We’re making biking better in Montana 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 spring 2018, our Community Grant Program helped fund the creation of a balance bike park in Trails End Park in Billings.

As big cities across the U.S. continue to grow in size with inner-city congestion, many folks are looking to ditch the increasing crowds in favor of more up-and-coming locales. The following cities are great places to look to settle down because they are not only hubs of population growth, new employment and great culture, they also encourage an active and healthy lifestyle and back it up with investments in active transportation infrastructure!

Salt Lake City, Utah, has pretty much anything a millennial looking to settle down could want. It is affordable and quite LGBTQ+ friendly, it’s surrounded by one of the best natural playgrounds you could ask for, parks are abundant, home values are looking to grow in coming years and the city has started work on a 220-mile bike network. Known as the “Crossroads of the West,” Salt Lake City was founded in 1847 and is now home to nearly 190,000 people.

Currently, 50% of arterial streets and 56% of collector streets in town have some type of bike lane or bikeway. Since the city’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan passed in 2015, SLC has begun work on expanding this infrastructure to include 220 miles of bikeway and numerous facilities throughout the city.

Veering off paved paradise and into the sandy, desert dunes, there are mountain bike trails and bike parks galore! Visit the Bonneville Shoreline Trail for some fast and fun descents or hop on the Wasatch Crest trail for some 360-degree high alpine views. Salt Lake City is a growing gem of the Intermountain West. Unparalleled access to nature, expanding infrastructure, an active downtown and great culture make this mid-size town a great place to live and ride!

Missoula, Montana, also known as “The Garden City,” was founded in 1864 and is home to 74,822 people, making it the second-largest city in Montana. Missoula is located in the Northern Rockies of Montana, surrounded by seven wilderness areas and at the confluence of three rivers, making backyard views exceptional to say the least. Missoula is currently growing at a rate of 0.83% annually and to handle the growing need for transportation, the Missoula Bicycle Facilities Master Plan was adopted in 2017. Currently, there are more than 50 miles of shared-use paths and 37 miles of on-street bike lanes in town, with the new master plan aiming to expand infrastructure to 101 miles of shared-use paths, nearly 90 miles of on-street bike lanes and 31 miles of neighborhood greenways.

Transportation isn’t the only growing need, but thankfully Missoula is in the perfect place for a growing culture of recreation! MTB Missoula is a local organization that envisions a Missoula “where mountain bikers are the most thoughtful, informed and engaged group of users on the trail.” The organization helped build Missoula’s first public, bike-specific trails and manages more than 100 miles of local and backcountry singletrack. The most well-known are the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area and Marshall Mountain. The Rattlesnake National Recreation Area is what most people think of when mountain biking in Missoula comes to mind. It is a wild, smooth singletrack area directly north of downtown, offering great rides for all skill levels. Marshall Mountain caters to the more extreme riders, boasting a bunch of fast descents on an old ski hill — bumpy rides that are sure to get your adrenaline pumping. Missoula is the place to go if you are seeking your next mountain biking mecca!

Although it doesn’t quite make the “small-town” list with a population of 300,000, Saint Paul, Minnesota, certainly has the small-town feel. The city’s energetic community, historic interest, cultural landmarks and time-honored traditions make Saint Paul the historical and cultural heart of Minnesota. The beauty of this city isn’t just downtown — Saint Paul is home to more shoreline on the Mississippi River than any other city, offering up beautiful waterfront views wherever you go.

There are 207 miles of bicycle-friendly paths and roadways that connect the twin city. In 2015, the most recent Bicycle Plan of Saint Paul was adopted, which recommended an additional 140 miles throughout the current network to create more cohesive routes. If the accessibility wasn’t enough to get you excited, the Saint Paul Classic will! A community-driven race that offers routes for all skill levels, the Saint Paul Classic also includes extremely scenic rest stops to highlight the charm of the city along the way. The event attracts nearly 2,500 riders and hundreds of fans every year. For those seeking more adventure, there are opportunities to race down fun descents at Battlecreek Park, Lebanon Hills Mountain Bike Park or Salem Hills Park. Saint Paul has something for everyone, so as the town says, “Grab a helmet and get spinning!”

