Living Car Free - bike friendly places

I haven't changed my profile, but I'm Taking the year off of UC San Diego and stuyding in Leiden, Holland. Most major streets have a total seperate bike lane (via curbs, or in the suburbs a strip of grass) and in many other places the bike lanes are brick red, so the cars know not to dodge into the lane. Most families own one car for weekend trips, but mom dad and the kids ride their bike to school?work everyday. You often see a mom with a kid on the front of the bike, a kid on the back and groceries in panniers. They also make crazy bikes with flat beds. I once a women pedaling a 6 foot couch, and large parades have pedal powered floats. check out this thread on dutch bikes. (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=106702)

In terms of the US, I have lived in Sacramento and San Diego and cycled extensively in Portland and SF.

Both Sacramento and San Deigo are great places to be a recreational cyclist, but not so much for living car free. In both you could live in the center city and close to light rail and live without a car, but not in the suburbs. Elsewhere in the thread, people mentioned the "you must be crazy to live without a car." reaction. You get those in SD and Sac. (Although Davis, 10 miles west of sac you're considered crazy to have a car.)

SF is easy to live care free thanks to great transit, but the traffic and the hills can be scary sometimes. You just have to know which routes are safe and easy. In Berkeley, they do a good job at marking out bike routes.

I've only spent about two weeks in Portland but I'd love to live there. Most streets have bike lanes or are explicity marked for cyclists. There are bike racks everywhere and lots of good shops. The transit system is great, and the city as a whole is layed out to be liveable. The planers have done a great job and created a city that encourages people to bike and use traffic, and they actually do! It's also a lot cheaper to live in than california (no sales tax!)

When I get out of school, I'm going to start looking for a job in Portland.

thanks for the report UCSDbikeAnarchy!
Leiden is a nice little place (was there in 2000)
what is SO amazing about Holland is the sheer NUMBER of bicycles! Amsterdam was a shock at first - just such HORDES of cyclists... but i thought "ok, it's a city"...
then i was in Leiden around the university area and the BIKE RACKS are simply amazing - so you who haven't been there can visualize: it's like an airport parking lot where the cars just go on and on (but with endless bikes!) -- yes, you can identify individual bikes, but there are so many you just see the whole mass and they all just morph together -- anyhow it's just a strange experience.

that said i WAS very very impressed at the incredibly HIGH level of bike use and bike parking and facilities everywhere (bike parking is a HUGE issue with so many bikes).
BUT i did not like how there was almost COMPLETE separation between autos and bikes. basically there are 3 users in Holland: pedestrians, cyclists and autos and each has his own "allowed area of travel". there is almost always a bike path so bikes are forbidden from cycling on the roads (except when there is no path of course but this only occurs only WAY out of the city). a few times the bike path made huge extra loops to get around an intersection and i just jumped the little curb divider and rode on the road... well the car drivers were about the most aggressive i have ever encountered as i was not supposed to be there but on the bike path to the side of the road.

furthermore as you are restricted to the bike path and there are LOTS of cyclists you often must ride very slowly (bike traffic) even though there is a multi-lane road next to you that is off-limits (in traffic you could ride on it but you're not supposed to). oh, AND when the bike path and auto road cross the autos have the right of way most of the time (apparently there is some really old 1920's or so law that was designed to help free auto drivers from "pesky" cyclists that autos have the right of way over bikes --- on the other side IF there is a car-bike accident the auto driver is automatically considered at-fault although the concurrance of the 2 counter-principles is somewhat weird).

as far as reducing SEVERE accidents with cars i think the system is effective in that they try and reduce the number of car-bike intersections, but the overcrowded chaotic bike paths are far from safe (i had numerous near-bike-bike-collisions on over-crowded bike paths)

anyhow, i much prefer the model of Davis CA, Portland OR, Montreal CA or Boulder CO of INTEGRATING cyclists into the road system with special design considerations for roads and intersections and increasing motorist awareness of cyclists. just my 2 cents. but as such Holland did not live up to my dream of a "bike utopia"

@UCSDbikeAnarchy: i found it often difficult to ride my "normal speed" in Holland b/c of overcrowded bike paths on which most others ride more slowly (most ride the 40lb "Holland" bikes so it's no real wonder). i rented a Holland-style tandem and man was thing a BEAST to pedal!!

