We’re making biking better in Colorado 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 November 2019, we helped pass a measure in Summit County that renewed a property tax to finance the county’s acquisition and preservation of open space, natural areas and trails. The measure also funds trail construction and maintenance, workforce housing, wildfire mitigation and other public programs and services. In fall 2018, our Community Grant Program helped fund a new youth bike park in Colorado Springs.

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)

PeopleForBikes’ annual City Ratings program ranks thousands of cities across the world on how well their bike networks connect people to the places they want to go. The scores provide an objective baseline to help cities progress, but the voices of individual riders are critical in identifying gaps and improvements for how the networks can empower all road users. 

This year, eight PeopleForBikes staff members drew their hometown City Ratings scores using the popular Strava Art method, tracing their score along their city’s streets. They also provided their perspective on what makes their town great for biking and identified areas for improvement that would create a better network for all. 

Great balance of recreation and transportation bike infrastructure (Crested Butte, CO).

Incredible bike culture that welcomes individuals to participate in cycling (Boulder, CO). 

Convenient to run errands and live life via two wheels (San Francisco, CA). 

Easily riding through local neighborhoods due to slow speed limits (Louisville, CO). 

Front row parking throughout town (Galena, IL). 

Riding past an abundance of parks and people (Denver, CO). 

Shared-use paths provide multiple recreation opportunities for the community (Richmond, VA).

Connect networks to create one large system of safe infrastructure. 

Expand infrastructure into underserved neighborhoods.  

Public bike share is too expensive, making it less accessible to all community members. 

On wide, open streets, implement traffic calming design elements to slow vehicle speeds organically. 

More infrastructure around schools to protect vulnerable road users. 


As cities enhance accessibility and safety for all, tools like City Ratings and community focus groups play pivotal roles in gathering both qualitative insights and quantitative data. These resources assess current infrastructure, identify areas for improvement, and ultimately foster progress toward more comprehensive urban environments. Your voice matters! Join the dialogue, share your experiences, and advocate for better infrastructure in your backyard. Together, we can move towards a future where roads and recreation are more accessible, safe, and enjoyable for everyone.


Crested Butte really has the best of both worlds when it comes to riding a bike for recreation and transportation. Our rec path easily connects the town of Crested Butte with the neighborhoods surrounding the ski resort up the hill, and once you're in town, every destination is no more than a 5-minute bike ride away. While we don't have any separated bike infrastructure in town, speed limits on all local streets are 15 mph so I always feel safe. Biking is so commonplace that you'll often see just as many people traveling around town on bike versus driving. When I want to get out on my mountain bike, I can access miles and miles of singletrack trails right out my front door!

Crested Butte South, a growing community a few miles south of town, is somewhat isolated when it comes to traveling by bike, and a connector trail between CB South and the town of Crested Butte would be a huge upgrade for those looking to leave the car at home!

I enjoy riding in Boulder because of the abundance of multi-use paths, gravel trails, and mountain roads. Boulder feels like a safe haven for bicyclists seeking recreation and beautiful vistas. Whether you’re commuting by bike to basic necessities or training for a local gravel race, Boulder has safe infrastructure that allows you to do so. 

Boulder could improve the connectedness of the infrastructure, though. Oftentimes, a bike lane ends abruptly and dumps you onto a street with relatively high speeds or busy car traffic. 

I enjoy riding in Boulder because of the general cycling culture and because this is the most bikeable city I've ever had the pleasure of living in. It's still not the absolute best, but I feel as though most essential services and cool places are accessible by a safe route on two wheels. I have met an awesome community of other active people who enjoy cycling thanks to the great culture in Boulder. 

An opportunity for improvement would be to expand biking access further out from the college campus on the southern part of the city. There is a density of really useful multi-use paths near downtown and the university, and I would appreciate an expanded system that can get people north of the city and to the east/west corners of the city easily.

I love riding in my town because I get to see my neighbors' faces and their kids in the bike trailers or utility bikes. I love how motorists in this town have gotten used to bicyclists and never harass us like they used to. I love the protected bike lanes and bike signals and all the different kinds of people you see biking around. Honestly, I like the challenge sometimes, like when there's a strong wind that I have to pedal into and just put my head down and pedal through it even though it's hard. I like the high intensity interval training I get when I see the pedestrian countdown and hammer to make the light. I like being able to accomplish impromptu errands, popping into a store on my way to someplace, taking all of two minutes out of my day! And the views! I love the views you can earn by getting to the top of the hill. 

But we could be so much better. Market Street does not allow private cars but buses and taxis and all kinds of other traffic make it uncomfortable. Some of the best routes don't have bike lanes so you either have to tolerate dangerous traffic or go out of your way or up a hill to stay on the bike network. And bike share is too expensive unless you have a membership which is $150/year. Without a membership, a bike ride costs $4 for half an hour, which isn't terrible unless you need an e-bike. Then it's $4 just to unlock it and 30¢/minute. A 20-minute e-bike ride is $10! 

I enjoy riding my bike around Louisville due to the multitude of multi-use paths around town that provide opportunity for bicyclists and pedestrians to travel to where they need to go or enjoy recreation without any interactions with cars. If I ride on a street, there are slow speed limits and wide streets that allow cars to easily pass bicyclists with lots of space. 


However, wide open streets also allow people to easily drive over the speed limit so adding traffic-calming design features could reinforce slower vehicle speeds and improve safety. 

One reason I enjoy riding my bike in Galena is the slow speed limits near downtown. Galena is a historic town with narrow roads which contribute to the natural calming effect on traffic. Riding a bicycle in Galena is an easy choice because you feel a part of the traffic, moving at the same speed as the vehicles around you. 