Lawrence, Kansas, is known for having one of the most beautiful downtowns in America with a vibrant art and live music scene. But this quirky little town has more to be excited about… Bikes and waffles! Kansas has a very rich cycling history and is the home state of many notable riders — Lawrence is home to the Kansas Cycling Association. While lots of people see Kansas as a perpetually flat state, many of them will think “we’re not in Kansas anymore,” when confronted with the rolling hills that surround Lawrence.

Lawrence plays host to one of the most unique cycling races in the United States, the Belgian Waffle Ride. This 111.11 kilometer race crosses undulating gravel, trails, grass, mud, dirt and a couple patches of asphalt, also including a much-needed Belgian snack available at kilometer 58. 4,000 cyclists flock to Lawrence every year to compete in this unique race! Cruising on the pavement is a favorite pastime of Lawrence locals — coming into town you are sure to see smiling cyclists enjoying the 66 miles of bike paths this quirky town has to offer!

Bellingham, Washington, home to 90,821 residents, is known as the “City of Subdued Excitement” because the appeal of the city lies in its quieter attractions that do not attract hordes of tourists. In-town attractions include mountain and waterfront views, gigantic murals and a vibrant downtown. Slightly out of town, in the surrounding Whatcom County, lies abundant nature and accessible outdoor adventure from the Salish Sea to Mt. Baker and the North Cascades National Park.

Bellingham is growing at a staggering rate of 1.93% annually and has felt the effects of a growing population on this previously small town. In an effort to alleviate transportation concerns, the City of Bellingham passed a Bike and Pedestrian Master plan in 2014 to bring 130 miles of bikeway to the city, bringing the total amount of bikeways in Bellingham to 170 miles connecting downtown and high-traffic areas. This project has been supported by the Tour De Whatcom race, which offers three race categories — 22, 44 or 105 miles — and draws nearly 1,000 bike enthusiasts to Bellingham annually. This town is not only drawing road race fans, it is known as the best place to mountain bike in Washington. Its prize park is Galbraith Mountain, a world-class destination within riding distance of the city. The expansion of Bellingham leaves the city and cyclists racing to keep up with the growing number of attractions, literally and figuratively!

Located just outside of the Iowa state capital of Des Moines, Ankey is a mid-size suburb that is currently growing at a staggering annual rate of 2.94% because it is considered one of the best places to live in Iowa. Ankeny offers a hometown feel with first-class amenities. The nearly 80 miles of bikeways connect the city’s 40 parks, water sports opportunities and downtown. Part of the network is the High Trestle Trail which is 25 miles long and offers great views of the valley. This trail in particular attracts more than 250,000 visitors each year and spurred the City of Ankeny’s 2019 Bicycle Tourism Plan, which plans to expand bicycle facilities and paths across town. Outside of the city, you can bike your way over to Des Moines to explore the State Capitol Building, explore the events at the Iowa State Fairgrounds or support the local farmers at the Downtown Farmers Market. Ankeny is not the most mainstream destination for biking, just one more reason we ranked it as one of the best!

Adventure is out there, you just have to bike to it! Adventure biking is all about taking exciting and out-of-the-box routes to see some of the most beautiful destinations our country has to offer.

In this year’s City Ratings, PeopleForBikes’ annual program to evaluate, identify and compare the best cities and towns for bicycling, many places in the top 100 out of more than 1,000 rated cities offer some truly incredible adventures by bike. Whether you are biking on the road, gravel, downhill, or long-distance, all of these cities have something great to offer!

Affectionately known as the “Moab of the North,” Kalispell, Montana, less than a two-hour drive from the Canadian border, is home to 24,000 people. Kalispell is in the heart of the Swan, Mission, Whitefish, and Salish mountain ranges and boasts beautiful views of the surrounding valleys, rivers, lakes, and nearby Glacier National Park. Here, there is biking for everyone, from paved rail-trails for the kids, mountain bike parks for the thrill-seekers, and the famed Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park.

