There’s not much one can say against the humble bicycle. One thing we CAN say is that Phoenix ranks in the Top 20 best bike-friendly cities for commuters.
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As a means of transportation, it’s affordable, accessible and, on small distances, even quicker than the car or public transit (especially as the congestion problem grows in many cities). And, in today’s pursuit of maximum efficiency, it’s hard to think of a better decision than downsizing to two wheels. But is it really that simple?As a means of transportation, it’s affordable, accessible and, on small distances, even quicker than the car or public transit (especially as the congestion problem grows in many cities). And, in today’s pursuit of maximum efficiency, it’s hard to think of a better decision than downsizing to two wheels. But is it really that simple?
Indeed, a wider adoption of cycling and scooter-riding seems to be one of the most straightforward and easily applicable solutions to curb the effects of rush-hour traffic and keep air pollution at bay. However, some cities are better primed than others to spin their way toward a green future. With that in mind, we analyzed various factors from infrastructure to weather, traffic safety and more to unveil the top 20 most bike-friendly U.S. cities for commuters.
The scores below reflect the cities’ overall cyclist-friendliness on a 0-100 scale:
Phoenix, AZ showed great potential as a bike-friendly city, despite the fact that its share of bike commuters remained below 1%. One detractor limiting the wider adoption of bike commuting is the sheer size of the city, with high temperatures over several months making pedaling long distances difficult in the desert climate. Even so, Phoenix’s bike lane infrastructure was comparable to some higher-scoring bike powerhouses like San Diego, and even slightly better than Los Angeles.
