And the Best City for Bicycling in the U.S. Is...

This university town of 47,000 on the Central Coast of California has also been called by National Geographic the "Happiest Place in America." Is there a relationship between biking and happiness?

2 minute read

June 11, 2020, 10:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


Central Coast California

Sundry Photography / Shutterstock

"The third annual PeopleForBikes City Ratings found San Luis Obispo, California, as the top U.S. city for bicycling," reports Kristin Musulinsenior editor of Smart Cities Dive, on June 9.

A total of 567 cities were rated based on 5 factors: Ridership, Safety, Network, Reach (how far the program connects with the community) and Acceleration (how quickly the program is being adopted or improved).

In developing the ratings, PeopleForBikes used data from the American Community Survey and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System, as well as data received through each city's participation in a PeopleForBikes City Snapshot report,

And the top 20 winners in the U.S are:

Alternate text

To see how your city scored, go to https://cityratings.peopleforbikes.org/all-cities-ratings/

As for the best large city to bike in America, the award goes to Toronto, a city of over 2.7 million that scored third, after SLO and Madison.

Investing in bike infrastructure

"Since 2014, San Luis Obispo has had a policy in place to spend at least 20% of its transportation expenditures on bicycle improvements," notes the website describing the top 5 rated cities in the U.S. And as for being a university town, it helps that California Polytechnic State University has a policy that requires freshman to go carfree.

As for San Luis Obispo being rated the happiest place in America, that was in 2011. The bike-friendly label will no doubt wear better.

“This award is a true reflection of our community values for safe, sustainable and multimodal transportation,” San Luis Obispo Active Transportation Manager, Adam Fukushima, told KSBY News.

“Creating a bicycle friendly community requires a partnership and commitment from city leaders and members of the community. The rating from PeopleForBikes is a great way to honor that hard work.”

PeopleForBikes

Launched in 1999 as Bikes Belong, PeopleForBikes includes both an industry coalition of bicycling suppliers and retailers, as well as a charitable foundation. They invite cyclists to join PeopleForBikes now to become part of the movement.

Related in Planetizen:

Tuesday, June 9, 2020 in Smart Cities Dive

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Aerial view of downtown San Antonio, Texas at night with rotating Tower of the Americas in foreground.

San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion

The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.

July 3, 2025 - Governing

White park shuttles with large Zion logo on side and red rock cliffs in background in Zion National Park.

Since Zion's Shuttles Went Electric “The Smog is Gone”

Visitors to Zion National Park can enjoy the canyon via the nation’s first fully electric park shuttle system.

6 hours ago - Reasons to Be Cheerful

Chart of federal transportation funding comparing Biden and Trump administration spending.

Trump Distributing DOT Safety Funds at 1/10 Rate of Biden

Funds for Safe Streets and other transportation safety and equity programs are being held up by administrative reviews and conflicts with the Trump administration’s priorities.

7 hours ago - Transportation for America

Close-up on yellow and black TAXI sign on top of beige car in central Munich, Germany.

German Cities Subsidize Taxis for Women Amid Wave of Violence

Free or low-cost taxi rides can help women navigate cities more safely, but critics say the programs don't address the root causes of violence against women.

July 15 - Bloomberg