I live in Portland, OR and moved from Chicago. Don't believe the hype, Chicago is NOT bike friendly. In Portland every bus has a bike rack on it, and the light rail has places on every car to hang your bike. There are bike lanes on all major roads, and a law that gives bicycles the right to an entire lane if there is no bike lane. The city is required to spend a certain percentage of the road budget for bike lanes and mass transit. Most important though is that drivers are respectful of bicycles. There are bikes everywhere here since Portland is one of the greenest and most progressive cities in America. Seriously, you can't walk out the door without tripping over 5 bicyclists. i lived in portland until recently. i loved it. isn't it 56% of portlanders who say their bike is their primary vehicle? just from my own time there...i'll say it like this: bikes are the greatest way to get around, and portland's the best city to ride them in.

move to philadelphia...it's like they built this place for bikes but not for cars really? you always hear pdx, and chicago lately...what sort of bike culture is there in philly? i know in portland it's great.

move to philadelphia...it's like they built this place for bikes but not for cars

really? you always hear pdx, and chicago lately...what sort of bike culture is there in philly? i know in portland it's great.
my sister lives in Philly and i've spent a fair amount of time there.
i have to admit that i was impressed with the city's offerings as an East-Coast city: lots of parks, "real" downtown which is very bikeable, community commitment to recreation and parks...
but in my opinion Philly does not come close to Portland.
1st in sheer numers of cyclists Portland wins hands down.
2nd - the sprawl in Philly is pretty out of control so distances are pretty huge.

my sister lived directly downtown (near the art museum) and getting around by bike (or rollerblades which are REALLY big in Philadelphia) was ok except there are almost no stores in the area (they're all not in downtown) so basic stuff like shopping by bike was not so easy. most of her friends are all spread out - a few in Jersey, a few west like King of Prussia, a few downtown (they now live a few miles northwest of the city in Chestnut Hill) and when i was last there i visited a few freinds via bike and the distances are quite daunting. (Portland in comparision you CAN ride from Vancouver WA all the way to Beaverton or Milwaukie)

my personal take: as the core city is "old style" with small tight streets and traffic keeps speeds low (Philadelphia is one of THE oldest cities in the U.S.), it is ideal for cycling (was designed for walking instead of driving). and the high level of local community support for cycling makes the environment nice (the big pro bike race every June is it?) and the bikeways along the Skylkul River (spelling?). but out of the core near-downtown areas it's much like any other suburban hell in the US where bikes are unwelcome (friends lived in King of Prussia a way-out suburb of Philly known for its mall - and they were a stone's throw from the mall but separated by a freeway so it was 2 miles via foot/bike to the mall!!)

as far as NorthEast cities goes, much like NYC and inner Boston it is a great bike city. in my opinion better than Boston or NYC... D.C. i haven't really experienced enough but i think Philly is more bike-friendly.

but as i'm not an East-Coast guy, i am kind of biased...

Despite the cold winters, Minneapolis, MN is a very bike friendly city. It has the largest bike commuter population per capita in the country. There are a ton of mtn. bike trails, paved trails, racing teams, and recreational clubs. I am currently living in NYC, and the riding here isn't not nearly as good. There are some great routes once you get out of the city, but that can be a dangerous, arduous process. Of course, NYC has many other benefits :). Both Prospect Park and Central Park are ok for riding, but going in circles gets old, and they are very overcrowded.

my sister lives in Philly and i've spent a fair amount of time there.
i have to admit that i was impressed with the city's offerings as an East-Coast city: lots of parks, "real" downtown which is very bikeable, community commitment to recreation and parks...
but in my opinion Philly does not come close to Portland.
1st in sheer numers of cyclists Portland wins hands down.
2nd - the sprawl in Philly is pretty out of control so distances are pretty huge.

