bigkoiguy

I recently got bitten by the cycling bug. As a Clydesdale, I'm finding it's the best way for me to get exercise and lose weight. Unfortunately, I live in Alaska -- so much of the year is off limits, except by fat tire bike (and even then temperature becomes an issue). I'm planning to move - and would love to move somewhere in the lower 48 US States (or even Hawaii) that is great for commuting by bicycle. I'm hoping to change my lifestyle to something more active and ditch my car. What are the best mid to large size cities for cyclists? Which cater to cyclists the best? I would prefer a city that has near-round cycling, that is close to natural areas for recreational cycling, and has a reasonably good economy. Thoughts?

cnguyen0320

Large cities typically are very bike friendly as well as large college towns. You can bike year round anywhere with slight adjustments in clothes, tires, etc. Find a nice place that you'd like to live first because cycling can really occur anywhere.

Bluish Green

It can be done almost anywhere, but some places are obviously going to be more conducive. There was a good similar thread recently in the Living Car Free subforum. Good luck, I hope you find the perfect place. FWIW, I love bike commuting here in Springfield, IL because my route has wide streets with tolerable traffic. Happy hunting.

squegeeboo

I do it year round in rochester, ny. If you're a programmer the economy is great. Not a ton of cycling infrastucture, but the erie canal path gives a great east/west path thru the city and I've had almost no issues on the roads I bike on, which over the years have been thru all the city and most of the suburbs.

jyossarian

Nyc

alan s 

Look at Google Maps after selecting "bicycling" and you'll see the infrastructure. Cities like Denver, Chicago, Minneapolis and Portland have a lot of green. New Orleans, Detroit, not so much.

dramiscram

St-Césaire, Qc, Canada

fietsbob

Steady flow of Cycle tourists all summer .. Hundreds..

wilfried

Many bike routes in New York City have disappeared from Google Maps. I don't know what the issue us, or if it affects other cities. Some of the major, separated bike lanes are no longer marked. There's a lot more bike infrastructure in NYC than the current map indicates.

bigkoiguy

I should also ask, are there cities that seem like they should be good, but are dangerous either due to infrastructure or drivers attitude? Or too spread out? Phoenix comes to mind as a town that fits that bill in my mind for some reason.

MaggieJayne

Minneapolis

gerv 

Des Moines USA

Mad Scientist

Minneapolis is both a great city to live in and very bike friendly.

tjspiel

Don't disagree necessarily but it sounds like Winter weather is a factor in his wanting to move. Not really going to get away from that in Minneapolis though commuting year round is definitely do-able.

modernjess

Another vote for Minneapolis but, admittedly it is rather like Alaska in the winter. You can and I do ride year round but lots of folks around here don't.

Mad Scientist

You're both correct that winter in Minneapolis might be a deterrent. At the same time, I believe that an Alaska winter would be much colder than we get here (but of course I might be wrong).

As far as winter biking goes, Minneapolis does a phenomenal job of enabling the habit. I have found that the bike paths are often cleared of snow before many roads.

AstroEng

Albuquerque!

It's like a cooler Phoenix and a warmer Denver. It rarely snows (even then just dustings) and we usually only get a couple weeks of 100°F heat (that doesn't feel that bad in the shade or with a breeze). Plus the mountain is right at the edge of the city and there is plenty of outdoorsy stuff to do within a day's drive.

The city has been working very hard to make it much more bike friendly... However the educational system here sucks (if you have kids). And by sucks I mean like 48/50... But there are decent schools around town if you plan it right.

CommuteCommando

I take my bike on a fifty mile commuter train to work. The city at the work end, Irvine CA, is just about the best I have ridden.

bigkoiguy

I'm in the interior of Alaska -- so we see temps down to -50F. So, Minneapolis is somewhat warm by comparison. I'm also quite open to winter biking -- just not in temperatures below about 0F.

Minneapolis is a good suggestion that I'll have to look into.

calyth

Ottawa, Canada

arsprod 

Indianapolis, getting better and better. You have to pick where you live but there's a nice system of MUP's. I ride all year round - winters are mild compared to other midwest/northern cities. Check out https://indycog.org/, https://www.indyconnect.org/pages/Bike/, https://www.cirta.us/pages/home/default.aspx

Rick@OCRR

Just got back from ten days in Edinburgh, Scotland (and okay, I know that's not in the U.S.) but after cycling around there quite a lot I was for sure impressed! You can ride in the bus lanes and there are other lanes for buses, taxi's and bikes.

Once I got used to riding on the left side instead of the right (I am an American, after all), it was great!

Rick / OCRR

KonAaron Snake 

We recently spent a week in Montreal and the bike commuting was heavenly. There were separated lanes everywhere you looked, TONS of bike parking and specific bike poles. The bike poles were often set back from the curb to avoid damage. Tons of shops and other riders...many using trailers. It was fantastic.

Of the places I've been in the US, my own Philadelphia has cycling culture and infrastructure as good as anywhere...it's a TON better than NYC and far better than the newer cities based around highways. Philly has as many commuters as Portland in some areas...it truly has become a cycling city, supported by a cycling friendly mayor.

AusTexMurf

Austin* is very nice for cycling. We have lots of heat and lots of hills (Edit: and auto traffic!), but winter cycling is so easy compared to our more northern cities. But if you move here, please don't bring your car. We have enough of those, thank you.

Minneapolis
Boulder
Portland*
San Francisco*
Seattle
NYC

Washington, DC*
Agreed: add Denver, Co

All of the above are bicycle commuting cities, already.

Memphis, Tn*
Chicago*
Houston
Birmingham, Al

All are in process to make their cities much more bike friendly. Cities with *'s are participating in The Green Lane Project.

https://greenlaneproject.org

Also, I found Philly to be a wonderful city for cycling and running, as KonaAaron suggested.

CommuteCommando

Curious. How's the route from Indianapolis to Muncie?