11 Most-Improved Bike Networks in the US

PeopleForBikes has evaluated bike networks in thousands of cities across the United States and identified several that have achieved “incredible increases” in just a few years.

1 minute read

July 21, 2024, 7:00 AM PDT

By Mary Hammon @marykhammon


According to a recent article on PeopleforBikes.org, “Each year, PeopleForBikes’ City Ratings program evaluates thousands of communities worldwide on the quality of their low-stress bike networks through our Bicycle Network Analysis (BNA).

City Ratings data has revealed that 39 cities in the United States boosted their scores by at least 20 points between 2020 and 2024 through policy changes like Complete Street mandates, lower speed limits, and increased state and local funding, as well as implementation of strategies like protected bike lanes, reallocated space, intersection treatments, network connections, and data.

So which cities have earned the title of “most-improved bike network” between 2020 and 2024?

  1. Minneapolis, Minnesota (54-point increase)
  2. Saint Paul, Minnesota (52-point increase)
  3. Jackson, Wyoming (48-point increase)
  4. Bloomington, Indiana (45-point increase)
  5. Aurora, Illinois (40-point increase)
  6. St. Louis Park, Minnesota (40-point increase)
  7. Corvallis, Oregon (39-point increase)
  8. Key West, Florida (39-point increase)
  9. Coeur D'Alene, Idaho (39-point increase)
  10. Somerville, Massachusetts (38-point increase)
  11. Cambridge, Massachusetts (37-point increase)

For details on how these cities improved their scores, and for an impressive list of honorable mentions, check out the original article below.

Friday, July 19, 2024 in PeopleforBikes

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

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

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.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Aerial view of Albuquerque, New Mexico at sunset.

New State Study Suggests Homelessness Far Undercounted in New Mexico

An analysis of hospital visit records provided a more accurate count than the annual point-in-time count used by most agencies.

May 16 - Source NM

Close-up on white bike helmet lying on pavement with blurred red bike on its side in background abd black car visible behind it.

Michigan Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Deadly Crashes

Proposed state legislation would close a ‘legal gap’ that lets drivers who kill get away with few repercussions.

May 16 - Wood TV 8

Muni bus on red painted bus-only lane in downtown San Francisco, California.

Report: Bus Ridership Back to 86 Percent of Pre-Covid Levels

Transit ridership around the country was up by 85 percent in all modes in 2024.

May 16 - Mass Transit