The must-do trail for anyone visiting Kalispell is a 22-mile section of the Great Northern Rail Trail which was advocated for and completed by Rails to Trails of Northwest Montana, a grassroots organization founded in Kalispell. The start and end point is Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. In town, Wheaton's Cycling Shop has been the beloved local bike shop for nearly 17 years and they offer great suggestions for other in-town ride destinations including Lone Pine State Park, Crane Mountain Trails, and the Broken Leg Trail (Trail 544). Kalispell is an exciting and beautiful adventure biking destination with unique trails and views everywhere you look, making it the perfect addition to any Western road trip.

The most remote location on our list, Soldotna, Alaska, is known for its cold and dark winters, with an average temperature of 10 degrees Fahrenheit and less than six hours of daylight in January. However, come summertime, this sleepy Alaskan town becomes a lively destination for locals and tourists alike. Soldotna is home to nearly 4,700 people year-round but its population doubles to nearly 10,000 people in the summer.

The sometimes wild climate and challenging terrain do not stop cyclists: Nearly 80% of Alaskan households own a bicycle and more than 60% of Alaskans bike or walk for recreation. Soldotna is a popular destination for folks passing through for the Kenai 250, an approximately 265-mile race featuring tons of single track and nearly 30,000 feet of elevation gain. This race is for experienced backcountry endurance riders and traverses some of the most beautiful landscapes Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula has to offer. Soldotna may not be the most conventional adventure biking destination, but its unique location offers plenty of gravel, mountain biking, and bikepacking opportunities.

Monterey, California, is a picturesque town in Central California that follows the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary as it weaves along the coast. This classic California town is home to 28,575 people and has a prominent cycling scene. Monterey’s flat topography, mild climate, 190 miles of bikeways, and encouragement of sustainable travel make cycling a great option to explore the city and surrounding area.

This former military base is also the site of the Sea Otter Classic, regarded as the world’s largest cycling festival, attracting nearly 10,000 athletes and more than 74,000 fans every April. The race at Sea Otter is an 18-mile loop that includes an exciting mix of forest roads and singletrack. The Sea Otter Classic isn’t the only thing that attracts thousands of people to Monterey each year — the crown jewel of adventure biking in the region is bikepacking down the Pacific Coast Highway through the Big Sur Mountains. This rugged and mountainous section of road is known for its dramatic landscape where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean. Even for an experienced bicyclist, the ride through Big Sur may be the best ride you’ve ever taken. For those seeking a more relaxing experience, the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail is an 18-mile trail protected from vehicles that crosses through some of the best attractions in Monterey. This coastal cycling town provides something for every rider!

Flagstaff, Arizona, is home to about 73,319 people and provides stunning peak views, clean mountain air, and abundant wildlife. Established in 1894, this high desert town is nestled right below the San Francisco Peaks, the tallest mountains in Arizona. There are seven national parks and monuments right in the backyard of Flagstaff, earning it its nickname “The City of Seven Wonders,” but locals might argue that there is an eighth wonder: biking. Driving into Flagstaff, you’ll see cyclists zipping by on some of the city’s 117 miles of bike lanes. Just about every local owns a bike, 5.2% of work commutes are made by bike and most other trips can be made on two wheels in just a few minutes.

Passing through town, you might see bikes adorned with lots of bags, as there are some great bikepacking trails in Flagstaff including the nearly 800-mile-long Arizona Trail (AZT), which passes through the majority of Arizona, and the 250-mile-long Coconino Bikepacking Loop that connects Flagstaff to Cottonwood. Just outside of town, Fort Tuthill Bike Park is a great network of mountain biking trails to build your skills to use on other local trails like the ones in Buffalo Park or Campbell Mesa Loop. If you ever get bored of Flagstaff (you won’t!), Sedona, another world-class biking destination, is just 27 miles north. Close to some of the most remarkable places in the U.S., Flagstaff is the perfect road trip destination for adventure biking.

Burlington, Vermont, lies on a gorgeous hillside overlooking Lake Champlain with a view of New York’s Adirondack Mountains in the distance. Rising from the shores of the lake is the Island Line Trail, a 14-mile-long shared path that offers great views of the lake and downtown Burlington all in one. In the coming years, there are plans to add tens of miles of new bike paths added throughout Burlington as a part of a “quick-build” program by Burlington Public Works.

