Want to find out how bicycle friendly your US city is??? Check the above website which also has photos. Bicycling.com released its definitive list of the most bike-friendly cities in the U.S. this week. [April, 2010] The study surveyed only cities with 100,000 citizens or more, and was based on number of segregated bike lanes and municipal bike racks and bike boulevards, among other factors. Researchers also took into account more qualitative factors like support for a vibrant and diverse bike culture, and having "smart, savvy bike shops." The following month, Bicycling magazine underscored the #1 city with the following commentary in this website: #1 Bicycling City in US.
Yesterday I drove to an underground parking ramp and was heartened to see all the bikes there. Gotta add St. Paul to the #1 spot, too! Twin Cities, ya know!
How about other countries, you ask? Well, check this website to see how other countries fared in the scheme of things: Top Ten Bicycle Friendly Countries
I do not know a great deal about the twin cities, but now I know they are bike friendly and its official too! A new bike facility is about to open here in Leeds at the train station. Although it is here in Yorkshire the company involved is Dutch, they really are a cycling country.
ReplyDeleteI was absolutely sure that Italy wasn't in the top ten!
ReplyDeleteLots of bikes in Portland all over the place.
ReplyDeletewhat do they do in the snow? Do they have snow tires?
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the U.S. will ever become more "Bike Friendly?"
ReplyDeleteWe have alot of riders here but I think whoever these riders are beat us out! Have a wonderful day Kate!
ReplyDeleteThe Twin Cities I didn't know about but we have ridden many of the Rails-to-Trails in Minnesota...gotta give the state credit for that.
ReplyDeleteOcala is trying but generally you put your life in great danger if you try to ride most roadways here...
I am certain that Jackson, MS did not make the top 20. My hubbie likes to ride bikes, but he seldom does around here since it's so dangerous.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to check this out!
ReplyDeleteI already knew our city (Madison) was number seven, but thought it interesting and funny that the picture posted shows someone riding their bike through one of our recent blizzards. *Shiver* Wouldn't catch me doing that!
ReplyDeleteI think this is great, being a bike rider myself. Our area is getting better but not near what you have there. Makes me want to come there with my bike and do a tour.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure Phoenix isn't bicycle friendly. LOL. I know I wouldn't DARE ride one on these streets.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by. I think we kind of lost touch once you left Santa Fe. I'll try to be a better blogging pal!
Twelve years ago D.C. was definitely a bike friendly city.
ReplyDeleteMind you, we were the only wo riding there. happily up and down pavements and flights of steps, all around the Monuments.
We were a little surprised that nobody stopped us , but even the police waved us on. A great set of memories. Mind you, our bikes back then were a little primitive. but we had a great time.
I bet things have changed and bike tolerance will have dropped :-)
We even took ours in the elevator into our hotel room. Nobody blinked an eye. Those were the days ...
(mostly-macro)
We've got a big advantage around here with the way that villages developed as defensive settlements, meaning that access paths to the surrounding fields were essential and have remained.
ReplyDeleteI can get from just about anywhere to anywhere without riding on roads, even though we've got a good network of cycle tracks