DC Ranks 11th in 2018 Best Bike Cities in America

Washington, D.C. ranks 11^th among the top 50 2018 Best Bike Cities in America, according to the ranking published by the Bicycling Magazine.

The magazine analyzed cities on a scale of 100 points based on the categories of safety, stops and scenery for cycling along the bike routes, political climate, and accessibility to riders from all age groups.

The magazine analyzed a lot of data points to arrive at the rankings, and also interviewed bike advocates and transportation officials from cities across the U.S.

“We determined that the best cities are the ones that don’t cater to one specific type of rider—be it the daily commuter or competitive roadie,” the magazine editors wrote. “The ones that top our list have built systems and a riding culture that benefits everyone—from the kid who rides to school to the retiree who takes a weekend trip to the grocery store.”

In 2016, D.C was ranked 9^th in the list. This year the magazine took note of work on improving the safety of bike lanes and bike trails which makes the city more biker friendly. The city has scored 32 out of 40 on safety parameter, 23 out of 30 for friendliness, 15 out of 20 for energy, and 8 out of 10 for biking culture.  

The magazine further noted that D.C has done “an excellent job investing in both trail systems and on-street infrastructure, so cyclists can zip in from the suburbs on pathways, but still feel safe as they connect from pathways to office.”

The magazine also recognized D.C. for being a consistent leader when it comes to making safe routes to school program.  “Every single second grader in the city learns to ride a bike, and many of the schools have bike to school days where large numbers of students actually make their way to school by bike—something other cities are truly struggling to achieve,” the magazine added.