Adam Fouts
Biking is an environment-friendly way to tour around a place, leaving carbon-free prints. It is also a great way to burn those extra calories and stay healthy and active. Do you want to know which cities around the world you can bike freely? Below are 15 best bike-friendly cities worth checking out!
1. AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
Biking is part of the culture in this city. There are over 800,000 bicycles, exceeding its number of residents. This only shows the major role biking plays on each of its people. They use bikes in sending their children to school, going to work, and traveling from one place to another within the city. Amsterdam provides a perfect place for biking with its improved infrastructures. No surprise why Amsterdam is one of the best bike-friendly cities in the world!
2. AUSTIN, TEXAS
Austin, Texas is the home of the famous cyclist, Lance Armstrong. One of this city’s commitment is to help its residents live greener lives through biking. The city has provided biking paths and bicycle racks for its people to use.
There are three major bike paths that will help you explore the city: the Pfluger Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge, the Rio Grande Roadway and the Lance Armstrong Bikeway. Bicycle shops are also available for your bike rental needs.
3. BARCELONA, SPAIN
Barcelona is known for Bicing. It is a bicycle sharing system that started on March 22, 2007. The goal of this system is to eliminate pollution, street noise and traffic build up. The city continues to ramp up its biking infrastructure — earning a spot as one of the best bike-friendly cities in the world.
If you are visiting, bicycle shops and tours are available. Biking around gives tourist the chance to visit lesser known Barcelona gems while burning those extra calories!
4. BERLIN, GERMANY
Getting around the city free of congested traffic is possible in Berlin. With the city’s flat terrain, wide streets and plenty of bikeways, going from one to place to another within the city using bikes is easy! Thanks to Berlin’s 900 kilometers of cycling paths.
If you don’t own a bike, and if you came to visit, numerous themed tours are available for you to choose from.
5. BOULDER, COLORADO
Boulder locals are well-known for their love of the outdoors. There is no wonder why they also love biking. Getting around the city with a bike will be easy. Thanks to 300 miles of bikeways made up of designated bike routes, soft-surface pathways, paved shoulders, on-street bike lanes, and contra-flow bike lanes.
If you worry about the safety of your bicycle from theft, they also have registration programs for your bicycle. And for added security, you can find yourself a bike lock here!
6. BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
The bicycle in Budapest is more than just a way of transportation. It is part of the way how the people in the city live. Budapest is not just one of the best bike-friendly cities in the world. It’s also one of the fastest growing cycling cities in Europe. With its 200 kilometers of cycling paths, residents and tourists can easily get around the city with their bicycles.
7. COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
This Danish capital is considered to be the most bike-friendly city in the globe. Almost half of its residents use the bicycle as their way of transportation. To show support and encourage the use of this eco-friendly transportation, the local government has provided safety measures for cyclists around the city.
The Greater Copenhagen area now have the “Cycle Super Highway” connecting the city to Albertslund, its next town. This is no ordinary highway. It has services provided along the way, like air pumps among others.
8. DUBLIN, IRELAND
Dublin is famous for its Dublin Bikes, a public bicycle rental scheme with more than 100 stations. Aside from the said system, other private companies providing services like guided tours are also available.
9. MONTREAL, CANADA
Montreal has been rated as one of the best bike-friendly cities in the world. This city has 600 kilometers of bike paths. Annually, the city hosts a bike festival allowing every cyclist of all ages to take a tour around the town.
10. PORTLAND, OREGON
Like other cities, Portland Transportation Authorities has made continued efforts in promoting safety for biking residents and tourists. Because of this, the City has received awards like Bicycle-Friendly City and many more.
In 2016, they also launched its own bike rental program called Biketown.
11. TOKYO, JAPAN
Known for its high-quality bicycles, Tokyo has 14 percent of their commuters riding on bikes. This may be small compared to other cities like Copenhagen, but it is still a huge number considering Tokyo is densely populated.
Plenty of bike paths and ample parking awaits those who choose to use the bicycle as their way of transportation in the Land of the Rising Sun.
12. PARIS, FRANCE
Biking is easier when there are lots of flat roads and paved ways. And not surprisingly, Paris have this kind of roads all around the city. The largest bike-sharing program aside from China is found in Paris, the Velib Bike-sharing program. The program has 1800 stations and 20,000 bikes for rentals.
13. RIO DE JANIERO, BRAZIL
It was not so long ago when Rio started building bike lanes. In 1992, the government has made concentric efforts to encourage its people to ride bicycles. Since then, the population of bikers has grown rapidly.
Rio de Janiero also has its own bike sharing program named Bike Rio with 60 stations and 600 bicycles for rentals. A biker can avail of the program for R$ 10,00 for a month’s unlimited use. Yes, you read it right. Unlimited use!
14. STRASBOURG, FRANCE
Currently, only eight percent of the city’s population ride on bikes. What makes this place one of the best bike-friendly cities is its beauty. The city is just so pretty! Its local government is aiming to increase the number of bikers in the coming years.
15. SEVILLE, SPAIN
About 70,000 bikers can be seen hitting the road every day at Seville. This sheer number alone makes Seville one of the best bike-friendly cities around the globe! The city’s effort can be noted by the rise of bikers a few years back. From 6000 bikers to 70,000! Amazing results!
Bicycle shops have reported the rising demand for bicycles since almost everyone wants to hop on one. Seville also has its own bike-sharing program named Servici that has been serving the populace for 8 years now (at the time writing).
For these best bike-friendly cities, biking is not just another mode of transportation. It’s a way of life. So, if you can, pay these cities a visit and immerse yourself in a biking culture not found somewhere else.
Happy biking!
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