An opportunity for improvement in Galena would be better bicycle infrastructure around the schools. Picking up and dropping off kids by bicycle can be difficult without dedicated infrastructure. 

I enjoy riding in my city because I get to see how people use their outdoor spaces in different ways. I see people's yard art and inspirational landscaping, kids playing, retired people visiting with their neighbors, couples in lounge chairs on their porches, and I am traveling slow enough to smell what people are cooking for dinner. I get to see how the architecture and urban design changes neighborhood by neighborhood and I often stumble upon little pocket parks and playgrounds I did not know about and never drive my car by. I enjoy riding in Denver because it's beautiful and full of parks and interesting people. 

In my area of Denver (east side), we need more designated neighborhood bikeways with traffic circles or even sections of roads that are closed to cars. We have many schools and parks that families access by walking, biking, running, skating, and strolling. Drivers do not yield to me and my kids while we ride our bikes. There are too many conflicts with people driving cars near the parks and schools. 

Richmond is a great town for outdoor recreation, and biking is no exception. After years of debating whether or not I should purchase an e-bike, moving to Richmond gave me the push I needed once I saw all the beautiful places it has to offer. Where I live in the central part of town, biking to my destination is often just as convenient — or more so — than driving. The Virginia Capital Trail is also a fantastic 60-mile paved shared-use path that runs from downtown Richmond to Williamsburg. 

While the central part of Richmond is ideal for biking due to its slow streets, the rest of the city leaves a lot to be desired. Richmond's bike infrastructure on the whole is quite disconnected. There are several highways slicing through the city, and there are only a handful of piecemeal buffered bike lanes with no real overlying network. My hope for improvement is an extensive, accessible network of bike infrastructure that makes biking enjoyable and easy for not just recreational riders but for everyone. 

Bikeable Hometowns: PeopleForBikes Staff Celebrate Their City Ratings Scores

From bustling cities to small towns, communities from coast to coast amplified their commitment to better biking with an unprecedented surge in safer, more comfortable places to ride in 2023. And, with thousands of additional projects planned across the country and more federal funding for bikes available than ever, we can reasonably expect the pace of construction to increase more dramatically in the coming years. 

Even for the most ardent naysayers, it’s difficult to deny that the landscape of bicycling in America is transforming (although not as quickly as many of us would like to see). While we have yet to see any U.S. cities emerge with truly bold citywide plans for bike networks as we’ve seen in places like London, Paris, and Bogota, many are (slowly) beginning to envision a future where cycling takes center stage. Although there remains a substantial amount of work ahead of us to cultivate a safe and comfortable environment for people of all ages and abilities to ride bikes in the U.S., it's well worth pausing to commemorate the significant infrastructure victories U.S. cities achieved in 2023.

Photo credit: New York City Department of Transportation

After car-free streets took the top spot on last year’s list, we’re delighted to witness locales like New York City continuing to adopt more of these low-stress environments for cyclists. Launched in March, NYC’s much-anticipated vision for Broadway is beginning to transform the iconic street with pedestrian plazas, inviting outdoor dining structures, planters, and bike improvements, with the stretch between West 25th and 32nd streets being reshaped in 2023. While the full vision includes a “people-centric” Broadway connecting Union Square to Columbus Circle, the city’s next phase is on the horizon, with planned improvements underway between West 33rd and 21st Street.

2. 156th Street Cycle Track | Redmond, Washington

Featuring a two-way cycle track, Redmond’s 156th Street Cycle Track improves access to the Redmond Technology Station — part of Sound Transit’s East Link Extension — and the NE 40th Street Shared Use Path. This area of Redmond, the longstanding home of the Microsoft Corporate Campus, remains a focal point for the tech giant's ongoing commitment to community development. While the Microsoft-funded section is complete, the City of Redmond is working to expand it further from 140th to Turing.

In September, Salt Lake City celebrated the completion of its most significant public works project to date, the 300 West Reconstruction Project, which features a separated, two-way, 10-foot-wide bike lane, upgraded sidewalks, and more than 200 new trees to provide shade and serve as a buffer to the roadway. New "bioswales" were also integrated to improve water quality by filtering debris from stormwater runoff. The project, funded through the "Funding Our Future" bond, showcases Salt Lake City's commitment to prioritizing biking as a sustainable and accessible mode of transportation while fostering greener and safer corridors for all road users. Special project features include raised sidewalks and bikeways at all non-signalized intersections, bike counters, wayfinding signage, and green-tinted concrete.

4. Inman Square | Cambridge, Massachusetts

After two and a half years of construction, the Inman Square project in Cambridge reached its much-anticipated completion in 2023, featuring sidewalk-level bike lanes, protected intersections, shorter crosswalks, and a vibrant new plaza. Serving as a pivotal crossroads for various modes of transportation, these enhancements further Cambridge's dedication to Vision Zero and demonstrate the power of their Cycling Safety Ordinance, which propelled Cambridge to a score of 58 in PeopleForBikes’ annual City Ratings program. As evidence of its high quality, the project made headlines earlier this year after a social media video seemingly showcasing bike infrastructure in the Netherlands went viral, only to be revealed as a playful deception filmed in Cambridge's Inman Square.

5. Bryant Avenue South | Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis’s Bryant Avenue South reconstruction project, stretching from Lake St. to 50th St. W., reshaped a residential street in the heart of south Minneapolis. Despite its quiet residential character, Bryant Avenue is a key bicycling corridor parallel to the congested Lyndale Avenue. Previously converted into a "bicycle boulevard" in 2010, the reconstruction — which created a bidirectional sidewalk-level protected bikeway, intersection improvements, pedestrian-scale lighting, and stormwater infrastructure — reflects a forward-looking commitment to safer and more sustainable transportation that’s helped Minneapolis become the best large U.S. city this year’s City Ratings.

