154 Cities Earn Marks in Updated Bike Score Rankings

Walk Score released an updated ranking of the best cities for biking—including Bike Scores for a total of 154 U.S. cities—in time for Bike to Work Week and National Bike Month.

2 minute read

May 17, 2015, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Bike Commuting

Richard Masoner / Cyclelicious / flickr

"Minneapolis is the most bikeable city in the U.S., according to the latest ranking by Walk Score," reports a post on Redfin by Rachel Musiker (Walk Score is a Redfin company). Musiker adds: "With a Bike Score of 81.3, Minneapolis has a strong lead over San Francisco (75.1) and Portland (72.0)."

Walk Score updated the Bike Score rankings to commemorate Bike to Work Week and National Bike Month, which concluded on May 15. The rankings mentioned above are for cities with a population of greater 300,000. Several college towns, led by Cambridge, Massachusetts and Davis, California, actually have higher Bike Scores. Walk Score now provides Bike Scores for 154 cities in total.

The post includes several angles of insight into the rankings, including a point about infrastructure.

"Thanks to investments in infrastructure such as protected bike lanes and networks of bike paths, several cities saw big increases in their Bike Scores since the 2013 ranking. On average, cities that ranked in the top 20 saw an increase of more than two Bike Score points. Chicago’s Bike Score increased by almost nine full points, from 61.5 in 2013 to 70.2 today. In the past two years, the Chicago Department of Transportation has launched and grown the Divvy bike share system and expanded its on-street bike network to include more than 225 miles of bike lanes and routes. Expect the city’s score to climb in the next five years as Mayor Emanuel’s Chicago Streets for Cycling Plan 2020 includes completion of a 645-mile network of on-street bikeways by 2020."

Thursday, May 14, 2015 in Redfin

Large blank mall building with only two cars in large parking lot.

Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House

If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.

April 18, 2024 - Central Penn Business Journal

Street scene in Greenwich Village, New York City with people walking through busy intersection and new WTC tower in background.

Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility

Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.

April 14, 2024 - Todd Litman

Rendering of wildlife crossing over 101 freeway in Los Angeles County.

World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County

Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.

April 15, 2024 - LAist

Three people, one in fatigues and hard hat, standing in front of bulldozer discussing relocation plans in Newtok, Alaska.

Alaska Village Becomes Test Case for Climate Change Relocation

The Yup’ik village of Newtok is the first Alaska community to begin a full-scale relocation necessitated by the impacts of climate change. Another 31 Alaska communities remain vulnerable.

52 minutes ago - Alaska Public Media

Rendering of proposed modern glass high-speed rail station in Houston, Texas.

Amtrak Takes Lead on Texas Central Rail

The high-speed rail project isn’t a done deal, but if it moves forward, trains could begin operating in 2030.

1 hour ago - Smart Cities Dive

Aerial view of mid-rise brick buildings in Portland, Maine on waterfront.

Maine Approves Rent Relief Program

Legislators hope the assistance program will help struggling low-income households avoid eviction.

2 hours ago - The Portland Press Herald

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.