access to trails and other recreational spaces.

CAMTB is already laying the groundwork for the upcoming midterm elections in 2026, recognizing the importance of building a fund to support candidates and initiatives that back trails and biking across the state. Local elections are especially key. Lessons learned from successful campaigns can help refine future strategies and CAMTB is eyeing key opportunities to elect officials who understand the importance of trails.

The ongoing push to improve access for eMTBs was another major topic during the event, especially in light of the growing popularity of electric bicycles nationwide. PeopleForBikes is working with CAMTB to ensure that Class 1 eMTBs — pedal-assist e-bikes — are recognized and allowed on trails and areas where traditional bicycles are permitted. Harmonizing and formalizing eMTB regulations across the state will make it easier for land managers to adopt consistent and clear policies. CAMTB continues to focus on best practices for eMTB use, including proper identification of Class 1 bikes, education about OCEVs (out-of-class electric vehicles), and proper trail etiquette. This approach is meant to build trust with land managers, ensuring that eMTBs are integrated smoothly into existing trail systems without disrupting the experience for other trail users.

Recreation, Conservation, and Wildfires: The Role of CAMTB in California's Future

The intersection of recreation and conservation is an area where CAMTB has made significant strides. With ongoing challenges posed by wildfires and climate change, the role of sustainable trail stewardship has never been more urgent. CAMTB is actively involved in several initiatives to address these challenges, including collaborations with the California Wildfire Task Force and Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship to create and bolster fire-resilient infrastructure that includes recreational trails.


Moreover, CAMTB is advocating for the inclusion of recreational assets — like mountain bike trails — in the state's post-fire recovery efforts. Often overlooked in recovery planning, recreational trails need to be properly mapped and managed in fire-prone areas. Agencies like CalFire and the USFS have historically not accounted for trails in their base maps, leading to gaps in recovery and stewardship. By ensuring that trails are integrated into wildfire planning and response, CAMTB is helping to safeguard these recreational spaces.

As the urgency of fire recovery expands, CAMTB and PeopleForBikes are leveraging opportunities to push for funding that can also be used for recreational trail infrastructure and trail management. By utilizing state partnerships as proving grounds for wildfire-related trail management, CAMTB aims to show that sustainable recreation and wildfire resilience go hand in hand.

CAMTB’s Ongoing Efforts for the Mountain Biking Community

Heading into the new year, PeopleForBikes and CAMTB’s work is more important than ever. By advocating for funding at the federal level, developing local political strategies, and advancing eMTB access, the CAMTB is tirelessly working to ensure that mountain biking remains a vital and accessible part of California's outdoor recreation landscape, and PeopleForBikes is proud to support their work. Whether it’s through policy advocacy, election strategy, or wildfire recovery efforts, CAMTB and its chapters are committed to building a future where trails are protected, access is maintained for bikes and eMTBs, and the mountain biking community thrives.

Key Updates from the California Mountain Biking Coalition’s Connected Conference 

On December 11, the PeopleForBikes Coalition Board of Directors approved our 2024 Industry Community Grants, totaling $75,000 across 10 grants. The grants will help fund projects that support our focus on building infrastructure that makes communities across the U.S. great places to ride a bike. This year’s supported projects include urban and rural trail systems, a pump track and a skills trail, several projects that make it safer for children to bike to school, and infrastructure development in large metropolitan areas. 

2024 PeopleForBikes Industry Community Grants

Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia — $10,000

Philadelphia, PA | Support for the Schuylkill Crossing: Connecting Communities and Opportunities project that will activate a set of bikeways that constitute an entirely off road bike and pedestrian connection from Southwest Philadelphia and South Philadelphia to Center City and beyond.

Richmond, CA | A collaboration with community groups and county agencies to support the North Richmond Bike Bus program, leading to safe routes to school and critical improvements to this long-time disadvantaged community.

Pittsburgh, PA | Resources for the development of children’s bike buses throughout the region that may be used as a national guide and lead to advocacy for safe routes to school in hundreds of communities nationwide.   

California Bicycle Coalition — $10,000 

Sacramento, CA | A critical guide to the development of “slow streets” infrastructure on neighborhood streets that represent key links in urban bikeway networks in every American city. 


Berkeley, CA | Materials and advocacy for a demonstration project of a slow street in West Berkeley. 

Houston, TX | Infrastructure, including signage, for the improvement of dozens of dangerous intersections where the 4-mile Columbia Tap Trail crosses roadways.

Lake Placid, NY | A critical match for other donations that will close the funding gap for an 8-mile trail linking rural communities in the High Peaks region in New York’s Adirondack Park.


Native American Advancement Foundation — $10,000

Tohono O’odham Nation, AZ | The addition of a much-needed pump track in a brand new and popular “Free as a Bird Skatepark” in this native community. 

Austin, TX | Eva Carrillo de Garcia Park will get a new Skills Trail connected to a disadvantaged neighborhood in East Austin and a 4-mile bike loop around the perimeter of the park.

McClintock High School Bike Club — $5,500 

Tempe, AZ | Bike bus advocacy for improved school access, including an off-road path reaching the school, neighborhood bike route enhancements, and a new highway overpass.

