Roll out! More people enjoy biking in these cities than anywhere else

When it comes to biking, some U.S. cities are pedaling ahead of the pack – and a few may surprise you.

A new report from StreetLight analyzed biking activity across the 100 largest U.S. cities to figure out where people bike the most. 

New York City tops ranking for most biking

Big picture view:

According to the findings, the top cities for biking were spread throughout the U.S. and varied greatly in population size. 

New York City topped the bicycle miles-per-capita rankings at 58 miles annually per resident, followed by Boise, Idaho, at 53 miles. 

Boise was the most notable smaller-city bicycle leader, the findings reported. It ranked second nationally for bike miles per capita despite a smaller population of approximately 233,000.

Meanwhile, Jersey City showed the strongest bicycle density after New York, with 7,893 bicycle miles traveled annually per square mile, nearly three times the third-ranked San Francisco’s figure. 

Warm weather cities like New Orleans; Irvine, California; Gilbert, Arizona; and Scottsdale, Arizona ranked high for bike miles traveled per capita. Other top cities, like New York City and Boise, do not benefit from year-round good weather but have built out substantial infrastructure, according to the report.

The report said the findings highlight the influence of urban density, climate, tourism and infrastructure on travel patterns. Its findings suggest that cities of different sizes can encourage active transportation, even in regions where driving remains the dominant way to get around.

Top 10 U.S. Cities ranked by annual Bike Miles Traveled (BMT) per capita

1. New York, NY
2. Boise City, ID
3. New Orleans, LA
4. Jersey City, NJ
5. Irvine, CA
6. Orlando, FL
7. Gilbert, AZ
8. Scottsdale, AZ
9. Philadelphia, PA
10. St. Petersburg, FL

Americans still walk more than bike

Dig deeper:

Despite the findings on bike miles traveled, Americans walk an estimated 151 miles per person annually, compared with just 23 miles by bicycle, making walking seven times more common by distance. 

StreetLight pointed to limited safe and accessible biking infrastructure as one possible reasons for the gap. 

Orlando, Florida, led pedestrian travel at 653 miles per resident, while Boston ranks second. The findings suggest that places like Orlando and Anaheim (455 mi) benefit from high tourist activity at warm weather pedestrian parks.