Best Places to Bike Ride in America

Biking is not only a sport, but also a means of transportation, a great activity to do with others, and a good way to workout. Bicycles became popular in the nineteenth century. The first recorded bicycling race took place in Paris, France in 1868. The race was 1,200 meters in length, and James Moore, an Englishman, took the winning title. The styles of bicycles have changed over the years, but the bicycle is as popular as ever in America. Most bikes over the years have been made with steel frames, but recently there has been an increase in bicycles made out of aluminum or carbon frames. Many bicycles have become lighter in weight and can be more customized to an individual's needs or desires for the bike. There are many different types of bicycles including the racing bicycle, BMX bicycle, mountain bike, recumbent bicycle, and the hybrid bicycle. Many cities in the U.S. have become known as "bike-friendly" cities and have consciously made decisions to make cycling easier and safer for enthusiasts.

Bike friendly cities tend to have some common features including segregated bike lanes, bike boulevards, and plentiful bike racks. The prevalence of a bike culture can help a city become more bike friendly. Many bikers have made an impact on different cities by working with the local governments to help implement more bike friendly features and biker/traffic safety. Many cities and towns have their own bike clubs and groups. Local bike shops can help contribute to the cycling culture of a city. Bike friendly cities host races and other cycling tournaments. Cycling friendly cities can help promote a "green" culture by encouraging biking over car travel. An availability of bike paths and other safe places to bike can help citizens stay fit and safe when using their bicycles. Since bicycles are so beneficial to people's life it's easy for these areas to understand the importance of creating and sustaining a bicycle culture.

According to Bicycling Magazine (http://www.bicycling.com), the following cities are the top 50 bike friendly cities in America. This does not mean that other cities in America are not bicycle friendly; these cities have specific infrastructures and other bike friendly features that make them exceptional to bikers. This list was also made to show the diversity of bike culture in America. Click on the links to learn more about biking in each city.

1. Minneapolis, Minnesota
2. Portland, Oregon
3. Boulder, Colorado
4. Seattle, Washington
5. Eugene, Oregon
6. San Francisco, California
7. Madison, Wisconsin
8. New York, New York
9. Tucson, Arizona
10. Chicago, Illinois
11. Austin, Texas
12. Denver, Colorado
13. Washington, D.C.
14. Ann Arbor, Michigan
15. Phoenix/Tempe, Arizona
16. Gainesville, Florida
17. Albuquerque, New Mexico
18. Colorado Springs, Colorado
19. Salem, Oregon
20. Scottsdale, Arizona
21. Louisville, Kentucky
22. Chattanooga, Tennessee
23. Long Beach, California
24. Cary, North Carolina
25. Milwaukee, Wiscosin
26. Boston, Massachusetts
27. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
28. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
29. Charleston, South Carolina
30. Arlington, Virginia
31. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
32. Boise, Idaho
33. Kansas City, Missouri
34. Columbus, Ohio
35. Tulsa, Oklahoma
36. Grand Rapids, Michigan
37. Billings, Montana
38. St. Louis, Missouri
39. Cleveland, Ohio
40. Greensboro, North Carolina
41. Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky
42. Omaha, Nebraska
43. Salt Lake City, Utah
44. Miami, Florida
45. Indianapolis, Indiana
46. Fargo, North Dakota
47. Anchorage, Alaska
48. Baltimore, Maryland
49. Little Rock, Arkansas
50. Rochester, New York

• State Bike Laws Center - The League of American Bicyclists have provided this map which allows users to click on different states to view specific cycling laws.
• Bicycle Maintenance Guide and Riding Tips - This guide explains the different parts of the bicycle and shows how to maintenance a bike for optimal safety and performance.
• Bicycle Safety - This bicycle safety page contains information about helmets, riding at night, rules of the road, how to perform a six point bicycle safety check, traffic safety, and bicycle theft prevention.
• Bike Safety for Kids - This KidsHealth.org article was designed to teach kids about the importance of bike safety and what they must do to be safe every time they ride their bike.
• Health Benefits of Cycling Health Benefits of Cycling - This article by Adultbicycling.com lists all the major health benefits that cycling can do for an individual's fitness.