PeopleForBikes' 2024 Industry Community Grants Recipients

As we look ahead to the 2028 Olympics, PeopleForBikes is taking advantage of a unique opportunity to transform Los Angeles into a great place to ride a bike. Our approach involves capitalizing on the attention generated by the Olympics to expedite permanent improvements across the city alongside a more localized focus on Council District 1, whose newly elected leader looks to create an ambitious network of neighborhood bikeways.

A Countywide Vision for a Multimodal Olympics

The 2028 Olympics provide a historic opportunity to overhaul Los Angeles’ transportation system. With nearly 15,000 athletes participating in the Games and millions of international visitors expected to attend, organizers hope to use the Olympics to redefine Los Angeles as a multimodal city and plan to invest in alternative transportation to make that vision a reality. The goal is to create a new reputation for the city and avoid the traffic problems that plagued the 1932 and 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Looking beyond 2028, PeopleForBikes is working to leverage the investment in this one-time event to create permanent, long-term improvements through infrastructure and programming.

Central to the proposed infrastructural changes is the Festival Trail, currently envisioned as a multimodal corridor stretching more than 40 miles across the city reaching key venues and transit hubs. The Festival Trail will connect low-stress bikeways, beautiful walking trails, and efficient bus rapid transit service to enable safe and accessible car-free mobility across Los Angeles. Working alongside local advocacy group Move LA and coordinating with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, PeopleForBikes is pushing to create safe and connected bike paths throughout this corridor and beyond.

The Los Angeles Festival Trail will connect almost every Olympic venue via multimodal trail, providing visitors with a car-free way to navigate the Games. PHOTO: MoveLA 

We are also advocating for the development of an additional bike path connecting the Festival Trail to the Los Angeles River. Through our investment and a partnership with Move LA and BikeLA, we are confident the new path will be built in time for spectators to enjoy a glorious 22-mile bike ride from the swimming venues in Inglewood to the beach venues at Long Beach, demonstrating just how bikeable LA can be for visitors and residents alike.


Other infrastructure improvements PeopleForBikes is advocating for include the development of mobility hubs located at major transit stations expected to handle the bulk of olympic traffic. These hubs will feature bike repair stations, plenty of high-quality bike parking, and numerous bike share stations along with other mobility services such as accommodations for people with disabilities and car share programs for people who don’t own a car. 

With vast areas of the city off-limits to delivery trucks for security reasons during the Olympics, PeopleForBikes is also championing the potential of cargo bikes for local deliveries. We are working with delivery companies and city officials to develop a bike-based delivery system that will meet the security needs of the Olympics while simultaneously establishing a sustainable, zero-emission delivery system that can be used well beyond 2028. 


In addition to critical infrastructure improvements, programming can also play a huge role in changing Angelenos’ view of their city from a car-dependent metropolis to a county of walkable and bikeable neighborhoods connected via convenient and affordable multimodal options. In the past, big events in Los Angeles resulted in massive traffic congestion, prompting many people to stay home and avoid the roads altogether. For the 2028 Summer Games, positive marketing showcasing easy and safe alternatives to driving can encourage residents to get out and enjoy their city without a car, providing what will be an unprecedented experience for many long-time locals and an opportunity to transform their daily mobility habits.  


Transforming Council District 1 With an Ambitious Bikeway Network

While we work toward countywide improvements ahead of 2028, we are also focused on driving local-level change in Council District 1 (CD1). Home to thousands of low-income residents who lack reliable access to automobiles, car parking, and even bike parking, the district is represented by newly elected Councilor Eunisses Hernandez, who has already shown tremendous support for bicycling and a desire to make up for previous disinvestment in creating safer streets.

Figueroa Street was improved with protected bike lanes last year by the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, but the improvements stopped as the street entered CD1 due to opposition from the previous councilmember. With Councilor Hernandez in charge, PeopleForBikes is now working to extend these bike lanes into the district. PHOTO: DC Engineering

PeopleForBikes’ work in CD1 is part of our larger Great Bike Infrastructure Project, a nationwide effort to transform communities by developing safer and connected places to ride a bike. In CD1, we’re building a coalition of advocates to drive local support and ensure that our ambitious plans for a connected network of bikeways align with community needs and aspirations. We assembled a committee made up of leaders from groups including CicLAvia, BikeLA, and Los Angeles Walks who bring local expertise and community connections to the initiative. Together, we’re focused on identifying projects that will make the biggest impact and securing funding to make these projects a reality.

The infrastructure projects we’re supporting will transform the diverse neighborhoods that make up the district straddling the Los Angeles River from northeast Los Angeles to the densely populated neighborhoods adjacent to downtown, including Chinatown, Westlake, Pico Union, and parts of Koreatown. The proposals include protected bike lanes, low-speed shared streets, and bike paths. With the support of the Councilmember and donations from PeopleForBikes members, our plan is to invest in advocacy efforts necessary to win approval for these projects and turn this central part of Los Angeles into a great place to ride a bike. 

