2021’s Best Biking Cities in America

A group of three bicyclists wearing helmets rides along a street in Carlsbad, California.

Prefer to get around on two wheels over walking or driving? Then you need to know the Best Biking Cities in America.

Pedal power was already gaining steam before the pandemic sent millions of Americans scrambling to find bicycles. Now we ride like the wind to the store, to the office or just to get out of the house.

To mark World Bicycle Day, June 3, LawnStarter ranked the 200 biggest U.S. cities on 18 key indicators of a bike-friendly lifestyle. Among the factors we looked at are the length of bike lanes, the share of workers who bike to work, and access to bike stores and repair shops. We also considered the air quality, weather, and availability of biking clubs in each city.

Check out our ranking below, followed by some highlights and lowlights.

Planning to ride your bike this summer? Wear a helmet.

City Rankings
Highlights and Lowlights
Ask the Experts
Methodology
Why This Study Matters

City Rankings

See how each city fared in our ranking:

OVERALL RANK	City	Overall Score	Access Rank	Community Rank	Safety Rank	Climate Rank
1	San Francisco, CA	71.77	1	7	37	7
2	Portland, OR	71.50	3	3	1	43
3	Fort Collins, CO	66.06	5	1	12	91
4	Eugene, OR	63.92	19	2	4	69
5	Minneapolis, MN	62.77	9	8	3	152
6	Seattle, WA	62.12	4	14	15	57
7	Washington, DC	59.84	10	6	20	87
8	Salt Lake City, UT	58.11	13	9	25	98
9	Boise, ID	57.78	18	20	16	64
10	Boston, MA	57.51	17	35	5	104
11	Vancouver, WA	56.95	33	60	2	43
12	St. Paul, MN	56.41	15	42	7	152
13	Tempe, AZ	56.17	39	4	23	70
14	Hayward, CA	55.69	8	73	83	10
15	Fremont, CA	54.58	2	72	164	7
16	Denver, CO	54.55	11	25	48	94
17	Madison, WI	54.16	16	5	82	176
18	Sunnyvale, CA	53.74	40	16	52	6
19	New York, NY	53.62	6	62	44	142
20	Santa Rosa, CA	53.56	25	12	150	1
21	Buffalo, NY	53.48	42	109	8	141
22	Rochester, NY	53.24	56	37	13	134
23	St. Petersburg, FL	52.65	69	41	14	79
24	Arlington, VA	52.48	49	21	18	87
25	Albuquerque, NM	51.75	7	52	134	63
26	Sacramento, CA	51.74	26	30	81	37
27	Oakland, CA	50.92	44	13	141	7
28	Miami, FL	50.80	21	57	38	112
29	Lincoln, NE	50.59	43	48	33	96
30	Chicago, IL	49.96	41	51	19	190
31	Omaha, NE	49.70	30	88	30	137
32	San Jose, CA	49.69	14	87	168	4
33	Salem, OR	49.52	176	65	10	49
34	Cincinnati, OH	49.45	12	19	107	200
35	Las Vegas, NV	49.36	61	92	27	45
36	Fullerton, CA	49.30	24	50	137	30
37	Orange, CA	49.19	31	34	140	30
38	Honolulu, HI	48.97	23	36	182	5
39	Jersey City, NJ	48.88	51	17	49	166
40	Tucson, AZ	48.65	75	15	78	65
41	Orlando, FL	48.60	46	77	43	109
42	Lexington, KY	48.51	171	117	9	101
43	Dayton, OH	48.42	71	27	56	164
44	Tampa, FL	48.29	58	81	51	79
45	Sunrise Manor, NV	47.39	103	150	31	59
46	Pittsburgh, PA	47.37	74	26	32	189
47	Philadelphia, PA	47.30	94	38	50	118
48	San Diego, CA	47.24	38	89	152	11
49	Richmond, VA	47.11	77	22	116	99
50	Anchorage, AK	46.97	28	46	115	93