my sister lived directly downtown (near the art museum) and getting around by bike (or rollerblades which are REALLY big in Philadelphia) was ok except there are almost no stores in the area (they're all not in downtown) so basic stuff like shopping by bike was not so easy. most of her friends are all spread out - a few in Jersey, a few west like King of Prussia, a few downtown (they now live a few miles northwest of the city in Chestnut Hill) and when i was last there i visited a few freinds via bike and the distances are quite daunting. (Portland in comparision you CAN ride from Vancouver WA all the way to Beaverton or Milwaukie)

my personal take: as the core city is "old style" with small tight streets and traffic keeps speeds low (Philadelphia is one of THE oldest cities in the U.S.), it is ideal for cycling (was designed for walking instead of driving). and the high level of local community support for cycling makes the environment nice (the big pro bike race every June is it?) and the bikeways along the Skylkul River (spelling?). but out of the core near-downtown areas it's much like any other suburban hell in the US where bikes are unwelcome (friends lived in King of Prussia a way-out suburb of Philly known for its mall - and they were a stone's throw from the mall but separated by a freeway so it was 2 miles via foot/bike to the mall!!)

as far as NorthEast cities goes, much like NYC and inner Boston it is a great bike city. in my opinion better than Boston or NYC... D.C. i haven't really experienced enough but i think Philly is more bike-friendly.

but as i'm not an East-Coast guy, i am kind of biased...


yeah, i used to live out near king of prussia, in that area. i was pretty young...but i remember how everything's connected and in practice, the city goes on forever, even if there are different names (souderton, lansdale, quakertown, etc...it's all one big mass). the distance would be daunting. but it's funny you should also mention the bike race...every summer here in boise--of all places--there's a pretty big regional race...it's a lot of fun to watch.

There are a ton of mtn. bike trails, paved trails, racing teams, and recreational clubs.

I've only visited Minneapolis. I love my friends there. There are many nice things in the city - and the general attitude seems positive (this is a good place and we're trying to make it better), but I am puzzled by the reference to mtn bike trails. It didn't seem there was enough topography, unless you count interstate overpasses to have mountain bike trails. Where are they?

i lived in portland until recently. i loved it. isn't it 56% of portlanders who say their bike is their primary vehicle? just from my own time there...i'll say it like this: bikes are the greatest way to get around, and portland's the best city to ride them in.

Yeah, I'll give another big ups to Portland. In additon to bicycles, Portland has one of the best overall public transit systems in the Western US. I thought I lived in bike friendly city until I spent some time down there - bikes are just everywhere.

the bike culture in philly is fairly cool, but most people fall into one of three categories :
A - not interested in bikes at all, they just use them to get around. they ride cruisers or ****ty mountain bikes
B - hardcore messingers who gun around center city like maniacs.
C - punk rock bike kids

center city is great because most streets have bike lanes, but on the busier ones, you just kinda fend for yourself. not too hard, most of the cars get caught up behind buses and delivery trucks where bikes can fly right by. the further away you get from the center, there's less traffic but people don't have heart attacks when a bike is on the road with them. the problem is, the whole city is surrounded by ghettos on pretty much every side, so if you want to bike out to the suburbs, you have to go through the hood (the high point of my commute to work)

the bike culture in philly is fairly cool, but most people fall into one of three categories :
A - not interested in bikes at all, they just use them to get around. they ride cruisers or ****ty mountain bikes
B - hardcore messingers who gun around center city like maniacs.
C - punk rock bike kids

center city is great because most streets have bike lanes, but on the busier ones, you just kinda fend for yourself. not too hard, most of the cars get caught up behind buses and delivery trucks where bikes can fly right by. the further away you get from the center, there's less traffic but people don't have heart attacks when a bike is on the road with them. the problem is, the whole city is surrounded by ghettos on pretty much every side, so if you want to bike out to the suburbs, you have to go through the hood (the high point of my commute to work)
I live in "the hood" and find your remarks to be pretty offensive. We are real people, not that different from you. You are welcome in our "hood" if you are respectful and polite. Otherwise, stay out. You have the same rules in your suburban paradise; at least your cops are pretty unwelcoming to prople from the "hood" who try to cycle through your area.