While Los Angeles has long been known as one of the most car-centric cities in the U.S., change is on the horizon. If Los Angeles can change for the better, that same change will be possible anywhere in the United States. This is why taking advantage of the Olympics and focused investment in central Los Angeles is so important. By working with local partners who share our vision of a more bikeable Los Angeles, we can develop best practices for success and show countless other cities across the country what’s possible with the proper tools and investment.


PeopleForBikes is hosting a launch party for our campaign to transform Council District 1 in spring 2025. Send an email to infrastructure@peopleforbikes.org if you are interested in being involved.

Building the Future of Biking in Los Angeles

Officials and advocates enjoy the new Pershing Bikeway on its opening day. PHOTO CREDIT: San Diego County Bicycle Coalition

More than 200 high-priority bike projects were constructed across the U.S. in the last year according to PeopleForBikes’ National Bike Project Tracker, a first-of-its-kind database as part of our Great Bike Infrastructure Project. 

With the goal of creating more safe, fun, and connected places to ride in communities nationwide, the Great Bike Infrastructure Project is fast-tracking thousands of bike projects in all 50 states. From protected bike lanes to multi-use paths to singletrack mountain bike trails, each project in our database features a basic description and project status — proposed or planned, approved but not funded, funded and ready for construction, or completed — alongside useful links for people to support local advocacy organizations and get projects across the finish line in their backyard.


As we enter the second year of the Great Bike Infrastructure Project, we’re celebrating a few of our favorite projects that were completed in the last 12 months along with the many benefits that bike projects can offer communities of all shapes and sizes. 

300 West is a critical north-south arterial road in Salt Lake City that previously wasn’t safe for biking. Local leaders took advantage of the need to repave the street to make much needed improvements, implementing Complete Streets strategies championed by the Great Bike Infrastructure Project. Using funding from the city’s “Funding Our Future” program, a local sales tax that can be a great funding source for creating better places to bike, the city constructed new crosswalks, planted trees for shade, and built a new 10-foot-wide bike path adjacent to the sidewalk so bike riders and pedestrians can both travel freely without conflict.  

San Diego’s new Pershing Bikeway connects the diverse North Park neighborhood to bike lanes near downtown through Balboa Park. The final 2.3-mile project includes a combined two-way protected bike lane connecting to a separate bike path which then connects to one-way protected bike lanes. The bikeway creates a more comfortable and convenient way for people of all ages and abilities to travel while providing an important link in San Diego’s growing connected bike network. 

Madison is expanding access to close-to-home recreation for thousands of local residents thanks to the recently completed singletrack trails through Sycamore Park. The 1.5-mile “adventure trail” features natural surfaces optimized for biking. Portions of the trail are covered in a natural stone chip seal surface while others are made up of native soil, wood, and stone. While communities on the west and south sides of Madison have access to many miles of singletrack, this new section of trail expands riding opportunities on the east side of the city, where trail access was previously scarce.


Is there a local bike project in your community that needs support? Explore our interactive map to identify projects in your area and let us know if we need to add a new project to our list. You can also explore our tools and resources to help advance more bike projects in your backyard. PeopleForBikes is committed to making sure every one of the more than 1,800 projects in our database is constructed to share the countless benefits of safe, fun, and connected places to ride with millions of people across the U.S.

Bike Projects Are Benefiting Communities Nationwide

This November, $33 billion in funding for better biking is on ballots in cities, counties, and states from coast to coast. Through our VoteForBikes campaign, PeopleForBikes tracks and advocates for ballot measures that make it safer and easier to ride a bike in communities across the country.

LEARN ABOUT PRO-BIKE MEASURES ON YOUR BALLOT

With election season in full swing, we collected seven of the most important measures on state and local ballots in the 2024 general election that could significantly move the needle for better bike riding across the U.S. 

This harmful measure could eliminate critical funding for multi-modal transportation opportunities in the state of Washington. If approved, Initiative 2117 will repeal the 2021 Climate Commitment Act (CCA), Washington’s cap-and-invest program designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In doing so, the transformational $1.3 billion in funding for bike and pedestrian projects that are included in the Move Ahead Washington package funded by the CCA will no longer be available. This measure will drastically reduce, and even eliminate, safe and connected places to ride a bike throughout Washington while setting a dangerous precedent for climate and transportation policy in other states across the U.S. 

Proposition 1 will replace the expiring Levy to Move Seattle that was approved by voters in 2015 to invest in and expand the city’s transportation system. The current levy represents one third of the Seattle Department of Transportation budget, positioning this measure as an important opportunity to continue funding safe and connected ways to move around Seattle over the next eight years. The measure outlines a $1.55 billion investment, including significant funding to build new protected bike lanes and greenways, adding safety features to existing bike lanes, improving bike accessibility on roads, and completing network gaps, particularly in southern Seattle.

