A sense of freedom comes from getting on your bike and stepping on your worries. It could be the wind in your hair, watching the world go by, or it could be because it’s a phone-free experience. Whatever it is, riding a bike can be pure magic. If you want to work magic on the road, there are a few destinations you should consider.
In early 2024, Redfin-owned Walk Score released a list of the most bike-friendly cities in the United States. To find out which cities topped the list among others, the team first narrowed the list down to cities with populations of 200,000 or more. It then analyzed “four equally weighted components: bike lanes; Mountain; Destination and road connectivity; And shared bike commuting.” For clarification, the team added that “mode sharing” refers to the percentage of people “who commute by bike in a city.” It then gives each city a score and weights them “according to importance and total volume.”
After studying all of this information, it ranked Minneapolis as the most bike-friendly city in the United States, with an 84 score.
“Minneapolis, known for its cold weather, abundant lakes, and numerous parkways and trails, is the most bike-friendly city in the United States,” the survey said. Minneapolis earned its high score partly because of its highly flat terrain, interconnected parks, and robust cycling infrastructure.” “No matter your level or style, bike paths, walking trails, and open roads exist. Minneapolis has 16 miles of protected bike lanes and 98 miles of bike lanes. Ride along Great River Road, cross the famous stone arch bridge, grab some friends, ride the 63-mile Luce Line State Trail, or commute to work via the Midtown Greenway. You can also take a horse ride along the lake chain to visit the lakes in this area.”
While Minnesota already ranks No. 1, the researchers add that city officials remain committed to doing more through initiatives such as Open Minneapolis Streets, Moving Minneapolis, and Complete Streets Policy. As for the most bike-friendly communities, Seward, St. Anthony’s East, and Lake Lynn are at the top.
Portland, Oregon, came in second with 84 points, tied for the top spot with Minneapolis. San Francisco, Chicago, and Denver all scored 72 points. Rounding out the top 10 were Seattle, Long Beach, California, Washington, DC, Boston, and New York.