In September, Pasadena celebrated the completion of its first two-way protected bike lane along Union Street. The new 1.5-mile protected bike lane enhances connectivity to Pasadena's popular destinations, including Old Pasadena, Playhouse Village, Pasadena City College, Caltech, and the Metro Gold Line Station at Memorial Park. Approved by the City Council in 2016, the project repurposed existing road space to accommodate the protected bike lane, converting the previous one-way westbound street into a cyclist-friendly corridor. This initiative supports Pasadena's commitment to sustainable transportation and efficient urban planning. The project was funded through a combination of local and federal sources, including the American Rescue Plan Act, California’s Active Transportation Program, Gas Tax, Los Angeles County’s Measure R, CMAQ, and Pasadena’s Traffic Reduction Fee.

Inspired by successful implementations in cities like Toronto, Boulder introduced new "tall curbs" along Baseline Road in 2023 to physically separate bike and vehicle lanes, offering increased protection for people biking. The project is a critical element of Boulder's Core Arterial Network (CAN), which includes plans for strategic improvements along some of the city's least safe corridors for people walking and biking. With local artist Talia Swartz Parsell adding vibrant paintings to the barriers, the initiative combines safety and public art that complements the surrounding mountainous landscape. Further enhancements are slated for 2024, including additional bike lane barriers. 

8. Pinellas Bayway South | Tierra Verda, Florida

The Pinellas Bayway South Cycle Track in Tierra Verde is a significant addition to the more extensive Pinellas Trail network that spans more than 50 miles. Originating in 1983, the Pinellas Trail has steadily expanded since, becoming a regional destination with more than 1.5 million annual users. The new cycle track, separated from traffic by a raised concrete island, rectifies safety issues caused by vehicles parking in the prior non-protected bike lanes and helps reduce speeding along the corridor. Managed by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) as part of a resurfacing project, the new cycle track closes a two-mile gap between the Pinellas Trail, connecting trail users to Fort De Soto County Park. “FDOT was able to use their existing standard detail for median islands to separate the cycle track from the travel lanes,” said Kyle Simpson, an active transportation planner with Forward Pinellas. “[That] reduced the cost of the project and did not require moving any drainage.”

9. East Main Street | Rochester, New York

Photo credit: Erdman, Anthony and Associates, Inc.

Rochester’s East Main Street Reconstruction project features sidewalk-level bicycle lanes designed in accordance with the City's Complete Streets policy. While addressing needs such as roadway repaving, water main replacement, and new sidewalks, the project also introduced decorative lighting, street trees, and new signage. As part of Rochester's "spine network," a vital element outlined in the city’s Active Transportation Master Plan, the East Main Street project reinforces the city's dedication to creating a well-connected and accessible bike network.

Through a $6 million Midtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone project, San Antonio transformed Avenue B into a one-way, southbound street to accommodate protected bike lanes, wider sidewalks, on-street parking, and landscaping. Serving as a vital connection between the River Walk, Downtown, and various amenities, Avenue B contributes to San Antonio's expanding network of bike lanes and links to trails along the San Antonio River. Ultimately, the city hopes to extend the bike lane north of I-35 to reach the Witte Museum and Brackenridge Park. 

In a commitment to enhance road safety, the City of Dayton completed a $12 million reconstruction project along Salem Avenue between the Great Miami River and Cornell Drive. The federally funded initiative transformed a six-lane “stroad” into a lower-speed street with widened sidewalks, a bi-directional protected cycle track, decorative lighting, and pedestrian islands. The Salem Avenue project connects to more than 350 miles of regional trails as part of the Miami Valley Trails network. In September, Dayton approved an Active Transportation Plan to expand the network further, with more than 20 projects slated for construction by 2027. 

12. 12th Avenue South | Nashville, Tennessee

Photo credit: Nashville Department of Transportation

The 12th Avenue project in Nashville — envisioned as part of the 2017 WalknBike master planning process and subsequently identified as a top bikeway priority by the community — transformed a vital stretch of Nashville into the city’s first complete and green street. The 1.5-mile project includes physically protected bike lanes, bioswales for stormwater management, bus boarding islands, and safer pedestrian crossings. 

“The corridor had existing, substandard bikeways — with significant demand for better, safer facilities to connect affordable housing and student housing with Nashville’s downtown and other commercial districts,” said Anna Dearman, NDOT’s walking and biking manager. In response, NDOT moved the project swiftly from conceptualization to reality, with accelerated final design and construction phases to improve connectivity for affordable and student housing residents along the corridor to downtown and other commercial districts.

13. Turner Avenue | Grand Rapids, Michigan

With funding from a combination of the city’s Vital Streets program (a voter-approved income tax for road and sidewalk projects) and federal Surface Transportation Program and Carbon Reduction Program sources, Turner Avenue represents a major bike infrastructure upgrade for Grand Rapids. This transformative project, which replaced a striped one-way bike lane with a new, separated, two-way facility, spans 1.2 miles from 4th Street to Richmond. The project also increased greenspace to mitigate stormwater runoff and filter pollutants entering the Grand River. The city plans to begin design work to extend the bikeway from 4th Street to Fulton Street West in 2024.

14. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive | Atlanta, Georgia

Photo credit: Central Atlanta Progress/The Atlanta Downtown Improvement District

The Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Cycle Track in Downtown Atlanta was a collaboration between the City of Atlanta Department of Transportation and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, furthering the Downtown Atlanta Master Plan by enhancing safety and accessibility in the city center. According to Stacy Grolimund, senior project manager with Central Atlanta Progress and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, the project began in late 2022 when the Atlanta City Council voted to resurface streets near City Hall and the State Capitol. Councilmember Jason Dozier advocated for the inclusion of multimodal safety enhancements to align the project with the City’s Vision Zero goals. For now, the protected two-way cycle track stretches from Forsyth Street to Capitol Avenue, but the project is part of a more extensive planned network that will ultimately provide direct access to State Farm Arena, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Georgia World Congress Center, and westside neighborhoods like Vine City. 

Physically separated bike lanes in the suburbs? Yes, please! In Agawam, Massachusetts, Dutch-style bike infrastructure emerged as one of the standout bike lanes of 2023. Sparked by the Morgan-Sullivan Bridge replacement and MassDOT’s Complete Streets directive, the project resulted in separated bike paths along Main Street, Springfield Street, Suffield Street, and Memorial Avenue. The area, dotted with strip malls, now offers improved accessibility to local businesses and schools, marking a significant step toward sustainable transportation for this suburban area. Since completion, it's proven highly successful, with increased student biking and plans for further extensions to expand the network. Michelle Chase, Agawam’s town engineer, emphasized, “MassDOT’s Complete Streets program has been absolutely critical for the success of this project,” noting that it “inspired everyone involved in the design to push for the best accommodations even when challenges were encountered.”

16. 17th Street | Santa Monica, California

Santa Monica further solidified its reputation as a great city for bicycling with the completion of curb-protected bike lanes along 17th Street. Stretching just over a mile from Wilshire Boulevard to Pico Boulevard, this project features Southern California's first curb-protected intersections, offering significant safety improvements for cyclists. The 17th Street bikeway conveniently connects key locations such as the 17th Street Metro E Line Station, Santa Monica College, and the Michigan Avenue Greenway, creating a more accessible and interconnected bike network.

Earlier in 2023, Santa Monica's innovative use of a concrete extrusion machine for bike lane construction garnered significant attention, with the efficient, precise technology creating multiple blocks of protected bikeways in a single day. In a Streetsblog article from June, the city's principal engineer, Selim Eren, highlighted the sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and speed of the method, emphasizing the significant transformation from traditional bike lanes to the new protected design on Ocean Avenue, resulting in a substantial increase in cyclist volume. 

17. Meadowbrook Road | Jackson, Mississippi

Jackson’s new Meadowbrook Road project, unveiled in May 2023, has been championed by the Mississippi Department of Health for its role in improving public health and well-being. From Old Canton Road to West Street/Northbrook Drive, the $3.3 million project features a new road-adjacent shared-use path for people walking, rolling, and biking. Funded through a federal FAST Act grant and Jackson’s One-Percent Municipal Sales Tax, the project also included roadway resurfacing, ADA modifications, and traffic signal upgrades. Meadowbrook Road is one of several projects the city has underway to connect its downtown to the Fondren District and Jackson State University. “In our community, our residents value both cycling and walking along with accommodating wheelchair users. With a smaller right-of-way in the heart of the city and the need to use our limited space efficiently, the shared-use path has become our go-to choice in the city,” said Robert Lee, Jackon’s city engineer.

Stretching approximately 1.25 miles, the recently constructed Belmont Avenue protected bike lanes create a low-stress, east-west route across Chicago’s Kennedy Expressway and over the Chicago River while connecting several north-south protected lanes, neighborhood greenways, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Belmont Station, and the 312 Riverrun Bike Trail. The project also improved safety for pedestrians and transit riders through curb bump-outs, concrete refuge islands, and bus priority treatments. 

The project marks just one of the dozens recently completed by Chicago — contributing to more than 55 miles of bikeway projects completed in the last year alone along streets like Augusta, Central Park Avenue in Garfield Park, Clinton, Dearborn, Grand, Kedzie, and Milwaukee. Together, these projects are signs of definite improvement for Chicago, which scored only 7 out of 100 points in our 2023 City Ratings. We’ll be watching closely to see how the city’s score improves in the coming years with its new commitment to protected bike lanes. 

On December 12, the PeopleForBikes Coalition Board of Directors approved our 2023 Industry Community Grants recipients, totaling $100,000 in funding across 13 grants. The grants will help fund projects that support our focus on building infrastructure that makes communities great places to ride a bike. The projects include several pump tracks, efforts to build safe routes to schools, demonstration projects to promote the importance of protected bike lanes, innovative solutions to combat bike theft in college towns, and mountain bike parks in flat urban areas.

2023 PeopleForBikes Industry Community Grants

Delmont, PA | Trail construction and intersection improvements for a connection to the Westmoreland Heritage Rail Trail. Our funds leverage an additional $18,000 to build a new and vital bikeway for residents and visitors in Delmont.

Sandersville, GA | Funding to construct the first 3 miles of a 250-mile trail system in Georgia, leveraging $6 million in other funding.

Los Angeles, CA | One in a series of “CicLAminis,” a neighborhood-focused open streets event celebrating new neighborhood bike infrastructure. This grant will highlight the specific trail extensions and protected bikeways that improve bicycling locally. 

Ann Arbor, MI | Demonstration project to install and evaluate permeable surfaces on a segment of the Treeline-Allen Creek Urban Trail to create a safe and accessible bike path through a floodplain.

Durango, CO | Demonstration projects of fully protected bike lanes on key portions of a proposed citywide network of low-stress bikeways.   

Saint Johns, AZ | A collaboration with the Legacy Teen Center to build a new pump track that will help launch the Legacy Bike Club. 