A $10 billion general obligation bond is on the ballot for residents of the Golden State, which will invest in a variety of climate-focused projects including safe drinking water, wildfire prevention, drought preparedness, clean air, open space preservation, and expanded recreation opportunities. Of the $10 billion, nearly $2 billion will directly impact places to ride a bike through the construction of new trails, maintenance and improvement of existing trails, and support of active transportation infrastructure. This measure illustrates how bikes can be positioned as an effective vehicle for climate action by reducing the number of car trips and facilitating greater connection with the outdoors.


Residents of San Francisco have an opportunity to permanently dedicate car-free space on the Parkway at Upper Great Highway alongside Ocean Beach. If approved, this measure will provide space for people to enjoy the outdoors; increase transportation access for those who walk, bike, roll, and use transit; and preserve delicate natural resources along the city’s picturesque coastline. Children, families, commuters, and outdoor enthusiasts will all be able to enjoy a safe place to bike in the park without the fear of riding in traffic while enjoying the views and a sense of community if this measure is approved. 


Environment and Natural Resources Fund Amendment

Minnesotans have the opportunity to continue the state’s long history of protecting and enjoying the outdoors by reauthorizing lottery revenue to the Environment and Natural Resources Fund through 2050. This amendment will provide a stable source of funding for projects that protect, conserve, and enhance air, water, land, and wildlife while expanding opportunities to recreate across the state, including the creation and expansion of biking trails as well as historic biking tours. The proposed measure also increases the amount of funding that can be dispersed from the fund for community grants that invest in underserved communities so everyone can access the many benefits of nature. If approved, nearly $3 billion in revenue will be generated over the next 25 years to support the fund.

The Maine Trails Bond represents a first-ever opportunity to fund a network of trails across the state if approved by voters. This measure will issue up to $30 million to establish the Maine Trails Program and oversee the design, development, and maintenance of recreation and active transportation trails. One-quarter of the funds will support non-motorized trails, another quarter of funds will support motorized trails, and the remaining funds will support multi-use trails. Funds will prioritize sustainability and accessibility to promote outdoor access for all and significantly expand opportunities to ride a bike across Maine. 

Central Ohio Transit Authority (Columbus, Ohio)

To keep pace with development in Columbus and surrounding areas, the proposed sales and use tax for the Central Ohio Transit Authority represents a historic opportunity to generate revenue and strengthen the region’s multimodal transportation system. Nearly one-third of funding generated from the sales tax will go towards transit-supportive projects including bike and pedestrian infrastructure. The proposed measure outlines plans to build 500 miles of new bike paths, multi-use trails, and sidewalks by 2050 to complement transit infrastructure that will significantly increase mobility options for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds in the region. 

Ensure your voice is heard this November by making a plan to vote, including checking voter registration deadlines. You can make a difference in your community by visiting our VoteForBikes tracker to identify a pro-bike measure on your ballot. Spread the word about exciting opportunities to improve biking in your backyard by sharing these ballot measures with your family, friends, neighbors, and community members. We can all pave the way for more safe, fun, and connected places to ride a bike in our communities by voting for bikes this election day.

$33 Billion is on the Ballot for Bikes This November

Every year, PeopleForBikes advocates on behalf of the bike industry and bike riders across the country to support the construction of fun, safe, and connected places to ride that welcome more people to the joys of bicycling. 


From championing e-mobility lithium-ion battery safety, to mandating Complete Streets for improved road safety, to advancing the construction of bike infrastructure through climate legislation, PeopleForBikes successfully advocated for a multitude of policies at the state and local levels during the 2024 legislative session that will support bike businesses and riders of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds nationwide.

The safety of e-mobility lithium-ion batteries was a top priority for many states and communities across the U.S. this legislative session.

Following the guidance of PeopleForBikes and other industry experts, New York passed legislation to ensure the quality and safety of e-mobility products while maintaining accessibility to equitable transportation options. The legislation requires that e-bike and other e-mobility lithium-ion batteries be tested to standards that ensure the safety of the products the batteries power. It also enables the enforcement of products that do not meet these standards and contribute to unsafe conditions, including battery fires. 


Read more about this important legislation.

In June, the Chicago City Council committed to working with the bicycle industry and other stakeholders to amend a proposed battery safety ordinance to align with similar safety legislation in New York so individuals, retailers, and manufacturers can rely on consistent e-bike battery testing requirements across the country.

PeopleForBikes looks forward to continuing our work with states and municipalities across the country to promote uniform and effective battery testing regulations that ensure that e-bike batteries sold and used in the U.S. meet the highest safety standards.


PeopleForBikes recognizes the three-class system as the framework to categorize and regulate low-speed electric bicycles (e-bikes). Currently, 43 states officially recognize our model legislation. In 2024, Oregon and Rhode Island signed the three-class system into law. This system promotes a uniform definition of e-bikes across the country to mitigate confusion for riders, retailers, manufacturers, and regulators. 

PeopleForBikes will continue supporting the classification of electric bicycles as bicycles (not motorized vehicles) and will work with legislators to showcase the need for clear definitions and strong enforcement so that bicycles, and bicycling infrastructure, are protected. 


Out-of-Class Electric Vehicle Legislation 

Due to the constantly evolving range of electrically powered devices entering the marketplace and the growth of their use nationwide, PeopleForBikes led efforts to define products that exceed the speed and power limitations of the three-class system and federal law as out-of-class electric vehicles (OCEVs). 