51	Pasadena, CA	46.89	63	28	145	30
52	Elk Grove, CA	46.87	73	127	41	37
53	Ontario, CA	46.85	20	122	175	16
54	Henderson, NV	46.80	85	180	28	45
55	Alexandria, VA	46.77	50	33	70	87
56	Newark, NJ	46.72	65	23	84	157
57	Long Beach, CA	46.71	22	85	183	15
58	Irvine, CA	46.64	68	44	130	16
59	Huntington Beach, CA	46.53	48	24	177	16
60	Atlanta, GA	46.48	59	74	55	102
61	Aurora, CO	46.48	27	180	85	94
62	Mesa, AZ	46.39	150	114	6	70
63	Savannah, GA	46.33	131	10	124	97
64	Garden Grove, CA	46.03	32	61	186	16
65	Providence, RI	45.84	151	49	24	161
66	Torrance, CA	45.75	52	32	165	30
67	Bellevue, WA	45.67	45	144	80	56
68	Grand Rapids, MI	45.63	159	18	47	151
69	Worcester, MA	45.48	54	102	61	171
70	Baltimore, MD	45.40	64	79	66	139
71	Spokane, WA	45.34	111	97	26	67
72	Paradise, NV	45.23	141	124	17	59
73	Modesto, CA	45.23	29	103	162	48
74	Des Moines, IA	45.17	67	170	75	131
75	Nashville, TN	45.05	128	167	11	148
76	Springfield, MO	45.00	93	128	46	156
77	Santa Ana, CA	44.87	62	83	160	16
78	Enterprise, NV	44.78	105	189	67	59
79	Milwaukee, WI	44.76	53	90	98	133
80	Riverside, CA	44.72	79	71	142	16
81	Glendale, AZ	44.65	119	55	39	70
82	Charlotte, NC	44.53	36	179	121	81
83	New Orleans, LA	44.49	118	11	97	184
84	Syracuse, NY	44.47	167	47	22	173
85	Cleveland, OH	44.35	60	53	103	180
86	Detroit, MI	44.08	104	113	69	150
87	San Antonio, TX	44.03	57	155	96	132
88	Columbus, OH	44.03	87	141	34	174
89	San Bernardino, CA	44.03	126	82	117	16
90	Tacoma, WA	44.01	82	58	90	57
91	Louisville, KY	43.89	125	120	21	158
92	St. Louis, MO	43.82	83	70	64	186
93	Knoxville, TN	43.79	84	160	92	121
94	North Las Vegas, NV	43.76	137	177	29	45
95	Colorado Springs, CO	43.74	80	66	109	77
96	Escondido, CA	43.60	70	69	174	14
97	Scottsdale, AZ	43.41	127	80	42	70
98	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	43.25	100	68	146	16
99	McAllen, TX	43.12	133	160	63	107
100	Phoenix, AZ	43.11	109	134	58	70
101	Lakewood, CO	43.10	55	125	95	146
102	Oceanside, CA	43.08	89	45	173	11
103	Greensboro, NC	42.89	86	96	139	78
104	Austin, TX	42.86	113	54	71	119
105	Yonkers, NY	42.76	47	129	133	166
106	Houston, TX	42.53	37	143	136	194
106	Indianapolis, IN	42.53	78	106	89	182
108	Plano, TX	42.49	101	145	65	122
109	Toledo, OH	42.46	163	59	59	145
110	Spring Valley, NV	42.39	170	180	36	59
111	Springfield, MA	42.10	181	84	35	100
112	Peoria, AZ	41.93	117	63	88	106
113	Stockton, CA	41.81	35	95	196	41
114	Raleigh, NC	41.73	95	151	93	109
115	Chandler, AZ	41.72	135	76	79	70
116	Anaheim, CA	41.59	97	99	167	16
117	Reno, NV	41.56	144	29	161	66
118	Huntsville, AL	41.47	88	111	127	177
119	Port St. Lucie, FL	41.36	146	174	87	86
120	Olathe, KS	41.31	96	180	73	168
121	Bridgeport, CT	41.30	177	110	74	116
122	Thornton, CO	41.22	34	132	185	146
123	Naperville, IL	41.16	107	165	45	196
124	Durham, NC	41.13	155	107	106	82
125	Palmdale, CA	41.05	76	166	184	30
126	Hialeah, FL	41.04	72	174	113	112
127	Rockford, IL	41.02	165	100	57	162
