BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — PeopleForBikes published its annual City Ratings on Wednesday that evaluated 3,019 U.S. communities on how well their bike networks connect residents to destinations.
Top-scoring large cities include Brooklyn (70 out of a perfect score of 100), Minneapolis (68), Seattle (66), Queens (63), and San Francisco (61). Among medium cities, Hoboken scored an 83, followed by Rochester Hills, Michigan, (80) and Anchorage, Alaska, (72). Three small cities — Mackinac Island, Michigan; Crested Butte, Colorado; and Old Orchard, Pennsylvania — each scored 100.
Cities to Watch, those who have made "impressive improvements in their City Ratings scores in recent years," include Baltimore (46), Tampa, Florida, (42), Charlotte, North Carolina, (36), and Atlanta (33).
This year's ratings were built on an updated methodology that incorporated updated census data, revised safety standards from the National Association of City Transportation Officials, and more accurate infrastructure classifications.
Under the new standard, 555 communities scored 50 or higher, the threshold that PeopleForBikes considers a city's bike network connected enough to support easy, accessible, everyday riding.
"Communities of all sizes can make meaningful progress when they prioritize connected networks that work for everyone," said Jenn Dice, president and CEO of PeopleForBikes. "These results show that biking is becoming a practical transportation option, a valuable recreational activity, and an integral part of daily life in more places across the country."