Utah and Minnesota passed landmark OCEV legislation to promote safety and protect hard-won access for bicycles on state trails and paths. You can read more both here and here about why this legislation is so critical. 


PeopleForBikes will continue helping states and municipalities better define and enforce the difference between electric bicycles and overpowered, higher-speed, out-of-class electric vehicles (including electric dirt bikes) to protect the rights of bike riders across the country.

Cities and states nationwide continue to prioritize sustainable, equitable, and accessible forms of transportation through e-bike purchase incentives and rebate programs. This year, the Atlanta City Council approved a $1 million incentive for the purchase of e-bikes and the Bentonville City Council in Arkansas approved $2.25 million in grant funding for an e-bike rebate program.


With $20 million in funding approved in 2023, Portland City Council approved an implementation plan for the city’s e-bike incentive program set to launch in 2025. Michigan legislators also approved $2.95 million in funding for an e-bike purchase incentive program in their state budget to implement a statewide e-bike transportation incentive program. 

The 2024 legislative session included many recreation policy wins that PeopleForBikes helped secure to continue building momentum for eMTB access on natural surface trails. 

In Oregon and Colorado, PeopleForBikes supported the passage of recreational immunity bills that protect landowners from liability resulting from the use of their lands by other individuals for recreational purposes, including mountain biking.

The Tahoe National Forest prepared a Decision Notice/Finding of No Significant Impact (DN/FONSI) and final Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Pines to Mines Trail Project. The project, totaling 72 miles of new, natural surface trails, will provide expanded recreation opportunities on National Forest System lands. It also authorizes the use of Class 1 electric mountain bikes (eMTBs) on all new and existing trails where traditional mountain bikes are already allowed within the project area.

A National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Assessment is also underway in the Tahoe National Forest, utilizing a forest-wide approach. This first-of-its-kind approach could yield historic results that allow entire forest districts to allow Class 1 eMTBs on natural surface trails, as opposed to laws differing by individual trail systems. 


Look out for more recreation and eMTB policy wins as we continue engagement with state and local land managers to open access for Class 1 eMTBs on multi-use singletrack trails in Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, Oregon, and Utah. Additionally, PeopleForBikes is working on recreational trail access for mountain biking within the implementation of the Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Rule. 


A lack of safe places to ride is one of the most significant barriers preventing Americans from biking. Dedicated funding streams for the construction of bike infrastructure creates more safe and connected places to bike, which in turn increases bicycling participation. The construction of bike infrastructure also contributes to other co-benefits, including positive public health outcomes, economic vitality, reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and transportation equity.  


As of July, PeopleForBikes has helped secure nearly $1.5 billion for the construction of bike infrastructure that increases safe places to ride bikes through our 2024 VoteForBikes campaign. With a potential $2 billion more on the November general election ballot, 2024 is shaping up to be a big year for bike infrastructure funding. Stay tuned for our post-election VoteForBikes recap to see how much funding PeopleForBikes helped secure for local communities across the country! 


In addition to our work advocating for bikes at the ballot box, PeopleForBikes supported additional legislation to fund bike infrastructure, including Minnesota’s Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund that invests more than $11 million in the expansion and enhancement of recreational trails, active transportation infrastructure, and mountain bike access across the state. 


Passing dedicated funding streams for bikes and bike infrastructure at the state and local levels is the most important policy priority for PeopleForBikes. We will continue paving the way for the construction of infrastructure that allows more people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds across the country to safely and efficiently travel around their communities and access more opportunities to ride a bike.


PeopleForBikes continues to advocate for legislation that reduces serious injuries, saves lives, and allows people to travel safely throughout their community with confidence. Reducing speed limits and actual vehicle speeds is one of the most effective ways to improve road safety and save lives.

After four years of hard work, PeopleForBikes was honored to support local advocates in New York as Governor Kathy Hochul signed Sammy’s Law into law in May. The new law allows New York City to implement a 20 mile per hour speed limit with additional 10 and 15 mile per hour zones. This legislation will dramatically increase safety for people walking and biking on roads with a high volume of motor vehicles. 


Michigan and Virginia also passed legislation that makes it easier for local municipalities to lower speed limits that are appropriate for the context and needs of those communities. 

We know that in addition to lower speed limits, safer road designs reduce motor vehicle speeds, one of the most significant causes of serious injuries and deaths on roads. As a result, Complete Streets mandates — which require the construction of bike infrastructure when roads are reconstructed or repaved — are one of the most effective policies communities can implement for improved road safety. Complete Streets also close gaps in transportation networks and enable all road users, regardless of their mode of transportation, to easily access places that they need to go. PeopleForBikes will continue to fight for legislation that mandates Complete Streets to promote safe and thriving communities. 

In March, voters in Los Angeles, California, one of the nation’s most car-centric cities, approved Measure HLA. This requires the implementation of the city’s Mobility Plan, including bike and pedestrian infrastructure when road construction or repaving occurs. PeopleForBikes endorsed this measure to increase transportation opportunities and accessibility, improve road safety, promote health, and reduce transportation-related GHG emissions. 


