I have an opportunity to share the complete PeopleForBikes City Ratings for 2025. If you're not familiar with City Ratings, it is an annual program that evaluates and ranks cities based on their bike friendliness. It’s designed to help cities improve biking infrastructure and make cycling a safer, more viable mode of transportation for everyone.
You can learn more in this interview:
Why is it important for people to know how their city ranks for bike friendliness?
Understanding your city’s bike friendliness ranking—like the scores provided by the PeopleForBikes City Ratings program—helps residents and decision-makers identify how well their community supports safe, connected biking. These rankings are based on data, not opinion, and focus on whether people can ride to meaningful destinations like schools, jobs, grocery stores and restaurants, improving their overall quality of life. A popular saying is "what gets measured, gets done" and the City Ratings score is the measurement tool to allow cities to pursue continuous improvement when it comes to bicycling.
How do bike-friendly cities benefit people, even those who don't necessarily bike on a regular basis?
Bike-friendly cities tend to be healthier, safer, and more livable for everyone, regardless of how often you ride. Benefits include:
- Safer streets for all users—biking infrastructure often reduces traffic speeds and improves visibility at intersections.
- Less congestion and cleaner air, which improve public health and environmental quality.
- Economic vitality, as bike-friendly places often attract more foot traffic, tourism, and local spending.
- Mobility equity, offering low-cost transportation options for people who don’t drive. When cities are designed for bikes, they become more accessible and welcoming for all.
How can cities make improvements to become more bike-friendly?
There are many ways to make your city more bikeable. One of the easiest (and lowest cost) options is to lower speed limits. However, additional ideas include:
- Develop or update active transportation plans that prioritize bike infrastructure.
- Build a connected network, focusing on safe, low-stress routes that link neighborhoods to schools, parks, and essential services.
- Layer big and small improvements—multiuse paths, protected bike lanes, wayfinding signage, and bike parking all contribute to a cohesive system.
- Engage residents to ensure the network reflects real needs and encourages buy-in.
- Measure progress and adjust strategies using programs like City Ratings to track connectivity and growth.
More information:
- 2025 PeopleForBikes City Ratings Website
- Work in Progress until June 24th
- 2025 City Ratings Summary Report
- A great resource with tons of data and graphs
- Great Bicycle Infrastructure Project Website
- These projects directly impact how a city increases its City Ratings
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