Everybody else on this thread was able to post what they liked about their own "hood" without trashing others' homes. Also, you seemed to be the only one who had to classify other cyclists in little pigeon holes Like "punk rock kids." You were also the only one who judged other cyclists on the monetary value of their bikes ("****ty mountain bikes").

So what's your problem, pal?

Santa Barbara was great. I lived there while getting my degree.

The Coachella Valley had good roads with wide shoulders and bike lanes, but it was so spread out that a shopping trip might take a while. Some can't take the heat either.

the bike culture in philly is fairly cool, but most people fall into one of three categories :
A - not interested in bikes at all, they just use them to get around. they ride cruisers or ****ty mountain bikes
B - hardcore messingers who gun around center city like maniacs.
C - punk rock bike kids

center city is great because most streets have bike lanes, but on the busier ones, you just kinda fend for yourself. not too hard, most of the cars get caught up behind buses and delivery trucks where bikes can fly right by. the further away you get from the center, there's less traffic but people don't have heart attacks when a bike is on the road with them. the problem is, the whole city is surrounded by ghettos on pretty much every side, so if you want to bike out to the suburbs, you have to go through the hood (the high point of my commute to work)

A-roody's right...that's probably including some people here who'll take offense. but i know what you mean. i talk with some road cyclists who've instilled some bike snobbery in me...but you're probably referring to people who go "huh?" when you say words like "chain ring" and "freewheel", right?
B-fun
C-fun as well.

center city would be fine, and it's nice to know people wouldn't freak out about a bike being beside them. as far as the "hoods"...well, i don't know what "hood" roody's referring to, but i know north philly's a tough neighborhood i wouldn't want to go through, so i know what you mean. it shouldn't be offensive to anyone who lives there, roody...if you aren't a threat, your neighbor might be, and people like me who aren't very tough get kind of nervous in those areas. when i lived there, my family'd drive through there and even driving it made me nervous because i knew some of those areas were high crime areas and like i said...if it's not you, or anyone you meet in those places, i've heard stories from friends and seen the statistics to know that it's a healthy fear.

AMEN about NYC

Oh, and I'll state what others have said, Chicago in no way a bike friendly city.

it shouldn't be offensive to anyone who lives there, roody...if you aren't a threat, your neighbor might be, and people like me who aren't very tough get kind of nervous in those areas. when i lived there, my family'd drive through there and even driving it made me nervous because i knew some of those areas were high crime areas and like i said...if it's not you, or anyone you meet in those places, i've heard stories from friends and seen the statistics to know that it's a healthy fear.
You're right that a few (very few) areas really are dangerous, even in daylight. But most inner city areas have a totally undeserved reputation for being high-crime. If there are more crimes, it's because the population density is higher, thus more people are around to commit crimes. But a given individual's likelihood of being a victim is no reater than in a less densely populated area. And, even in the "worst" neighborhood, the vast majority of inhabitants are law abiding. And much of the crime in this country involves minority people selling drugs to white people from the suburbs. For some strange reason, one is targeted as a criminal and the other is not.

Would you be surprised to discover that many people, especially minorities, are scared to ride in the so-calle "nice" suburban areas? They fear that they will become the victims of overzealous police, security guards and vigilantes.

I'm sorry to get so off-topic, folks. I'm probably overly sensitive on this issue. But one funny thing is that often these "bad" areas are the best places to live if you don't have a car! Don't let your prejudices stand in the way of enjoying a carfree lifeltyle.

Mackinack Island, Michigan - it's either bikes, horses, or walking. No cars allowed on the whole island.

Any US town of less than 150,000 built before WWII with a university in it.

Bonus for little or no snow in winter.

Bonus for no killer hills.

Here in the NW, Portland and Seattle get all the attention, but Engene, Olympia, Bend and my dearest Tacoma are really better cycling towns. Why? Less taffic, smaller cities with old retail cores custom made for bikes.

Of course I must add that all the towns in the NW (as well as the rest of America) are surrounded by suburbs that are not bike friendly. :(