As part of historic legislation, Minnesota also strengthened the state’s Complete Streets policy by adding PeopleForBikes-supported amendments that require the integration of Complete Streets design principles and offer implementation guidance.

Advancing Bike Infrastructure Through Climate Legislation 

There is significant momentum across the country to fund active transportation infrastructure through climate legislation in order to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and GHG emissions. Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed an executive order establishing annual GHG and VMT reduction targets for his state’s transportation sector, requiring the Maryland Department of Transportation to implement a process for evaluating and reducing GHG emissions attributable to transportation projects, and investing in projects that reduce VMT and enhance transportation choices. 

Looking ahead to the 2025 legislative session, PeopleForBikes is actively involved in several local coalitions supporting climate legislation to curb transportation-related GHG emissions. Stay tuned for more bike infrastructure and climate legislation wins next year! 

There is already huge momentum for bikes and 2024 is not finished yet! At all levels of government and at the ballot box, PeopleForBikes is championing policies that create safer and more connected places to ride alongside supporting legislation that maintains safe, reliable, and quality products to get more people on bikes more often. 


You can help us achieve even more! By making a donation to PeopleForBikes, we can make an even greater impact in communities like yours all across the country. You can also sign up to receive our advocacy alerts to learn how you can support similar policy wins where you live.

PeopleForBikes’ 2024 Policy Wins Advance Bicycling Safety and Access Nationwide

Photo Credit: Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau

PeopleForBikes’ annual City Ratings is a data-driven program to identify, evaluate, and compare the best cities and towns for bicycling in the U.S. and across the world. Based on data from PeopleForBikes’ Bicycle Network Analysis (BNA), each city receives a City Ratings score on a scale of 0-100. 

High-scoring cities often perform well across six factors captured in the acronym SPRINT: safe speeds, protected bike lanes, reallocated space for biking and walking, intersection treatments, network connections, and trusted data.


For 2024, we ranked more than 2,500 cities worldwide, including 816 new U.S. cities and 133 new cities across the U.K. and Australia.

Medium Cities (50,000-300,000 population)

With daffodils blooming around the turquoise waters of Lake Tahoe and fresh snow atop the surrounding peaks, hundreds of passionate trail managers, advocates, and experts gathered for the 2024 National Outdoor Recreation Conference earlier this May. The conference focused on how outdoor recreation — including mountain biking — can benefit communities of all sizes and addressed the growing pains of moving toward a more accessible outdoor future. 


The National Outdoor Recreation Conference is a biannual conference that promotes durable, equitable, and transformative solutions to support outdoor recreation destinations, local communities, and the outdoor recreation workforce. Regional, state, and federal land managers, researchers, conservationists, mountain bike organizations, and public officials all attended the conference.


PeopleForBikes and staff from Tahoe National Forest (TNF) presented a session titled "Innovation, Adaptation, and Access: Leading the Way for Pedal-Assist Electric Mountain Bikes on Trails.” During the session, Eli Ilano, district supervisor with Tahoe National Forest, and Rachel Fussell, senior manager of recreation policy with PeopleForBikes, shared the current state of electric mountain bike (eMTB) use on U.S. Forest Service (USFS) lands, the latest research on the environmental and social impacts of eMTBs, and a model for how other USFS districts and federal land managers can expand access for eMTBs. 


Participants learned how land managers plan and manage eMTB use on federal public lands, specifically on USFS-managed trails. Using the case study of Tahoe National Forest, attendees learned how Class 1 eMTBs were introduced on natural surface trails, TNF’s plans for the future, and how eMTBs have been integrated into TNF’s recreational management plans. Rounding out the discussion, PeopleForBikes shared the latest research and additional case studies of eMTB use on natural surface trails. The session also explored how land managers and recreational professionals can utilize these examples and apply the lessons to trail management in their communities.

The following are six high-level takeaways from this year’s conference:


Planning for Sustainable Tourism
Outdoor recreation is a big and growing part of the U.S. economy and needs leaders who can think long- and short-term for the well-being of their community members. By integrating outdoor recreation into community planning and development efforts, local governments can strengthen economic and environmental resilience and improve quality of life for residents, offering significant benefits for everyone.

For example, the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) program, a federal partnership between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the USFS, the Northern Border Regional Commission, and the Appalachian Regional Commission, supports rural communities by leveraging the power of outdoor recreation to revitalize main streets and diversify economies through planning grants. For forward-looking communities, planning for sustainable tourism fosters community revitalization, protects air and water quality, creates jobs, supports economic diversification, and offers new opportunities for people to connect with nature.

Recreation as a Lifeline for Communities in Transition 
As climate change intensifies, more localities are moving away from extractive and energy-intensive industries while looking for opportunities to improve environmental quality and spur economic growth. Outdoor recreation can create ecotourism opportunities while also improving quality of life for long-term residents of the host community through trails and recreational infrastructure. Although ecotourism and outdoor recreation may cause challenges for smaller communities that don’t currently have the infrastructure or amenities, investing in outdoor recreation can provide numerous benefits including better water, cleaner air, and healthier habits for residents.