If you desire more of an off-road experience, you can head over to Catamount Outdoor Family Center to take advantage of their 20 miles of trails that include gravel, wooded sections, open fields, steep climbs, technical terrain, and two pump tracks. Once you’ve tuned up your skills, take advantage of Lincoln Peak at Sugarbush Resort, a lift-serviced area with tons of trails that promise high-speed fun and lots of features. If downhilling isn’t your thing, don’t worry. Many bikepacking adventures pass through the region as well. The Green Mountain Loop runs through Green Mountain National Forest and covers 377 miles of beautiful rolling hills, mountains, and forest, eventually ending up back in downtown Burlington. Backroads, an award-winning travel company, also offers great bikepacking adventures from Burlington to Montreal, Quebec, covering more than 250 miles along the way. In Burlington, there are opportunities aplenty for a two-wheeled adventure!

On Aug. 29, Department of Interior Secretary David Bernhardt ordered the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service (NPS) to establish interim policies within 30 days that guide the use of e-bikes on public lands. The departments were encouraged to adopt a policy that allows e-bikes to be ridden where traditional bicycles are allowed. You can learn more about the Secretarial Order.

The NPS announced its new e-bike policy on Aug. 30, stating that e-bikes may be used in the same manner as traditional bicycles, allowing them on park roads, paved or hardened trails, areas designated for off-road motor vehicle use and administrative roads where traditional bikes are allowed. E-bikes are not allowed in wilderness areas and individuals may not operate an e-bike where the motor can be used to propel the rider without pedaling, except in locations that are open to motor vehicle traffic.

NPS Superintendents had 30 days following the agency’s announcement to either amend their Compendium to include an e-bike policy that considers the safety, resource protection and local requirements of their community, or to adopt the e-bike policy as stated in the National Park Service’s announcement.

PeopleForBikes maintains a spreadsheet of the National Parks, Monuments, Seashores and Recreational Areas that have either updated their Superintendent’s Compendium to reflect the Secretarial Order or created a new e-bike policy based on local community needs of their land. We will keep this updated with information as we receive it and hope it is a useful resource.

These policy announcements are a watershed moment for e-bikes riders. Next time you plan a trip to the outdoors with your e-bike, check out the many new incredible rides available in national parks. Happy trails!

The White Rim Road, Canyonlands National Park

Going-to-the-sun Road, Glacier National Park

Stone Cliff Road, New River Gorge National River

Lake Village Trail, Yellowstone National Park

2020 has been a momentous year for bikes, especially in local and state ballot measures.

Thanks to the collaborative effort of millions of voters nationwide, a total of $1 billion was secured for bike projects across the U.S. such as bike lanes, trail maintenance and electric bicycle share programs. 

Check out some of the exciting measures that passed this year:

Denver, CO: Denver voters approved a Climate Sales Tax to fund programs that support affordable, clean, safe and reliable transportation choices such as bike riding and neighborhood-scale transit. The tax will also fund neighborhood-based environmental and climate justice programs that directly benefit communities of color.

Austin, TX: Austin voters approved both Prop A and Prop B — measures that will improve the city’s transportation systems and infrastructure for bike riding by installing an all-electric bike fleet stationed at transit hubs and building a high-capacity public transportation network that consists of sidewalks, bike lanes, urban trails and safety improvements. (Check out our blog for more about this tremendous accomplishment.)

Montana: Montana voters approved a marijuana tax that will place a 20% tax on recreational marijuana, 9.5% of which will go toward land, water and wildlife conservation programs (including funding for trails), veteran services, substance misuse treatment and health care.

PeopleForBikes’ VoteForBikes campaign tracks local and state ballot initiatives that can improve bike riding for all. We highlight these measures to make it easier for you to understand what is on the ballot in your community. Know of a bike-friendly initiative that you want to see on the ballot in 2021?

Let us know by emailing PeopleForBikes’ Regulatory and Policy Analyst Ashley Seaward at ashley@peopleforbikes.org.

