7 Most Bike-Friendly Cities in the U.S.

For most urban residents, getting to work or around town is better done on two wheels instead of four and cities are scrambling to accommodate them. Plans range from London's audacious cycle superhighway to creating protected bike lanes in several American cities.

These changes are a reflection of the country's swelling ranks of cycling commuters. The rate of bike commuters has grown 71% from 2007 to 2013, according to the United States 2010 Benchmarking Report by The Alliance for Biking and Walking. These cities stand out because, not only do they have outstanding infrastructure, they also have a vibrant and diverse bike culture offering local networks, festivals, events, and programs designed for the bicycling community. So strap on your helmet, hop on your bike, and get ready to roam these seven bike-friendly cities in the country.

New York City, NY

Although the state ranked 29th from the League of American Bicyclists, New York City did win the number one spot for the most bike-friendly city in the U.S. from Bicycle Magazine in 2014. New York City is on its way to regain a top spot by expanding its cycling infrastructure as well as providing more bicycle safety education and planning. The Department of Transportation reported that there was a 13% increase in daily bicycle commuters between 2009 and 2010. With the growth cycling in the city, local officials are busy implementing more bicycle-friendly routes and improving existing ones. The city provides an additional 250 miles of bike lanes for a total of 500 miles and also offers designated spaces for bike parking. One of the most popular bike paths, located in Times Square along Broadway Avenue, has 20 sheltered bike parking spaces and 3,100 bike racks available. NYC's bicycle scene is also vibrant with events and programs like Bike Expo New York, Bicycle Film Festival, and Five Boro Bike Tour that attract thousands of cyclists every year.

Seattle, WA

Washington was ranked the number one spot on the list of most bicycle-friendly states from The League of American Bicyclists. Seattle earned the gold award due to its expanding bike network and growing cycling infrastructure. Seattle's Bicycle Master Plan from the Department of Transportation provides more than 100 miles of bike lanes, bike signs, and 2,230 bike parking spaces. The city's goal is to have more than 470 miles of new and improved bike paths by 2017 that consist of safe off-street trails, protected bike lanes, and neighborhood greenways.

Minneapolis, MN

Offering 120 miles of on-street bikeways and 90 miles of off-street lanes make Minneapolis a top bike-friendly city. It received a gold award in 2011 by the League of American Bicyclists and was also named a top bike city by Bicycle Magazine in 2010. The city has several bicycle advocacy groups, events, and programs like Bike Month and bike-to-work events. Minneapolis has dedicated bike lanes and trails that connect riders to the city's attractions and the surrounding neighborhoods. Because of the city's infamously frigid winters, popular bike paths like the Midtown Greenway and Cedar Lake Regional Trail get cleared regularly. The city also provides residents with a bike share program called Nice Ride Minnesota that launched in 2010 and offers 1,550 rental bikes at 170 stations.

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco's bike culture is extensive and involves monthly events, programs, and activities like Bike Month, Bike to Work Day, Bicycle Film Festival screenings, Tour de Fat, and bike party rides. The 2000 U.S. Census showed that the city had the highest percentage of commuters traveling to work via bicycles among other cities with a population of more than 500,000. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition has a long list of active members and has helped develop projects that promote a local cycling infrastructure. The city is also very accommodating to cycling commuters by allowing bicycles on trains and having ferries and buses equipped with bike racks. San Francisco even offers a bike shuttle service across the Bay Bridge during rush hour.

Portland, OR

Portland received a platinum award by the League of American Bicyclists for being one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country. About 7% of residents bike to work, which is higher than most American cities. The city offers a total of 350 miles of bikeways with an additional 50 miles to be installed over the next few years. These cycle-friendly streets come in a variety of forms, including neighborhood greenways, bike lanes, off-street paths, cycle tracks, and buffered bike lanes as well as 6,500 publicly installed bike racks. Portland also hosts popular cycling events like Pedalpalooza, Sunday Parkways, Tweed Ride, World Naked Bike Ride, and Zoobombers.

Boulder, CO

Another platinum award recipient by the League of American Bicyclists, Boulder boasts more than 300 miles of designated bikeways as well as a vibrant and diverse bike culture. The city's on-street bike lanes, contra-flow bike lanes, dedicated bike routes, paved shoulders, and multi-use, soft-surface paths have been implemented over decades of community planning and cycling infrastructure development. The city has about 10.5% of its residents commuting to work on bike and also has plenty of bike-renting programs. Riders can enjoy scenic views along Boulder Creek's seven-mile path or bike through mountain trails in Heil Valley Ranch.

Chicago, IL

Chicago's 18.5-mile lakefront path along Lake Michigan is a true gem for bike riders. It connects beautiful tree-lined boulevards to parks and attractions around the community while offering riders storage facilities and bike racks throughout the city. The Windy City boasts more than 200 miles of designated shared bike lanes and on-street buffered lanes that allow more people to ditch their cars for a bike. Chicago's city officials helped increase ridership thanks to the introduction of Divvy, a bike-sharing program that offers 3,000 bikes with 300 stations throughout various neighborhoods in the city. With plans to offer a total of 645 miles of bike lanes by 2020, Chicago is destined to gain the top spot in being named the bike-friendliest city in the country.