Jersey City, NJ | Demonstration project to install and evaluate protected bike lanes in Jersey City to leverage $670,590 in state funding for permanent construction.

Clear Creek Off-Road Bike Association — $7,650

Pearland, TX | Initial construction costs for an innovative mountain bike trail system in an urban park, using shipping containers to create hills in an otherwise flat, low-income neighborhood.  

Providence, RI | Community rides and organizing to win community support for protected bike lanes in low-income communities and leverage $28 million in federal grants.

Tempe, AZ | A "bike bus" to highlight the need for infrastructure that’s safe for children to enjoy on a bicycle and support its construction.

Eugene, OR | An innovative solution to prevent bike theft with a strategy to expand the use of public funding and provide an example for other college towns where bike theft prevents people from relying on a bike for transportation.

St. Louis, MO | Support for the construction of a quick-build protected bike lane on Compton Avenue, a key connection to existing bike boulevard projects in the citywide network.

Kearns, UT | An upgrade to the Lodestar XC Bike Park to enhance the trails and add skills features including adaptive features. Open to the public, the park provides the only training opportunities for students from six high school mountain bike teams.  

PeopleForBikes' Industry Community Grants Program provides funding for projects that make bicycling better in communities across the U.S. Since 1999, PeopleForBikes has awarded more than 400 grants to nonprofit organizations and local governments in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Our investments total more than $3.5 million and have leveraged $775 million in public and private funding for bike-related projects nationwide.

PeopleForBikes' 2023 Industry Community Grants Recipients

Across the country, more and more states are turning to electric bicycles — and specifically, e-bike incentive programs — to promote sustainable transportation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transportation insecurity. Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Vermont, and Washington are the newest states to encourage e-bike adoption via rebates and tax credit initiatives. These efforts aim to make e-bikes more accessible and affordable, contributing to climate and equity goals. 

Check out a brief overview of each new statewide e-bike incentive program below.

Colorado's Tax Credit for E-Bike Purchases

Colorado's House Bill 1272 focuses on decarbonization and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector. The bill extends and expands tax credits for electric vehicles, including a new tax credit of $500 for all Coloradans towards the purchase of an electric bike. Similar to Denver’s city program, state legislators set up the state program to ensure local bike shops benefit from these tax credits. 

The new statewide tax credit is one piece of a larger climate package — fiscal estimates suggest the program will cost the state around $100 million before it expires in 2033. If the state's economy grows by less than 4% in a given year, however, the e-bike tax credit could be cut in half. Still, Colorado's commitment to incentivizing e-bike adoption represents a significant stride toward achieving its clean energy goals.

While the details are still to be determined, Maine Governor Janet Mills recently approved a bill that expands the state’s electric vehicle rebate program to include electric bicycles. The program’s administrator, the Efficiency Maine Trust, will dedicate up to $500,000 to fund the addition of e-bikes, with the funds drawing directly from existing electric vehicle funding. Maine already funds electric vehicle rebates, this bill merely adds another option with respect to the mobility devices eligible for a rebate.

Minnesota's Statewide E-Bike Rebate Program

Minnesota recently approved a historic $7.8 billion transportation package that includes $4 million over the next two years for a statewide electric bicycle rebate program. The point-of-sale rebate covers $1,500 or 50-75% of the total cost of a new e-bike and safety accessories, based on the individual's income. Notably, 40% of the rebates are reserved for individuals with incomes under $41,000.

Vermont's Diverse E-Bike Incentive Programs

Vermont introduced two new programs to incentivize e-bikes, both of which were recently signed into law. The first is a Replace Your Ride E-Bike Program, which helps low-income Vermonters replace aging, inefficient and high-emitting internal combustion engine vehicles. The incentive amount has increased to up to $5,000 for income-eligible Vermonters. The Replace Your Ride incentive can be combined with other incentives and used to purchase a new or used EV, an e-bike, or a mobility voucher for public transit or other clean transportation options.

The second program, the Electrify Your Fleet program, will launch soon and provide incentives of $2,500 to eligible Vermont municipalities, business entities and nonprofit mobility service organizations for approved electric mobility options. This includes electric bicycles and electric cargo bicycles with a base MSRP of $6,000.00 or less; and adaptive electric cycles with any base MSRP.

Lastly, Vermont's original e-bike incentive program first launched in 2022 and contributed to 279 e-bike purchases before funding was depleted. The program relaunched this summer and offers $400 for standard eBikes and $800 for electric cargo bikes or adaptive electric cycles to eligible Vermonters. Over 140 applications have been approved to date, which amounts to over $70,000. Just over $50,000 in incentive funding remains available.

Washington's Electric Bike Incentive Program

Washington state allocated $5 million for electric bike rebates of up to $1,200, with an additional $2 million for e-bike lending programs. The initiative provides a $300 point-of-sale rebate for all e-bike buyers, while individuals with lower incomes can receive rebates of up to $1,200. To qualify for the higher rebate, households must have an income at or below 80% of their county's median income. Furthermore, the program includes provisions for bike-related equipment to qualify for rebates.

With these five states joining the ranks of e-bike incentive pioneers, there are now ten states in total with statewide programs in place: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. 

As electric bicycle incentive programs gain popularity in states and cities nationwide, PeopleForBikes tracks, advocates for, consults on, and learns from each new proposal. If you’re interested in learning about the best practices for launching an e-bike incentive program, check out our new Electric Bicycle Incentive Toolkit for advocates, retailers, and policymakers across the United States. 

Five States Announce New E-Bike Incentive Programs

This November, a substantial $1.86 billion is on the table for bicycle projects aimed at enhancing paved and off-road infrastructure across 17 different ballot measures throughout the United States. Through our VoteForBikes campaign, we track and advocate for local, pro-bike ballot measures across the country, alerting our supporters when something on their ballot could improve bicycling in their community. 