“It is super simple to jump on your bike and literally ride six blocks to downtown,” says Tom Johnson, Shop Manager at Owenhouse Cycling in Bozeman, Montana. He credits a strong downtown, a small urban grid, low traffic volumes, friendly people, and the Gallagator Linear Trail with Bozeman’s easy riding. The shop caters to technical mountain bikers that come for the region’s rugged single-track, but hybrid and commuter sales—including e-bikes in the last year—are brisk, and Johnson attributes that to the town’s bikeability.

Until recently, there wasn’t an easy way to show a direct relationship between good biking conditions and strong independent bike shop (IBD) sales. The launch of PlacesForBikes’ Bicycle Network Analysis (BNA) changes all that. From work to school to market to park, the BNA maps and rates the connectivity of low-stress bicycling routes, scoring towns and cities on how well their networks take people to life’s everyday destinations.

“It’s really the first time we’ve been able to measure the quality of bike networks in a way that is consistent and comparable across the country. So it’s a unique opportunity to see if cities with better bike networks have better bike business,” says PeopleForBikes Research Director Jennifer Boldry. “It was really a quick jump from having the BNA finished and looking at whether there was a correlation between BNA scores and IBD sales in cities.”

And there is. Correlating BNA scores with independent bike shop sales data showed that places with the most comfortable and connected bike networks—those with the highest BNA scores—tend to also be places with the highest average bike shop sales.

Similar to Bozeman, in San Francisco the BNA score is high and sales are strong. Avenue Cyclery general manager Brian Benson says he sees regular proof that the city’s network contributes to the shop’s strong sales. Benson says that experienced cyclists often introduce friends and partners to the city’s bike network, and bring them into the shop. ”They’ll say, ‘Now I know there is a safe route for me to get to work or ride to the beach.'” Benson credits his shop’s emphasis on service and community involvement through advocacy for a lot of its success, but says the network plays a big role. “If it wasn’t for the infrastructure that San Francisco has, there is no way there would be as many bike shops as there are in this city. It’s what allows us to easily work with individuals who are stepping in the door of a bike shop for the first time.”

There is no question in Tom Johnson’s mind that high-quality everyday biking networks are part of the future for bike shops. “As trails expand and roadways start to [include] bike lanes, people will realize that it can be easy to bike,” he says.”I think the infrastructure is going to drive the bike sales more than the bike sales will drive the infrastructure.”

Boldry cautions that the correlation of high BNA scores with sales doesn’t mean there is a cause and effect relationship between better bike networks and bike shop sales. Higher average incomes or stronger political support could be the reason that both are higher in some cities. The current analysis combines BNA scores and retail sales for 300 cities in the U.S., so not all cities are included in the analysis—yet.

An updated and expanded BNA is slated for release this April. Boldry believes that as the BNA is refined and collects more and better data about cities and towns, these conclusions will point definitively to the link between network quality and sales. Boldry points to more conclusive research showing the economic impact of mountain biking trails, and suspects the same fundamental pattern is happening with urban bike networks.

Back in Bozeman, Johnson believes that better bike routes connect directly to the bottom line. “The more systems you have built to make it easier to bike, it’s just going to feed that,” he says. “If a person has a great experience then their friends will buy a bike. Then they’ll buy a better bike. Then they’ll buy maybe two bikes. Then they need more service. So everything ripples back into the shop.”

How Better Biking Conditions Can Help Bike Shops

Due to the constantly changing dimensions of the COVID-19 crisis, we encourage you to follow all current CDC guidelines as well as local travel advisories and recommendations. Take care of yourselves and loved ones. We’re all in this together.

The results are in — how did your city rank?

PeopleForBikes is proud to announce the third annual PlacesForBikes City Ratings — a data-driven analysis evaluating and identifying the best U.S. cities for bicycling. This campaign not only helps showcase the cities leading the nation in making biking better for everyone, but also provides key insights on how other cities can work to do the same.

“Our City Ratings create a holistic picture of bicycling in cities based on measurable factors,” says Rebecca Davies, PeopleForBikes’ network + mapping specialist. “Top scorers are cities of all types and geographies who have succeeded in different ways, including cities with strong historical investments in active transportation as well as cities pursuing ambitious plans to rapidly implement high-quality bicycle networks.”