128	Tallahassee, FL	40.96	161	105	54	192
129	Aurora, IL	40.95	130	148	60	190
130	Glendale, CA	40.82	98	64	189	16
131	Chula Vista, CA	40.79	120	108	158	11
132	Gilbert, AZ	40.77	136	160	71	70
133	Oxnard, CA	40.74	121	104	179	3
134	Columbus, GA	40.47	178	116	68	85
135	El Paso, TX	40.38	143	158	99	51
136	Moreno Valley, CA	40.31	124	168	163	16
137	Fontana, CA	40.24	142	152	155	16
138	Cary, NC	39.93	81	149	132	109
139	Augusta, GA	39.79	169	126	91	181
140	Dallas, TX	39.65	129	157	101	122
141	Little Rock, AR	39.54	92	31	192	138
142	Midland, TX	39.37	199	119	62	39
143	Lubbock, TX	39.29	188	130	120	40
144	Fort Wayne, IN	39.18	183	93	77	140
145	Los Angeles, CA	39.13	115	86	191	29
146	Bakersfield, CA	39.12	166	112	159	50
147	Brownsville, TX	39.09	196	180	40	92
148	Cape Coral, FL	39.00	182	101	76	163
149	Pomona, CA	38.75	116	40	195	30
150	Corona, CA	38.72	122	136	169	42
151	Fort Lauderdale, FL	38.69	91	43	181	112
152	Irving, TX	38.42	147	180	105	122
153	Joliet, IL	38.22	90	171	112	196
154	Overland Park, KS	38.15	134	189	102	159
155	Fort Worth, TX	38.12	138	173	118	122
156	Akron, OH	38.12	108	123	148	175
157	Miramar, FL	38.07	66	189	176	135
158	Garland, TX	37.91	156	180	104	122
159	Corpus Christi, TX	37.76	180	174	111	84
160	Arlington, TX	37.63	148	138	122	122
161	Metairie, LA	37.55	123	39	154	184
162	Fayetteville, NC	37.55	190	140	129	90
163	Lancaster, CA	37.33	102	172	194	30
164	Laredo, TX	37.29	195	189	110	107
165	McKinney, TX	37.08	158	189	100	122
166	Paterson, NJ	37.04	162	153	143	165
167	Sioux Falls, SD	36.86	175	56	135	117
168	Virginia Beach, VA	36.84	173	160	94	52
169	Winston-Salem, NC	36.82	179	131	156	103
170	Clarksville, TN	36.29	110	199	166	154
171	Salinas, CA	36.23	184	180	187	2
172	Frisco, TX	36.19	157	139	138	122
173	Fresno, CA	36.19	164	135	125	68
174	Chattanooga, TN	36.16	145	115	151	179
175	Tulsa, OK	35.89	153	94	144	187
176	Oklahoma City, OK	35.81	140	75	178	143
177	Memphis, TN	35.65	112	178	172	183
178	Norfolk, VA	35.42	191	91	53	52
179	Grand Prairie, TX	35.24	152	199	157	122
180	Birmingham, AL	35.13	106	159	193	188
181	Kansas City, KS	35.10	149	118	190	168
182	Wichita, KS	35.03	168	154	114	149
183	Killeen, TX	34.99	192	189	126	119
184	Kansas City, MO	34.89	160	121	147	159
185	Hollywood, FL	34.84	99	78	197	135
186	Pembroke Pines, FL	34.44	132	189	171	112
187	Amarillo, TX	34.37	200	146	119	83
188	Santa Clarita, CA	34.24	114	169	200	16
189	Pasadena, TX	33.98	154	67	149	199
190	Macon, GA	33.69	198	133	131	105
191	Shreveport, LA	33.66	185	180	170	170
192	Murfreesboro, TN	33.63	139	142	180	172
193	Jacksonville, FL	33.61	172	156	128	144
194	Mesquite, TX	33.53	186	189	86	155
195	Chesapeake, VA	32.54	187	189	108	52
196	Montgomery, AL	32.30	193	147	153	198
197	Mobile, AL	31.89	189	189	188	178
198	Newport News, VA	31.68	197	160	123	52
199	Jackson, MS	28.88	193	137	198	193
200	Baton Rouge, LA	26.42	173	98	199	195

