city bike trails
Bike Friendly Communities for Active Travelers
As a bicyclist, you are most likely aware of the fact that some places cater to those on two wheels, while others fall flat (no pun intended). If you plan on bringing your bike with you on your next trek, then it might help to know of the best places for bicycles, before you purchase a ticket or create your itinerary. Need some help choosing your next vacation destination? Here are five amazing cities for bicycle friendly travel:
Copenhagen, Denmark. This city is so bike-friendly that nearly thirty percent of its residents commute to work every day via bicycle! Copenhagen is even home to a progressive neighborhood, called Christiania, where cars have been banned, in effect making bicycling mandatory.
Chicago, Illinois. This self-proclaimed, “most bicycle friendly city in the entire United States” is not joking when it comes to taking initiatives to get its residents and tourists on two wheels. From bicycle lanes on all the major roadways to special laws that protect bicycler rights, you can be sure to get some good use out of your bike when you visit this city. Before you travel, check out the city website to find all of the information you need about bicycling in Chicago.
Paris, France. Sure, the city of lights is known for being a romantic destination for lovebirds everywhere, but it is also home of the world’s most expansive bicycle renting program. Choose from over twenty thousand modern three-speeders at over 1,450 bike rental locations across the city. Prices vary depending on how far you plan on travelling, but you can snag all of the under 30-minute bike rides you want for free!
Portland, Oregon. This is largely considered the bicycle capital of the United States, and for good reason. Portland provides its cyclists with over 260 miles of biking trail infrastructure, and an impressive ten percent of its residents (that’s the highest amount in the United States) travel primarily by bicycle. What’s more is that you can expect a warm welcome from the well-developed bicycling community there when you travel.
Barcelona, Spain. With its initiation of a mass bicycle rental program in 2007, Barcelona was amongst the first of the European cities to take positive action toward promoting the use of bicycles for travel. If you plan on visiting in May, be sure to participate in the annual Bike Week, designed to spread awareness about bicycling and incite enthusiasm for what is quickly becoming a way of life there.
There is no shortage of great cities in the world where you and your bike are welcome to roam. Draw from this list for inspiration the next time you are planning a bicycle-friendly vacation.
About the Author: Armand Brandwein loves traveling and prioritizes cities with bike friendly destinations over others, when he can. This year he’s planning a Brazil tour with his wife followed by a bike through through Barcelona.