The Sand Wash/Little Yampa Canyon community in northwest Colorado is an example of a rural economy in transition. The coal industry once drove the small town’s economy, but the city is shutting down a coal-fired power plant by 2028. In lieu of that economic driver, the landscape and region lends itself to an abundance of potential outdoor recreation. Additionally, the outdoor recreation hub of Steamboat Springs is only 45 minutes down the road. The Colorado Outdoor Regional Partnership Initiative helped gather a diverse group of stakeholders to understand how to plan for and work on the long- and short-term strategy for the transitioning economy.

Regional and Local Partnerships are Key 
Strategic partnerships drive sustainable recreation. The great outdoors crosses numerous jurisdictions and use cases, so bringing land managers, landowners, and local leaders together is critical to success.

The Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan is one such success story. The Lake Tahoe region faced a shrinking tax base and declining population due to a lack of affordable housing and increasing wildfires due to climate change. Outdoor recreation, business, environmental organization, and nonprofit leaders came together to create the Destination Stewardship Plan. This core group spearheaded public engagement through community surveys to create a shared vision and design process around destination stewardship for the environment and recreational assets. This collaborative process resulted in a shared vision: “a cherished place, welcoming to all, where people, communities, and nature benefit from a thriving tourism and outdoor recreation economy.” 

Organizing is Powerful
Mountain biking advocacy groups offer a model for how outdoor recreation can shape and inform planning and decision-making for entire communities. Many times, mountain bike groups are one of the most influential voices for conservation and stewardship, as well as recreation access.

During the session, “Recreation Solutions for Communities with Emerging Outdoor Recreation Economies,” one main example of organizing for better recreational land use planning was the formation of Pedal United in Montana. The community saw a gap in access for mountain bikers on their public lands and took action by forming the organization. The group worked with the Bureau of Land Management to plan and fund the recreation projects that were best for the community and their needs. The end result was 80 miles of trail managed and maintained for mountain bikers in southeast Montana.

Youth and Professional Career Development
Fostering a talent pipeline in outdoor recreation initiatives provides opportunities for youth to strengthen their connection with nature, develop leadership skills, cultivate responsibility and environmental stewardship, and build professional skills to keep those who wish to stay in these communities from having to leave for better economic opportunities. By empowering youth to take an active role in outdoor activities (such as participating in a National Interscholastic Cycling Association league or creating one in their community) or learning how to maintain and build trails, young people interested and engaged in outdoor recreation nurture a new generation of environmental stewards and create jobs to sustain and grow the community.

Outdoor Recreation and Equity Solutions
Unfortunately, in many areas, access to outdoor recreation is inequitably distributed. It can be less abundant in lower-income neighborhoods with a larger share of minority residents, which can be exacerbated by a history of segregation in public places and a lack of racial and ethnic representation in recreation and conservation organizations.

The benefits of parks, trails, and outdoor recreation assets are greatest for those who live closest to these resources, and a disparity in access holds significant health, social, and economic implications. However, more cities and towns are incorporating more recreation access — through loan programs and after-school programming — as part of their planning, development, and revitalization standards. Moving beyond recreation as an amenity and holistically incorporating recreation contributes to other public health, climate resilience, and transportation goals.


Climate change, an increasing user base, resource degradation, and lack of education present wide-ranging consequences for land managers, advocacy organizations, and communities throughout the U.S. We all need to continue working to build and sustain the amazing growth of our outdoor recreation community and industry in recent years. The land that hosts these outdoor recreation opportunities depends on the respect and care we show for it whenever we get outside.

Representing the Bicycle Industry at the National Outdoor Recreation Conference

PeopleForBikes’ annual City Ratings includes 816 new U.S. cities for 2024, 708 of which are home to less than 50,000 residents. While these newcomers may not have the populations of some of our other great places to bike like Minneapolis and Seattle, there is still plenty to celebrate and learn from small cities across the U.S.

The top 10 small cities in this year’s ratings scored an average of 89 out of a possible 100, showing that great places to bike come in all shapes and sizes. We collected a few of our favorite new small cities in this year’s rankings stretching from North Carolina to Alaska.

Located near Zion National Park in southwest Utah, there is one main road running through the town of Springdale, State Route 9, with sections of a nice bike path running alongside it. Thanks to a $10.8 million grant approved by the Utah Department of Transportation, an 18-mile paved trail will soon run from the city of St. George through Springdale all the way to the entrance of Zion National Park, giving local residents and outdoor recreationists from across the country a safe and accessible route to travel to the park without having to get in the car.

The small coastal community of Emerald Isle along North Carolina’s Crystal Coast has an 11-mile bike path that stretches nearly the entire length of Bouges Bank Island called the Emerald Path. The city hosts an annual bike ride called Bike the Banks, with the shortest race option taking place entirely on the bike path.

