Few things define eras—and America itself—more clearly than predominant fitness crazes. The crunchy, earnest 1970s had jogging. The ’80s gave us aerobics, ushering in a brave new “Morning in America” for Jane Fonda, ghastly neon spandex, and “gym culture.” The high-flying ’90s? They were all about the easy-glide Rollerblades.
But the 21st century is about cycling. And here’s where the story takes a new spin.
This centuries-old sport is more than just one of the fastest growing in America. It’s also a force that is fundamentally changing the face of many U.S. cities.
More Americans are using their cherished bikes for both stimulation and transportation. From 2005 to 2013, there was a 46% jump in the share of people cycling to work, according to the League of American Bicyclists. Surprised? Don’t be.
Obesity has become a national epidemic, and cycling is a scenic, social, fun, and fast way to stay fit. It’s miles cheaper than owning a car—no insurance or gas payments— and fully eco-friendly for those trying to reduce their carbon footprint.
Cities and towns across the country are catching on. They’re building more dedicated bike trails and protected lanes than ever before—amenities that usually boost nearby real estate prices. Bike share programs, once relegated to a handful of cities, are multiplying with helmet-spinning speed.
Some midsize U.S. metros are already famed for their tight-shorted residents. Boulder, CO, is home to two members of the recent Olympic cycling team and has 8.9% of the population pedaling to work each day. Portland, OR, has more cyclists per capita than any other city, and demonstrates its love with places like the Fresh Pot, a cafe with space for 25 people—and 26 bikes.
But we here at realtor.com® aren’t so interested in those hot spots that everyone already knows about. Instead, our fast-moving data team set out to identify the large urban areas with the most potential to become America’s next great cycling cities.
To figure out the next top biking meccas, our data team analyzed the following:
- Growth in bicycle commuting from 2010 to 2014, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
- Room for a continued uptick in bike commuting. We looked only at urban oases where fewer than 5% of workers currently pedal to their jobs. (The national average was just 0.6% in 2014.)
- Recent or planned construction of protected bike lanes (which physically separate cyclists from vehicles, usually through a barrier), according to data compiled by People for Bikes, an advocacy group.
- A bike share program that’s either already launched or is expected to launch in the next year.
Cycling has exploded in this rapidly gentrifying San Francisco Bay Area city as more and more bike lovers are priced out of San Francisco. Oakland cyclists successfully lobbied for the city’s first protected bike lane on main drag Telegraph Avenue, which opened in May. Wannabe cyclists (perhaps without the cash to buy their own bikes in this pricey area) will soon be able to take advantage of the Bay Area Bike Share program when it expands into the city in 2017.
Mind you, cyclists in Oakland can do more than just commute. The more ambitious mountain bikers can tackle the hors catégorie (literally “beyond categorization”) climb of Mount Diablo, which towers nearly 4,000 feet above the Bay Area.
Pedal perk: Every summer the city hosts Pedalfest, a huge biking festival on the waterfront, featuring live rock with amps powered by—you guessed it—rows of stationary bikes.
2. Boston, MA
Bike commuters in 2010: 1.4%
Bike commuters in 2014: 2.4%
Like Minneapolis, the hometown of (disgraced) cycling legend Lance Armstrong is arguably one of the best cities around for bikers—and it’s only getting better. It may not have an inordinately high number of regular cycling commuters, but that’s expected to rise as the Texas state capital adds more protected lanes to the cityscape. Austin also recently added a bike share program that is insanely popular during the annual music, film, and media SXSW festival.
Pedal perk: The city boasts some of the highest numbers of bike shops per capita in the country, including Mellow Johnny’s—owned by Armstrong himself! The place organizes weekly, monthly, and one-off rides for cyclists of all levels. Don’t mention the Tour de France.
5. Memphis, TN
Bike commuters in 2010: 0.1%
Bike commuters in 2014: 0.3%
Memphis is taking its very first steps (rolls?) toward becoming a cycling hub. In 2010, there were very few bike commuters and the city was routinely ranked among the worst in the country for cycling. Since then, the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll has turned things around. Several miles of protected bike lanes were completed in 2013 and 2014, and the ambitious Wolf River Greenway will eventually create a 36-mile, paved bike path along, yep, the Wolf River.
Pedal perk: The annual Tour de Grizz somehow manages to mash up a big group ride, the Memphis Zoo, and the Grizzlies (the local NBA team).
6. Chicago, IL
Bike commuters in 2010: 1.3%
Bike commuters in 2014: 1.7%
Not a cycling town? Oh, guess again. New York City has made a concerted effort to increase the number of cyclists—as well as their safety—by installing about 50 protected bike lanes. It also has the nation’s largest bike share program, Citi Bike, with about 8,000 bikes currently available at 500 stations throughout the city and Jersey City, NJ.
Given NYC’s density and oft-hellish traffic, cycling offers one of the city’s fastest modes of transportation. More bike racks are popping up on city sidewalks to accommodate riders. And an increasing number of city office buildings as well as high-end residential towers are now offering bike storage facilities—as well as amenities like bike valets and fixing stations.
Pedal perk: You haven’t lived until you’ve ridden the 6.2-mile loop around Central Park, one of the best urban rides anywhere. Ride it fast. But watch out for the oblivious pedestrian tourists who will wander into your path. OK?
9. Henderson, NV
Bike commuters in 2010: 0.1%
Bike commuters in 2014: 0.5%
Like Memphis, Henderson is a nascent cyclist city. The metro, which borders Las Vegas, recently completed its first protected bike lanes and is now seeing more cyclists commute to work. The metro also boasts a network of nearly 200 miles of trails (both paved and unpaved) as well as the 35-mile River Mountains Loop Trail through the nearby hills for hard-core bicyclists and those seeking a break from the casinos.The city doesn’t yet have a citywide bike share program, but the 2,200-acre community of Cadence recently launched its own system for its residents.
Pedal perk: The city offers free valet service at most major events. Use it!
10. Detroit, MI
Bike commuters in 2010: 0.3%
Bike commuters in 2014: 0.8%
While the Motor City continues to face huge challenges, bicycle-friendliness has played a role in the revitalization of some areas of the city. Motown already has some fine bike lanes in its nearly 1,000-acre Belle Isle Park and is considering installing more as part of a proposed greenway around the island in the Detroit River. City officials recently announced plans to launch a bike share program next spring, with 420 two-wheelers spread across 42 downtown, solar-powered stations. The program should make getting around the city a bit easier for residents, many of whom are still reeling from the mass manufacturing layoffs that have hit the city hard over the past few decades.
Pedal perk: Holy moly, there are a lot of bike clubs in this town! From “Fender Bender Detroit” (a gay and trans cycling group) to “Wolverine Racing Club” (a training ground for would-be pros), it has you covered.