Infographic of 2021's Best Biking Cities in America, ranked based on length of bike lanes, share of bike commuters, access to bike stores, etc.

Highlights and Lowlights

West Coasting to a Win

When it comes to finding a nice place to bike, pedal toward the sunset. Cities from all over the Western U.S. dominate the top of our ranking. We start on the Pacific Coast in San Francisco, our No. 1 biking city, up through Oregon — Eugene at No. 4 and Portland at No. 2 — and continue north to Seattle at No. 6. We then head inland toward Boise, Idaho, in ninth place and back down to Salt Lake City in eighth.

While these cities ride well across most categories, the Pacific Northwest especially sets itself apart in safety. Oregon and Washington cities claim four of the top 10 slots in this category. Feel free to cruise the streets of Portland — our safest city — without putting yourself in harm’s way (just follow the traffic rules).

A Mixed Bicycle Bag (Lanes, Yes; Climate, No)

Many big cities have invested in biking infrastructure that’s reflected in our ranking. Washington, D.C., for example, has the fourth highest share of bike commuters and the second best bike score in the country. Boston is No. 5 in safety, while New York City ranks fourth in bike-trail access.

It’s climate that has our ranking pulling the brakes on these cities: New York City lands at 176 in precipitation and 138in the number of very cold days (a bad combo if you’re outside in bike shorts). Boston has similar weather problems. While Washington has somewhat fewer very cold days, there are plenty of hot days, as well.

If commuters are deciding whether to strap on a helmet and pedal through the elements, it turns out the weather matters, which keeps these otherwise great biking cities from riding high on our list.

Uneasy Riders in the South

It’s no surprise that Southern cities tend to find themselves at the bottom of our ranking. Biking requires a lot of outdoor time, which isn’t as easy in a place like Montgomery, Alabama, with an average of 85 very hot days in a year and a whopping 53 inches of annual rain. Warm and wet don’t mix well with cycling.

It also makes sense that many of these same Southern cities — such as Jackson, Mississippi, or Shreveport, Louisiana — have few bike trails and bike commuters. Why invest in the infrastructure if the weather’s not good for biking? But don’t let that stop you. If you really love cycling enough to hit that wet pavement when the air is thick as soup, ride on.

Ask The Experts

Americans have been pedaling more during the pandemic as a safe alternative to public transit and to spend more time outdoors. So popular has biking become, in fact, that many U.S. cities currently grapple with a local bicycle shortage.

We turned to a panel of cycling experts to help us understand where the future of biking is headed and to share their best tips for beginner cyclists. See what they had to say below.

What are the top three benefits of cycling?
Will biking become a less popular mode of travel than driving or taking public transportation as more of the U.S. population gets vaccinated? Why or why not?
What are some alternative places to find bikes amid the current national bike shortage?
What are your three best tips for first-time cyclists?

N. Travis Triplett, PhD, CSCS*D, FNSCA

Professor of Exercise Science, Exercise Science Undergraduate Program Director, Department of Health and Exercise Science

Scott A. Conger, Ph.D., FACSM

Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology

N. Travis Triplett, PhD, CSCS*D, FNSCA

Professor of Exercise Science, Exercise Science Undergraduate Program Director, Department of Health and Exercise Science

Appalachian State University

N. Travis Triplett, PhD, CSCS*D, FNSCA

Professor of Exercise Science, Exercise Science Undergraduate Program Director, Department of Health and Exercise Science

Appalachian State University

1. What are the top three benefits of cycling?

Cycling is a great form of exercise because it improves the cardiorespiratory system, which is important because heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the U.S.
If cycling is done on hilly terrains, there is even greater stress to the muscular system than on flatter terrains, which is important for maintaining strength.
Cycling is also an excellent choice for individuals who need to do low-impact exercise due to joint problems, such as arthritis.

2. Will biking become a less popular mode of travel than driving or taking public transportation as more of the U.S. population gets vaccinated? Why or why not?

As more people get vaccinated and work habits and public transportation return to normal, I expect that the number of people cycling to work will decrease as it will be safer to be in more crowded settings.

However, I also believe that many of the people who purchased a bicycle during the pandemic did so because it was a relatively inexpensive form of exercise that could be done in a socially-distanced manner, especially when many gyms and fitness centers had to close.
Now that summer is approaching, people who were cycling for exercise primarily are going to be more likely to keep that up. So the overall decrease in people choosing to cycle may be as much as expected.

3. What are some alternative places to find bikes amid the current national bike shortage?

Bicycle shops’ inventory may be slow to recover as production catches up, but individuals may be able to still find a good bike on local buy-sell-trade sites as some individuals may have upgraded their bicycle during the pandemic and now have a bicycle to sell that still has some usefulness. There may be some great deals available.

4. What are your three best tips for first-time cyclists?

My best advice about cycling is to first find a bike that fits your body and the type of surfaces you will most likely be riding on. Bicycles vary greatly with the construction of the frame, the type of tires, and the components (gears, brakes, etc).

While your local bicycle shop is your best resource, there are articles online about how to get a general idea of what frame size you need and how to choose the type of bike that will be best for your riding conditions.

Second, find people to ride with. It is not only safer, but you also can learn about cycling a lot faster, including basic bicycle maintenance. Many bicycle shops have group rides for people of varying abilities.

Third, invest in proper cycling shorts. You will be a lot more comfortable and enjoy your rides much more.

Scott A. Conger, Ph.D., FACSM

Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology

Boise State University

Scott A. Conger, Ph.D., FACSM

Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology

Boise State University

1. What are the top three benefits of cycling?

Cycling is a great way to increase your physical activity, which has numerous physical and mental health benefits.
Cycling is a low-impact exercise. It is a great option for health benefits while reducing impact-related stress on knees, ankles, hips, and lower back.
Cycling is the most efficient form of locomotion, meaning that it requires less energy per kilometer than any other type of human-powered movement. This can expand your “playground” to allow you to explore a much greater area. While it may take five to seven hours to cover 20 miles while hiking, you can cover that same distance on a bicycle in one to two hours.