Below are the top five ballot measures we’re currently tracking that are poised to significantly move the needle for bike infrastructure.

1. The Centennial Parks Conservation Fund Amendment
Texas

Texas is on the verge of becoming a cycling haven. Should voters give the green light to the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund Amendment, they will endorse an astounding $1 billion investment in state parks, with a substantial chunk of those funds earmarked for bike trails. With more than 700 miles of paved and natural surface bike trails within Texas’ state parks, this initiative is a game-changer for recreational riders and presents a golden opportunity to expand and elevate bike infrastructure across the Lone Star State.

2. Streets and Transportation Bond and Parks and Recreation Bond
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Two significant ballot measures are up for a vote in Albuquerque, New Mexico: The Streets and Transportation Bond and the Parks and Recreation Bond. If these ballot measures gain approval, cyclists can anticipate safer streets, enhanced intersections, reduced neighborhood speeds, and the creation of dedicated bike lanes and trails (more than $50 million is allocated to these crucial infrastructure improvements). Moreover, the Parks and Recreation Bond will contribute more than $12 million towards park and trail maintenance and acquisition. To learn more about each ballot measure, click here.

3. The Greenways 5 Levy
Bellingham, Washington

Bellingham’s Greenways 5 Levy, should it receive approval, will inject new life into the region’s bike infrastructure. The levy's proceeds will support property acquisition, development, climate resilience, and maintenance for greenways, parks, and trails. This initiative aligns perfectly with Bellingham's commitment to green transportation and outdoor recreation. If approved, this initiative will benefit riders by creating well-maintained trails and green spaces, ensuring a scenic and sustainable biking experience for all.

4.Open Space and Park Development Bond
Kootenai County, Idaho

The Open Space and Park Development Bond will not only fund the acquisition of public open space but also the development of new recreational trail systems in Kootenai County, Idaho. Riders can look forward to more trails, open spaces, dog parks, and connections between existing systems. This initiative caters to the needs of the bicycling community while preserving Idaho's natural beauty, which will help make it an even more appealing destination for riders of all kinds.

5. County Issue 1A (Open Space Sales and Use Tax Extension and Revenue Change)
Boulder County, Colorado

In Colorado, Boulder County is taking a significant step towards extending its support for bike infrastructure. County Issue 1A aims to renew a sales and use tax dedicated to acquiring, improving, managing, and maintaining open space lands — a crucial component of bike trails and paths. Bike riding in Colorado, with its breathtaking vistas and diverse terrain, is set to receive a substantial boost from this measure. Cyclists can anticipate better-maintained trails and a more bike-friendly environment should the measure be approved.

By supporting these measures and others like them, voters nationwide can pave the way for safer, more scenic, and well-connected bike infrastructure. But this funding won’t be possible without making a plan to vote.

Using our VoteForBikes tracker to identify upcoming ballot opportunities in your state, city, or county. See a measure missing? Let us know by sending an email to info@peopleforbikes.org.

Making your plan to vote! Early in-person voting and vote by mail begins as early as six weeks before election day. 

Helping to spread the word by telling your family, friends, and local groups about these important ballot measures.

Join us in ensuring that our state and local governments are helping make our streets and trails safer and more accessible for everyone. We hope to see you at the polls!

There’s $1.86 Billion on the Table for Bikes

When it comes to great places for bicycling along Colorado’s Front Range, Boulder and Fort Collins are often touted for their long histories as bike-forward cities. However, thanks to recent population shifts bringing more people to surrounding suburbs, a new wave of Colorado cycling cities is emerging.

“In recent years, there have been lots of folks from Boulder and Fort Collins who found Longmont as a place to raise their kids,” says Phil Greenwald, transportation planning manager for the City of Longmont, which is situated a half hour northwest of Boulder. 

With a population of roughly 100,000 people, 10,000 of which moved within the last decade, the two Front Range cities are now similarly sized. With the added population came a need to plan for growth, and in 2016, the city adopted “Envision Longmont” — a comprehensive multimodal plan outlining strategic guidance and direction for the city over the next 10 to 20 years.

“The multi-modal plan fully lays out our vision for bicycling,” says Greenwald. “There is a heavy focus on more dollars for active transportation and making long-planned projects a reality.”

Because growth inevitably means construction, one of Longmont’s major initiatives is prioritizing the improvement of roadways for all.

“With lots of street improvement projects, we’re giving people a chance to relook at how we use roads,” says Greenwald. “Whenever we have a resurfacing project, we think about how we can improve that street for bicycling. Even with existing bike lanes, we think about how we can improve.”

Recent examples include removing street parking along Longmont’s Mountain View Avenue to add a buffer for bike lanes to increase safety. Another project removed a lane of traffic along 9th Avenue, a major arterial through town, to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.

New development is also a major target for increasing bikeability, with street design standards for the city mandating that new road construction needs to recognize the needs of all road users. If a new road is designated as a collector street (one that moves traffic from local streets to arterial roads) or larger, it needs to include a buffered bike lane. The land development code also requires a certain percentage of bike parking available compared to vehicle parking for all new commercial and apartment buildings.

Plus, the city’s dedication to improvement doesn’t just stop at road development. In 2014, Longmont eliminated parking minimum requirements, an effort that is known to help reduce urban sprawl and reduce reliance on personal vehicles. In 2019, the Longmont City Council also declared a climate emergency, doubling down on the city’s efforts to get people out of cars as a key component of combating climate change. Earlier this year, the council passed a resolution to make Longmont a Vision Zero community with the goal of eliminating fatalities on their roadways.  