Overall City Ratings are shaped by five key indicators: Ridership (how many people are riding bikes?), Safety (how safe is it to ride bikes?), Network (how easy is it for people to bike where they want to go?), Reach (how well does the network serve all members of the community?) and Acceleration (how fast is the bike network growing and/or improving?). These indicators are ranked on a scale of 1-5 and weighed equally to provide a city’s comprehensive City Ratings score.

We rated 567 cities in 2020. Top overall performers were boosted by high Network and Acceleration scores. Here’s how they ranked:


The 2020 PlacesForBikes City Ratings Top Five:


What makes these cities so great for biking?

Since its early days as a California Mission town, San Luis Obispo (or SLO, for short) has worked hard to preserve a compact urban core with a greenbelt surrounding the city. “We’ve striven to avoid sprawl, foster a vibrant downtown and make sure that housing, jobs, schools, recreation and shopping are not too far apart from each other,” says Adam Fukushima, SLO’s active transportation manager. The first in his role, Fukushima works solely on bicycle and pedestrian improvements in the city. 

Since 2014, San Luis Obispo has had a policy in place to spend at least 20% of its transportation expenditures on bicycle improvements. One priority project has been the development of a backbone city bike path, reaching from north to south to connect the local university (California Polytechnic State University) with downtown and residential neighborhoods.

Cal Poly doesn’t allow first and second year students to have cars on campus. This rule, plus the city’s proximity to parks and open space, helps the city get more people on bikes, says Fukushima. “In contrast to many communities where you have to put your bike in the car to drive to a trail, we have many fabulous mountain biking trails and paths close to housing. This has been the jumping off point for many people to not only use a bike for recreation, but try it out for commuting as well.”

In Madison, the scenic bike route is often the fastest route. With a downtown located on a narrow isthmus between two lakes, getting where you need to go on time and enjoying the beauty of your ride aren’t mutually exclusive. Several shared-use paths provide easy access throughout the city and the 936-acre University of Wisconsin campus.

“What really makes Madison a great place to ride is that there are lots of other people out riding all year round,” says Madison’s Pedestrian Bicycle Administrator Renee Callaway. “Commuters, recreational riders, errand runners, family bikers — you’re never alone when you get out on your bike.”

To continue making biking easier and safer, Madison invests in bike underpasses, rail-trail conversions and long-distance trail connections. As a city that sees nearly four feet of snow every winter, Madison is also heavily invested in year-round maintenance of their bike network and has designated primary routes across town that are cleared and ready-to-ride by 7 a.m. Monday-Friday. 

“Bicycling is in our DNA,” says Rob Dayton, Santa Barbara’s transportation planning and parking manager. “Before automobiles were around, it was the bicycle clubs that lobbied to pave streets for bicycling.” Santa Barbara even had the first multimodal transportation in California — a mule-drawn trolley car that included a bike rack on the back for turn-of-the-century cyclists to hang their big-wheel Penny Farthing bikes. 

As early as the 1960s, the city recognized how heavy vehicle congestion and traffic plagued their southern coastal neighbor Los Angeles. This prompted Santa Barbara to take action to embrace the bicycle. More recently, some two lane roads in town were reduced to one lane for vehicle traffic, with the other dedicated to bike travel. Road repaving projects that included the addition of a bike lane quickly helped the size of Santa Barbara’s bike network skyrocket. The addition of bike racks throughout the downtown also helped boost the embrace of bicycles. “No matter where you want to go, if you ride a bike, you have a front row parking spot,” says Dayton. The implementation of bicycle boulevards, streets with low motorized traffic volumes and speeds, designated and designed to give bicycle travel priority, have also been a key part of Santa Barbara’s embrace of bicycling.

Thanks to the growth of California’s Active Transportation Planning grants program, Santa Barbara has invested $40 million in bike improvements across the city over the last five years, with many new projects, including a city-wide electric bike share program, on the horizon. “I think Santa Barbara really has something to offer everyone,” says Sam Furtner, the city’s mobility coordinator. “Whether you’re learning to ride a bike or looking for world-class road rides overlooking the ocean, we’ve got you covered.”

