Where in America is Cycling Growing the Most?

Detroit is the unlikely name atop the League of American Bicyclists' new list of cities that have grown their share of bike commuters the most between 1990-2012.

1 minute read

November 21, 2013, 10:00 AM PST

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


Angie Schmitt digs into a new report from the League of American Bicyclists that analyzes census data on bicycle commuting and finds "an interesting story about cycling trends." The five cities that have gained the most bike commuters (by share of all commuters) are Detroit, Chicago, Washington D.C., Portland, and Cleveland.

"Notice a mix of rust belt cities and larger, more progressive metros that are doing a lot to improve conditions for cyclists," she observes. "It should also be noted that cities like Detroit, Cleveland, and Baltimore had such small shares of commuters cycling in 1990 that, while percentage increases seem absolutely whopping, actual bike commuting rates are still somewhat modest. "

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