According to Ben Ortiz, leaning on the support of community members has also had a tremendous impact on the direction of the city’s work. “We have a bicycle issues committee made up of dedicated residents who give great input on how to improve biking,” says Ortiz, transportation planner for the city. “We also have a traffic mitigation program that has been around for 20 years. The program allows neighborhoods that feel that speed limits are too fast to initiate a process to facilitate slower streets.”

Looking ahead, both Ortiz and Greenwald have high hopes for the future of biking in Longmont. Greenwald is pushing Boulder County to create a separated bikeway along Highway 119, the diagonal artery between Boulder and Longmont. While he admits most people won’t bike the entire route, it’s more about making connections in the middle, so residents can access homes and businesses in the smaller communities of Niwot and Gunbarrel that often get overlooked. He also hopes to reincorporate a bike share program back into the city that is complementary to the existing B-Cycle program in nearby Boulder, allowing folks to all use the same app and easily access bike share no matter where they go.

For the first time this year, Longmont ranked #10 for medium-sized U.S. cities in PeopleForBikes’ 2023 City Ratings, an annual program that evaluates and identifies the best places for bicycling. While this accomplishment may seem out of reach, it’s worth noting that in 2022 Longmont was ranked #88 among medium-sized U.S. cities. By prioritizing bicycling and making consistent, intentional investments, any city can do what Longmont has.

“Look at your land development code and street design standards,” says Ortiz. “For new streets, incorporate bike facilities and sidewalks. Make sure you have bike parking as a function of new development, and if you can get rid of minimum parking requirements, do it.”

“Whenever you look at a new project, incorporate the needs of the bike community,” reiterates Greenwald. “Not every project has to be expensive, either. Find the low-hanging fruit and how you can make small improvements. When you open up places where people feel safe, people will ride.”

Longmont’s Multifaceted Approach to Better Bicycling

Have you ever driven through somewhere on a road trip that you thought was unforgettably cool, only to get home and realize you don’t remember the name of the place, or even where it was? It’s difficult to remember such awesome places when you’re moving through them so fast, which is what makes sightseeing by bike the best! Sightseeing on a bike connects you with regions, towns and people in a way that simply isn’t possible with other forms of travel. So hop on your road bike, cruiser, or e-bike and explore these amazing sightseeing cities.

Ranking #7 overall in this year’s City Ratings is Aspen, Colorado. This little mountain town in the Roaring Fork Valley is full of mountain peaks and valley views and is well-known for its four winter sports resorts. Winter sports aren’t the only popular outdoor activities in Aspen, biking is too! Aspen encourages locals and visitors alike to get around on two wheels with its bike share program, We-Cycle. There are 15 stations and more than 100 bikes around town, so one is never away. The first 30 minutes of every We-Cycle fare is free to all riders and the service made Aspen the first-ever resort town to have an official bike share program.

Using a We-Cycle bike (or your own!), you can explore the energetic downtown and visit any one of the galleries, gift shops, or restaurants lining Aspen’s main drag. If you are seeking more adventure, consider biking Independence Pass or the Rio Grande Trail. As the state’s highest elevation pass, Independence Pass is a favorite route for cyclists craving a breath of fresh air. At a sweeping 12,095 feet, riding Indy Pass is one of Aspen’s most sought-after cycling achievements for its breathtaking views and incredible landscapes. The Rio Grande Trail is 42 miles of continuous paved trail protected from vehicle traffic from Aspen to Glenwood Springs and is suitable for all ages and skill levels. Any ride throughout Aspen is sure to provide you with beautiful views of the expansive forests, the Maroon Bells, and the entire Roaring Fork Valley.

You may want to switch out your road bike for a beach cruiser when it comes to our next destination. Key West, Florida, is a biking paradise because of its small size, easy navigation and always-open bike parking. 20% of folks who live in Key West commute to work and just about everywhere else by bike. There are so many attractions to visit as if the views weren’t enough! Surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, you are never more than just a head-turn away from mesmerizing views of the turquoise blue water and white sand beaches.

If you’re looking for more sights, hop on one of the bike lanes to visit the southernmost point in the continental United States, working your way up to visit the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the Key West Lighthouse Museum and the Eco-Discovery Center. A must-stop on your list should be the Seven Mile Bridge that links points between the Florida Keys. If you want to go even further, consider completing the entire Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail, a 106-mile, completely paved trail that stretches the majority of the Keys and is a suitable ride for anyone. The flat topography and 237 sunny days per year can almost guarantee that any ride you take in Key West is going to be a great one — just keep an eye on the weather and don't get caught in a notorious Florida thunderstorm!

San Francisco, California, is a lively melting pot of hippies, inner-city professionals, artists, and everyone in between. 14.8 million visitors flocked to the city in 2021, making it one of the busiest tourist destinations in the world. The city works hard to maintain its current 464 miles of bikeways, adding additional miles every year. Bicycles are the transportation of choice for locals and tourists alike, with more than 82,000 trips being made daily and travel by bicycle increasing 184% since 2006!

You can start your city tour off at one of the 280 bike share stations spread throughout the city. From there, you can bike to any amenities you may need in less than 15 minutes, then to the postcard-worthy destinations San Francisco is famous for! Buzzing past pedestrians on the bikeway, you can cruise down the steep and windy Lombard Street admiring the flower-filled gardens, stopping by the San Francisco Botanical Gardens to enjoy even more greenery. From there, make your way to Golden Gate National Recreation Area and cross the Golden Gate Bridge on two wheels. If you’re tired out from there, you can always take the ferry back across the bay. After all that riding you’re sure to be hungry, so head over to Valencia Street to grab a bite to eat at one of the many vibrant restaurants. After the day is over, you can head out to experience the city’s nightlife or relax while watching the sunset over the Golden City. San Francisco is for everyone, especially bikers.