2. Will biking become a less popular mode of travel than driving or taking public transportation as more of the U.S. population gets vaccinated? Why or why not?

I think that we will see a reduction in cycling as a mode of transportation as we transition back to normalcy in the coming months. This is especially evident in areas that lack the infrastructure necessary to support cycling (bike lanes, sidewalks, etc.).

However, this does not have to be the case. Cycling can be a great way to get some physical activity while running short errands near your home.

3. What are some alternative places to find bikes amid the current national bike shortage?

The shortage of new bicycles will probably continue for the next six to 12 months. However, there are still lots of places where bicycles are still available. There are several websites where used bicycles can be found that are sold by local sellers, including Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and Nextdoor.

Also, check local sporting goods and outdoor consignment stores. If you already have a bicycle that hasn’t been used in a few years, your local bicycle shop can tune it up for you and have it ready to go in just a couple of days.

4. What are your three best tips for first-time cyclists?

Invest in a good pair of cycling shorts and a new helmet. Cycling shorts with padding will help reduce some of the soreness that will inevitably occur after you spend an extended amount of time on your new bicycle saddle. Don’t worry if the skin-tight lycra look isn’t for you — there are lots of options of shorts with a padded liner that look like “regular” shorts. The helmet doesn’t need to be expensive, but it needs to have a Consumer Products Safety Committee (CPSC) sticker. Purchasing a new helmet will ensure that the protective components have not been damaged due to a previous accident or from an accidental drop.
Learn how to change a bicycle tire. A flat tire 10 miles from home can turn a morning bike ride into a long walk home. Check with your local bike shop or sporting goods store to see if they offer classes on basic bicycle maintenance.
Keep it fun! Incorporate cycling into family activities, visit a new park or trail, or ask a friend to join you on a bike ride. We are less likely to continue an activity if we do not enjoy it. If it starts to become a chore, slow down or shorten the ride. You will still get many health benefits with a 10- to 20-minute bike ride.

Methodology

We ranked the 200 most populated U.S. cities from best (No. 1) to worst (No. 200) based on their overall scores. A city’s overall score (out of 100 possible points) is the average of all of the city’s weighted scores across the metrics listed below.

Metric	Weighting	Min. Value	Max. Value	Best
Access
Miles of Bike Lanes per Square Mile	3	0.10	5.40	Max. Value
Number of Bike Trails	3	0	23	Max. Value
Availability of Bike-Sharing Program	1	0	1	Max. Value
Bike Rental Facilities per 100,000 Residents	1	0	72.30	Max. Value
Bike Shops per 100,000 Residents	1	0	12.37	Max. Value
Community
Share of Workers Who Bike to Work	2	0	6	Max. Value
Bike Clubs per 100,000 Residents	1	0	2.65	Max. Value
Bike Tours per 100,000 Residents	1	0	6.87	Max. Value
Safety
Bike Score	3	24	97	Max. Value
Natural Hazards Index Score	2	9	20	Min. Value
Share of Roads in Poor Condition	2	4%	71%	Min. Value
Bike-Related Fatalities per 100,000 Residents	2	0	4.53	Min. Value
State Biking Laws Ranking	1	1	49	Min. Value
Climate
Number of Very Cold Days	1	0	192	Min. Value
Number of Very Hot Days	1	2	169	Min. Value
Average Monthly Precipitation	1	5	65	Min. Value
Average Amount of Sunshine	1	0	85	Max. Value
Air Quality	1	19	77	Min. Value

Sources: AllTrails, Bikeshare.com, The League of American Bicyclists, National Center for Disaster Preparedness, National Centers for Environmental Information, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, TRIP, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, USA Cycling, Walk Score, and Yelp

Why This Study Matters

America is in the midst of a biking boom, thanks to the pandemic kicking the trend into gear.

At the height of lockdowns, cycling events were canceled across the country, but more people started riding bikes — many for the first time. Bike sales soared, and manufacturers and retailers struggled to keep up with demand.

As a free, eco-friendly, and socially distant means of travel, bikes became essential to essential workers who needed a way to get to work. Those of us stuck at home, on the other hand, needed an excuse to get outside and beat the COVID blues. Plus, the exercise was a nice bonus.

But don’t expect the trend to slow down anytime soon. One in two Americans plan to cycle more after the pandemic now that we’ve turned the corner toward better health.

Main Photo Credit: Shutterstock