No. 1: Davis, Calif.
Flat topography and a comprehensive bike-path network make Davis the ideal place to ride. In fact, bikes outnumber citizens in this city, which was strategically designed to support biking as a method of daily transportation and a top recreational activity.
No. 2: Boulder, Colo.
Whether you’re looking for a challenging mountain biking experience or an easy Sunday ride around town, Boulder’s got what you need. Hard-core bikers can rip it up on rugged trails, and low-key riders can enjoy cruising around picturesque Boulder Creek Path.
No. 3: Corvallis, Ore.
With more than 60 miles of bike paths along the Willamette River, Corvallis’s dedicated bike paths through parks and within city limits make biking the preferred method of transportation in the city.
No. 4: Madison, Wis.
Dedicated bikers brave Wisconsin winters to take advantage of Madison’s organized and efficient biking system all year long. But even warm-weather-only riders will appreciate the city’s biking infrastructure.
No. 5: Palo Alto, Calif.
Palo Alto is home to some of the world’s best technology companies, but that’s not the only thing the city can brag about. It also boasts over 30 miles of bike lanes, 7.5 miles of off-road bike paths and 11 bicycle bridges.
Runners-up
These cities are also biking superstars: Portland, Ore.; San Francisco; and the Tucson/Pima Eastern Region in Arizona. And according to Bicycling Magazine’s Top 50 list, East Coast bikers will enjoy the ride in New York City (No. 8), Boston (No. 26) and Philadelphia (No. 27).
Marisa Belger’s work has appeared in Travel + Leisure Family, Natural Health, Prevention
and TODAYShow.com, where she wrote a column about eco-friendly living. She was an editor at Lime.com and collaborated with author Josh Dorfman on his bestselling books, The Lazy Environmentalist
and The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget. She is the managing editor of and frequent contributor to
Green Goes Simple.