The community of Valdez supports a growing theme of Alaskan cities punching above their weight in our City Ratings. Viewing city score averages by state, Alaska is the highest scoring state for 2024 with an average population-weighted city score of 59 out of 100. The town sits on the edge of a bay and the 6.5-mile DOT Valdez Bike Path connects the town center to the west side of the town, where the Shoup Bay Trail takes bicyclists out further along the bay and into the wilderness. There is also a multi-use path that connects Port Valdez on the other side of the bay to the DOT path into town. Valdez is home to excellent fat tire biking, where you can bike on frozen lakes with icebergs, and partake in the annual Fat Bike Bash.

Despite its name, Jersey Shore is an inland town along a river in central Pennsylvania, neither close to New Jersey nor the ocean. The town’s main bike infrastructure is the Pine Creek Rail Trail, a 62-mile trail that terminates in Jersey City. The Bald Eagle Valley Trail project is currently underway (tracked via our Great Bike Infrastructure Project), ending in Jersey Shore and connecting to the rail trail. The Bald Eagle Valley Trail is part of a much bigger effort for this region called the Susquehanna Valley Greenway, along the Susquehanna River in Appalachia. 

Situated between Los Angeles and Santa Barabara, Ojai is not as rural as the other cities on this list, but it is currently constructing a major bike path and safety project along one of its most dangerous roads, Maricopa Highway. The project is a great example of a dedicated effort to improve safety for people biking and walking because it takes a lot of work for small cities to marshall the kind of resources needed to complete a project of that size, with Ojai receiving competitive Active Transportation Program funding from the state. The city is also choosing to tackle one of its biggest connectivity barriers rather than go after easy, cheap, but less impactful projects. An existing regional trail, the Ojai Valley Trail, runs 15 miles from the coastal city of Ventura into the town center of Ojai, allowing residents and visitors to bike from the town to the beach.

This small historic island located off the northern tip of Michigan’s mitten is our #1 ranked city in this year’s City Ratings. Mackinac Island received an impressive score of 99 out of a possible 100 and for good reason — the town banned motor vehicles in 1898. While the island itself is only 3.8 square miles in size, 80% of Mackinac is a state park and is home to more than 70 miles of trails to explore, including an 8.2-mile coastal trail that circumnavigates the perimeter of the island. Mackinac Island’s lack of vehicular traffic and 19th-century charm have made the small Michigan town a major national tourism destination, with the year-round population of around 600 welcoming nearly 1 million visitors each year.

The Better Bike Share Partnership, a collaboration between PeopleForBikes, the City of Philadelphia, and the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), is proud to announce its second cohort of Living Labs focused on creating replicable programs for improving shared micromobility in BIPOC and low-income communities.

A strategy launched in 2020, BBSP Living Labs are testing grounds for innovative solutions. The program helps fulfill the partnership's mission of identifying barriers to bike share and developing strategies to address those barriers. The Living Lab approach provides time, flexibility, and gives grantees the opportunity to create lasting change, specifically to make their micromobility systems more equitable by increasing access to and use of bike share. 

Learn about our previous Living Labs and their achievements.

The new cohort includes bike share systems housed in and operated by a variety of organizations and companies. They operate in mid to large-sized cities and are diverse in their system size.

City of Tucson, Arizona — Tugo Bike Share

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority — Metro Bike Share

City of Philadelphia — Indego Bike Share

BBSP received 30 letters of interest from partnerships of cities, bike share operators, and community-based organizations looking to pilot, expand, replicate, or scale strategies and tactics to break down barriers to bike share in historically marginalized communities. 

Over the course of two and a half years, BBSP is committed to disbursing $200,000 to each Living Lab, covering costs associated with programming as well as technical support, scholarships, and travel stipends for relevant conferences. Grantees will also convene virtually every month to share learnings and build camaraderie as a cohort. Check back often as we showcase the work of each Living Lab.

Read the full press release below to learn more about each project.

Better Bike Share Partnership Announces Second Cohort of Living Lab Partners Focused on Equity

The Better Bike Share Partnership (BBSP), funded by The JPB Foundation to build equitable and replicable shared micromobility systems, is pleased to announce the selection of its second cohort of Living Labs. A collaborative between PeopleForBikes, the City of Philadelphia, and the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), BBSP will provide four organizations with funding, support, and additional resources to develop best practices for creating access to shared micromobility and increase use of shared micromobility in historically marginalized communities. 

Each Living Lab identified barriers to bike and scooter share for BIPOC and those living on limited incomes in their cities. The organizations will spend the next two years working with local partners and community members to address these barriers.

“As a Living Lab, each grantee will have the time and flexibility to test strategies and implement new ideas so that BIPOC and lower-income communities can more easily access and use their bike share systems,” said  Tangier Barnes Wright, deputy director of shared micromobility at PeopleForBikes. “They will be part of a cohort of organizations advancing equity in shared micromobility and we look forward to learning from their work.”

Building on the work of Philadelphia — the first BBSP Living Lab city — the 2024 cohort will grow partnerships, lead with community engagement, expand already successful work, and test and refine strategies to bring bike share and historically marginalized populations together.

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Representing the Bicycle Industry at the National Outdoor Recreation Conference

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