Friendliest/Safest City
10-03-09, 01:37 AM
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Friendliest/Safest City
Where is the best place for a cyclist to live in the US/Canada?
Less cars, decent people, more nature. Also decent pavement. Discuss.
Less cars, decent people, more nature. Also decent pavement. Discuss.
10-03-09, 01:47 AM
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I found Manitoba, the province in general, to be very friendly. I could get out on some of the backroads and hardly see any traffic at all, and what traffic I did see would pull way over and give me lots of room. They'd also wave at me. Definitely less cars, decent people, decent pavement, and lots of nature. I miss Manitoba.
Winnipeg, however, was a different story. Cycling in the city was a bit scary sometimes ... the people there don't seem to like cyclists very much, and the roads are full of potholes. Fortunately I lived right on the edge of the city, and could get out into the country for pretty much all my rides.
Alberta drivers are pretty good outside the city as well, and the roads are great. Alberta has the best roads I've ever ridden on. But it is busy ... busier than Manitoba. However, in the country you'll find decent people, great pavement and wide shoulders, less cars in some places, and lots and lots of incredible nature.
I haven't had too much experience riding in the cities in Alberta, but I didn't like driving in them ... too busy, too rush-rush-rush.
So ... for good cycling ... I'd recommend going for a smaller town outside a city.
Winnipeg, however, was a different story. Cycling in the city was a bit scary sometimes ... the people there don't seem to like cyclists very much, and the roads are full of potholes. Fortunately I lived right on the edge of the city, and could get out into the country for pretty much all my rides.
Alberta drivers are pretty good outside the city as well, and the roads are great. Alberta has the best roads I've ever ridden on. But it is busy ... busier than Manitoba. However, in the country you'll find decent people, great pavement and wide shoulders, less cars in some places, and lots and lots of incredible nature.
I haven't had too much experience riding in the cities in Alberta, but I didn't like driving in them ... too busy, too rush-rush-rush.
So ... for good cycling ... I'd recommend going for a smaller town outside a city.
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10-03-09, 03:52 AM
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What kind of scenery do you prefer ... open prairie? mountain? forests and lakes?
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10-03-09, 06:40 AM
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how about some folks give a range...
for HUGE metros, mid-size cities, smaller municipalities, etc...
now, i live outside Philly, but haven't really biked it....i HEAR it is (for one of the biggest US cities) very bike-friendly. of course, i wonder about what parts of Philly!
when i lived in Jackson, MS, it wasn't all that great of a place to ride. that's probably why i stuck to MTBiking then...
for HUGE metros, mid-size cities, smaller municipalities, etc...
now, i live outside Philly, but haven't really biked it....i HEAR it is (for one of the biggest US cities) very bike-friendly. of course, i wonder about what parts of Philly!
when i lived in Jackson, MS, it wasn't all that great of a place to ride. that's probably why i stuck to MTBiking then...
10-03-09, 06:55 AM
#8
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The Thompson/Okanagan area in B.C. is great. Victoria B.C. , Banff in the summer.
So Cal, Palm Springs, Big Bear.
Anywhere along the Niagara Escarpment in Ontario in the spring through fall.
Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia.
Montreal through Quebec City.
Vermont and the Finger Lakes area in upstate NY are nice. South and west NJ and PA are nice.
Scottsdale AZ is great for cycling. Pacific Coast Highway or any where in the PNW.
Colorado! But I have only ridden Grand Junction to Colorado Springs.
Those are my favorites but I am sure there is plenty of great riding anywhere you have a bike..
So Cal, Palm Springs, Big Bear.
Anywhere along the Niagara Escarpment in Ontario in the spring through fall.
Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia.
Montreal through Quebec City.
Vermont and the Finger Lakes area in upstate NY are nice. South and west NJ and PA are nice.
Scottsdale AZ is great for cycling. Pacific Coast Highway or any where in the PNW.
Colorado! But I have only ridden Grand Junction to Colorado Springs.
Those are my favorites but I am sure there is plenty of great riding anywhere you have a bike..
10-03-09, 07:18 AM
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Boulder Colorado.
Huge cycling culture, drivers are very aware and used to cyclists, plus some amazing scenic mountains right in your backyard.
Huge cycling culture, drivers are very aware and used to cyclists, plus some amazing scenic mountains right in your backyard.
10-03-09, 07:19 AM
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i should've added, OUTSIDE of Philly is very good...unbelievably, there are alot of natural areas right outside the city. bucks country, delaware country, etc.
10-03-09, 07:23 AM
#13
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The Thompson/Okanagan area in B.C. is great. Victoria B.C. , Banff in the summer.
So Cal, Palm Springs, Big Bear.
Anywhere along the Niagara Escarpment in Ontario in the spring through fall.
Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia.
Montreal through Quebec City.
Vermont and the Finger Lakes area in upstate NY are nice. South and west NJ and PA are nice.
Scottsdale AZ is great for cycling. Pacific Coast Highway or any where in the PNW.
Colorado! But I have only ridden Grand Junction to Colorado Springs.
Those are my favorites but I am sure there is plenty of great riding anywhere you have a bike..
So Cal, Palm Springs, Big Bear.
Anywhere along the Niagara Escarpment in Ontario in the spring through fall.
Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia.
Montreal through Quebec City.
Vermont and the Finger Lakes area in upstate NY are nice. South and west NJ and PA are nice.
Scottsdale AZ is great for cycling. Pacific Coast Highway or any where in the PNW.
Colorado! But I have only ridden Grand Junction to Colorado Springs.
Those are my favorites but I am sure there is plenty of great riding anywhere you have a bike..
Look at njbikemap.com to see road network.Also, how many states have their own bike map?
10-03-09, 07:35 AM
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+1 Boulder, CO - Mountains to the West, Plains to the East. Great bike infrastructure in town, and endless loops to ride road or dirt.
10-03-09, 08:39 AM
#16
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Portland always makes the list of best cycling cities. Certainly worth consideration.
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10-03-09, 10:17 AM
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Isn't that where PCAD is from? lol I don't think there are friendly big population cities around in the U.S. like people here have posted if you want friendly people you have to go in the rural cities with very low population. Where I live is a joke, but if you head to the west maybe 50 miles near the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia and you have nothing but rural roads light traffic and so many mountains, I've driven there a couple times and went to Luray Caverns and I must say its very beautiful, sometimes it sucks living in densely populated environments. But they have their perks to, like more vag, more jobs, some bike paths and sometimes nice people.
10-03-09, 10:53 AM
#20
Portland Fred
Most places seem just fine, whether or not they are considered cycling friendly.
10-03-09, 12:05 PM
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When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
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10-03-09, 12:54 PM
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In places where I've ridden extensively, Danville, KY takes the cake. A large volume of relatively good quality, vacant roads to ride on. The only problem was the rednecks. NW NJ and Chester County PA are also pretty good.
10-03-09, 02:01 PM
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10-03-09, 02:10 PM
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