Arlington, Virginia, is next on our list! Known for its treasured national monuments and memorials, Arlington has so much more to offer that can only be experienced by using the 49 miles of paved paths woven throughout the city. After grabbing a bike from the local bike share, consider taking the Arlington Loop, a 16-mile bikeway that will bring you past some of the most famed attractions in Arlington. Cruise past attractions like the Arlington House, the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, and the Arlington National Cemetery. The Arlington National Cemetery is a must-visit place as it is the resting place of more than 400,000 servicemen and hosts regular graveside services and memorial events.

After paying your respects, you can continue your journey through the charming neighborhoods, beautiful parks, and waterfront views of Arlington into Washington, D.C., where you can see other historical treasures like the Lincoln Memorial, the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, and even the White House! Arlington offers a very unique experience on a bike — there is almost no other city where you can see so many treasured places and artifacts of United States history in just a short bicycle ride. However, if history is not your forte, the Mount Vernon path is an 18-mile paved recreation trail known as Northern Virginia’s Scenic Trail. Running down the west bank of the Potomac River, the ride offers many places to hop off and take a break. Arlington is made to be seen by bike!

Located on the northwest edge of Michigan’s lower peninsula (the mitten) is Traverse City, a vibrant small town and a great spot for wine connoisseurs, history lovers, and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Traverse City is also known for its craft beer, and everyone in town takes advantage of that. A Traverse City must-do is the Kayak, Bike, and Brew, a brewery pub crawl along Traverse City’s beautiful Boardman Lake and River and West Grand Traverse Bay.

Throughout the city, there are more than 60 miles of trail known as the Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation, or TART for short. TART is the city’s effort to provide and promote a trail network that enriches people and communities throughout the greater Traverse region. Through these trails, you can see attractions in town like The Grand Traverse Commons, Front Street, and the State Theatre. Or you can choose to venture outside of town into magnificent outdoor areas like the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore, where a 22-mile paved multi-use trail passes through the National Lakeshore. Traverse City is a small-town gem that offers a wide variety of activities for every age, skill level, and interest.

Last on our list, but certainly not least, is Santa Monica, California. Santa Monica is a charming seaside town with a small-town feel but urban metropolis amenities. Set in sunny southern California, it boasts stunning ocean views, a gentle, humidity-free climate, and a city design that caters to cyclists. The city has installed more than 100 miles of bikeways, 19 miles of green lanes, and several hundred public bike racks. The bike share service in town, Breeze Bike Share, allows locals and tourists to use well-maintained bikes and e-bikes.

This town is meant to be seen on two wheels. You can take your cruiser on the 22-mile Marvin Braude Trail that leads straight to bucket-list attractions like the Santa Monica Pier, the Venice Skatepark, and Muscle Beach. After relishing in the unique culture and exciting shops, switch out bikes and head over to the Santa Monica Mountains for some thrilling mountain trails. Topanga State Park is just 20 minutes from downtown and features 36 miles of trails through open grassland, live oaks, and mountainous terrain. Santa Monica is a great destination to sit back, relax and enjoy the city’s many attractions. Every cyclist is guaranteed to find their favorite Santa Monica bike route.

For the sixth consecutive year, PeopleForBikes is proud to release our annual City Ratings, a data-driven program to evaluate, identify and compare the best cities and towns for bicycling. For 2022, more than 1,000 cities were rated in the U.S. and Canada, the largest number in program history.

Below are 2022’s top-ranked small, medium and large U.S. cities for bicycling. All cities in these lists have a City Ratings score greater than 50, the threshold score for a great place to bike.

2022's Top-Ranking U.S. Cities for Bicycling

A focus on safe, connected bike networks helped boost these medium-sized cities to top spots in our 2021 City Ratings.

Now in its fourth year of analyzing, evaluating and comparing great cities for bicycling, our annual City Ratings program utilized a new and improved rating system for 2021. With an emphasis on safe, connected places to ride, a city’s Network Score makes up 80% of its overall score. Using data from PeopleForBikes’ Bicycle Network Analysis, or BNA, the Network Score measures the quality and connectivity of a city’s bike network — the bike lanes, paths, trails and neighborhood streets someone on a bike can use to access everyday destinations. 

The U.S. cities below range in population from 50,000 to 300,000 and all share one thing in common: a dedication to creating great bike networks. 

For Santa Monica, a coastal beach town in Southern California surrounded on three sides by Los Angeles, the first big effort for better bicycling came when the city passed its Bike Action Plan in 2011. The plan outlined the city’s goals for getting more people on bikes, making bicycling more convenient, creating a safe bike network and establishing a local bike share program. 

Santa Monica started small with low-cost, programmatic work such as offering bike valet services at big community events, as well as installing more bike racks at key locations around town. These smaller projects complemented the larger work of implementing bike infrastructure, and, over the last decade, Santa Monica has seen a steady trickle of bike shops and organizations popping up around the city. “Bicycling is now woven into the urban fabric of Santa Monica,” said Kyle Kozar, senior transportation manager and bike program coordinator. 

Kozar credits Santa Monica’s idyllic location, infrastructure and year-round sunshine for the city’s relatively quick adoption of bicycling. Compared to other nearby Southern California destinations, infamous for nauseating traffic congestion and miles upon miles of concrete, Santa Monica has a lot of greenways and protected bike lanes, making it easy to traverse the beach town by bike.

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