When it comes to electric bike commuting, not every American city is created equal. In fact, it should come as no surprise that many cities are more conducive to electric bike commuting than others. The reality is that the best cities to ride bikes in the United States all have some of the same key characteristics in common. Those traits include being deemed “walkable,” which are cities “with access to public transit, better commutes, and proximity to the people and places you love are the key to a happier, healthier and more sustainable lifestyle,” according to Walkscore.com.
If you have committed yourself to join the growing trend of e-bike adoption in cities across the country, you might also be interested in knowing the 10 best American cities for electric bike commuting.
Best American Cities for Electric Bike Commuting
Cars or public transportation are not always the best mode of transportation to work. In fact, when comparing electric bikes vs. cars, there are many reasons to choose e-bikes for commuting purposes. If you have made this same realization and are looking for the best cities to ride bikes in the United States, here are the top 10 to visit first.
10. Miami
The first city on this list of the 10 best American cities for electric bike commuting is Miami, one of the southernmost cities in the United States. The city of around 400,000 people, because of its warm year-round climate, can be biked any month of the year, so whatever your occupation commuting by electric bike is always on the table. With an exceptional walk score and great transit and bike scores, Miami is one of the best cities for electric bike fans.
9. Seattle
Despite its reputation for being in a rainy climate, Seattle is one of the best cities in America for electric bike commuting. The rainy season, which runs from October through April, is only part of the story. Seattle also has a mild climate and a walkable (and therefore bikeable) layout, which makes it a great city to adopt an electric bike commute. With many bike commuters already and bike lanes built into the infrastructure, Seattle is a great city for biking to work.
8. Philadelphia
The coldish winters in Philadelphia do not keep it from its spot on this list ranking the top 10 best American cities for electric bike commuting. With well over one million people living in the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia is actually one of the most walkable and bikeable cities in the country. The hub of this foot and bike traffic comes in the heart of the downtown area, where bike lanes are built into the infrastructure so that residents and visitors alike can all easily and safely enjoy riding their electric bikes through the city.
7. Washington D.C.
The nation’s capital city, Washington D.C., ranks seventh on this list, and it lands in this spot for good reason: while many cities across the United States are friendly to cyclists, Washington DC is an especially receptive city for biking and electric bike commuting. Between work, nightlife, and all of the historical buildings and museums that the city is home to, there are no shortages of places to see. Even in the colder months, this compact city of over half a million residents is excellent for bikers.
6. Chicago
Despite being deemed the “windy city,” Chicago is a great city if you are looking for a place where you can easily bike to work. Set on the shores of Lake Michigan, this largest Midwestern city of approaching three million people has a very consistent score for walking, public transit, and biking. Fat tire electric bike commuting is particularly prudent in the cold winter months, being able to avoid the snowy conditions with ease.
5. Boston
Boston, which is both a historical and growing city in the United States, ranks very highly for walking, public transit, and biking. In fact, there was never a doubt that Boston would find its place on this list of best American cities for electric bike commuting. Because of its history, Boston was founded with a very compact downtown and has since spread into neighboring areas, such as Cambridge. That spread, and the numerous companies that have decided to use Boston as their global or regional headquarters, only makes it an even better place to own an electric bike for commuting to work.
4. San Francisco
While San Francisco is famous for its hilly landscape set beside the bay, it does not change the fact that this is one of the best cities in the United States for electric bike commuting. That is because it has a mild climate so it is comfortable to ride a bike to work all year round, and the supplemental electric power of an e-bike can help you get up those pesky hills! It is also booming with business, so it’s a great time to check out the city.
3. Denver
Up in the mountains, Denver is one of the rare cities on this list that is actually far better for bikers than even walkers or people taking public transit. This could be because Denver is consistently one of the healthiest cities in America, and the people there recognize the outstanding health benefits of electric bike commuting to work.
2. Minneapolis
Set in the far north in the Midwest, Minneapolis is arguably the best city in the country for electric bike commuting to work—and if you asked Walkscore.com, that’s exactly where it would be! Several huge companies, including Target and 3M, are headquartered in this compact yet growing city. The downtown area for Minneapolis is easily navigated from end to end using an e-bike.
1. New York
What needs to be said about New York City being at the top of the list of best cities to ride bikes in the United States? The capital of culture, history, industry, and finance, NYC is the largest city (by far) in the country. Skip the subways and use an e-bike to efficiently get wherever you need to go!
If you are looking for the best cities to ride bikes in the United States, or a great place for electric bike commuting, then this is a great ranking with which to begin your search.