The relatively dense and compact nature of our nation’s capital makes biking one of the most convenient ways to traverse the city. 90 miles of bike lanes connect to 60 miles of trails, with D.C. serving as the regional hub of a 500-plus mile trail network that connects residents to jobs, neighborhoods and parks in the District, Maryland and Virginia. The city was an early adopter of protected bike lanes: 12 miles have been built since 2010 and a campaign continues to add 20 miles by the end of this year. The 5,000-bike strong regional bike share program Capital Bikeshare with more than 600 stations also allows D.C. residents to easily transition between biking, walking and transit.

When it comes to improving safety for cyclists, Washington D.C. recognized that education is key. “All D.C. Public School second graders are required to complete a fun, interactive course about how to safely ride a bike, including a supervised ride around their local neighborhood,” says Mariam Nabizad, public affairs specialist for the District’s Department of Transportation (DDOT). “In addition, the Washington Area Bicyclist Association educates kids and adults of every ability level in courses like Summer Bike Camp, Learn to Ride and Confident City Cycling.”

In 1976, a group of University of Montana students organized a ride across the U.S. to celebrate the bicentennial. They were eventually joined by more than  4,000 people in what became the first transAmerica group ride. After the ride, several organizers stayed in town and continued to promote bicycle travel, launching the national non-profit Bikecentennial (now Adventure Cycling). Missoula has had a soft spot for biking ever since. 

“Missoula’s successes would not be possible without a comprehensive understanding of the benefits of biking that has been reached through decades of work, slowly creating the culture,” says Ben Weiss, the city’s bicycle/pedestrian program manager, referencing the groundbreaking efforts of his predecessors. “Over this time, we’ve worked hard to build the appropriate facilities to make biking safe, comfortable and convenient for people of all ages and abilities.”

Despite not having the budget of larger cities, Missoula constructed one of the first modern protected bike lanes through their downtown over a decade ago, and continues to build and connect their network of bike trails. The backbone of the city’s bike network is their commuter trail system, which traverses town east to west, easily connecting residents to work, school and play. Recent successes include the connection of a six-block gap in one of their main bike routes, the Bitterroot Trail, which included the implementation of the state of Montana’s first designated bike traffic signal. Missoula recently adopted the city’s first Bicycle Facilities Master Plan, which includes a comprehensive vision of a connected bike network accessible by riders of all ages and abilities.

2020 City Ratings: Top 5 U.S. Cities for Bikes

The bipartisan Recreation Not Red-Tape (RNR) Act was introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate in late July by Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR). It provides a plan for improving and enhancing recreation opportunities on public lands by creating a unified system of National Recreation Areas to promote and manage activities such as hiking, biking and horseback riding. PeopleForBikes supports the RNR Act because it will help create seamless networks for bike recreation and tourism.

The current approach to managing public lands involves many different agencies, each with its own perspective on recreation. From the Bureau of Land Management to the National Park Service, there is no consistency. By developing new trans-boundary National Recreation Areas, this legislation would help protect appropriate recreational opportunities on public lands.

The RNR bill also streamlines the permitting process for federal and state land. Frequently, bicycle tours and tourists pass from one federal agency’s jurisdiction to another, or from state land to federal land. Currently, each jurisdiction requires its own permit and has its own process. Instead of this outdated system, the RNR Act will ensure that all passes or permits required for outfitters and guides will be available online. Additionally, federal land management agencies will be encouraged to work with states to allow visitors to buy a state and federal pass at one location and in one transaction. As part of the legislation, land management agencies (such as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service) will adopt a consistent recreation permitting process—this will make it easier for people to ride bikes on public lands.

Addressing the maintenance backlog on federal lands is critical to preserving these great places for bikes long term. By developing Volunteer Enhancement Initiatives this legislation will promote greater volunteerism in the maintenance of public lands.

PeopleForBikes is actively monitoring this bill and on October 3 we submitted testimony during a bill hearing held by the House Natural Resources Committee. We will keep our members updated on the status of the Recreation Not Red-Tape Act.

Recreation Not Red-Tape Act and What It Means for bikes

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