PeopleForBikes 2025 City Ratings: How America’s Best Biking Cities Are Changing Urban Mobility
Explore PeopleForBikes’ 2025 City Ratings and discover how U.S. cities are reshaping their streets for cyclists and sustainable transportation.
Each year, PeopleForBikes releases a comprehensive analysis of the best American and international cities for bicycling. The 2025 City Ratings mark the eighth edition of this ambitious initiative, revealing a record number of cities approaching bike-friendliness and showcasing the transformative power of infrastructure investment and systemic thinking about urban cycling.
Understanding the City Ratings and Their Purpose
The PeopleForBikes City Ratings are a data-driven benchmark for bike-friendliness in American and global cities. Using the SPRINT framework and proprietary Bicycle Network Analysis (BNA) tools, the organization scores thousands of cities, enabling local leaders and advocates to measure progress, identify needs, and prioritize projects with quantifiable results.
- 2,901 cities were evaluated in 2025, making this the broadest assessment to date.
- Ratings inform communities where to focus investment and improvement for safer, more inclusive biking.
- Pioneering integration of the Great Bike Infrastructure Project, which tracks real-time infrastructure progress nationwide.
The 2025 Rankings: Which Cities Came Out on Top?
This year’s ratings highlight a slate of cities making headlines for their biking achievements. The 2025 edition is notable for:
- First-ever perfect score earned by Mackinac Island, Michigan (Small City)
- Brooklyn, New York, crowned best ‘Large City,’ overtaking previous leader Minneapolis
- Davis, California, remains a model for ‘Medium Cities’ with a high SPRINT score
- Paris rises to the top among international cities, Europe doubling down on investments
| Category | City | State/Country | Score (out of 100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small U.S. City | Mackinac Island | Michigan | 100 |
| Small U.S. City | Provincetown | Massachusetts | 96 |
| Small U.S. City | Sauk City | Wisconsin | 90 |
| Medium U.S. City | Davis | California | 81 |
| Medium U.S. City | Berkeley | California | 73 |
| Medium U.S. City | Corvallis | Oregon | 71 |
| Large U.S. City | Brooklyn | New York | 73 |
| Large U.S. City | Minneapolis | Minnesota | 72 |
| Large U.S. City | Seattle | Washington | 66 |
| Large International City | Paris | France | 89 |
| Large International City | The Hague (tie) | Netherlands | 89 |
| Medium International City | Delft | Netherlands | – |
| Small International City | London | UK | – |
How Are These Rankings Calculated? Introducing SPRINT
The City Ratings rely on the SPRINT framework, a unified system assessing six dimensions thought crucial to bike-friendliness:
- Safe Speeds
- Lowering vehicle speeds in key areas reduces the risk and severity of crashes.
- Protected Bike Lanes
- Physically separated spaces for bikes shield riders from car traffic and dramatically increase safety.
- Reallocated Space
- Diverting road space from cars to bikes and pedestrians gives cycling a higher priority.
- Intersection Treatments
- Designing intersections with features like dedicated bike signals and clear markings improves safety at the most dangerous parts of the road network.
- Network Connections
- Comprehensive, well-linked bike networks mean cyclists can reach more destinations comfortably and safely.
- Trusted Data
- Using evidence-driven evaluation rather than anecdotes ensures the effectiveness and equity of cycling improvements.
Cities that invest in all six areas consistently achieve high City Ratings.
Spotlight: The 2025 Bike-Friendliest Cities
Mackinac Island, Michigan: America’s First Perfect Score
This unique car-free island set a benchmark with a 100/100 score. Mackinac Island restricts motor vehicles, automatically prioritizing walking and biking. Its tightly woven, safe streets and network quality make it the gold standard for bike-friendliness.
What others are reading
Brooklyn, New York: Best Large U.S. City
For the first time, Brooklyn leads America’s urban centers. Recent infrastructure upgrades, which include new protected lanes and safer intersections, have vaulted Brooklyn past Minneapolis. Its robust cycling network handles heavy daily traffic while connecting diverse neighborhoods.
Davis, California: Medium City Model
A long-time leader, Davis’s consistent investment in separated lanes and low-speed zones, along with a strong cycling culture, keep it at the top of its category (81 points).
Paris: International Progress
Once dominated by car traffic, Paris’s recent investments in protected lanes and traffic-calming projects have fundamentally changed its streetscape, earning it the top international spot alongside The Hague this year.
Growth: Where Is Bike-Friendly Urbanism Expanding?
- More American cities than ever are crossing the critical threshold for bike-friendliness: 234 U.S. cities now score at least 50 points, compared to only 33 in 2019.
- Nearly 3,000 cities in 2025: 185 new small cities, 51 new medium cities, and five new large cities, with data collection improved by separating New York City’s five boroughs.
- Infrastructure progress is being systematically tracked in real time through the Great Bike Infrastructure Project, covering everything from greenways to protected lanes from concept through construction.
Why the Rankings Matter: A Tool for Change
The City Ratings serve several key purposes beyond public recognition:
- Encourage city leaders to identify where targeted investment can have the largest impact, especially when benchmarking against peer cities or regions.
- Help advocates push for prioritization of cycling infrastructure, using data as leverage for city council and planning departments.
- Drive friendly competition between cities, motivating them to adopt proven infrastructure improvements.
- Give cyclists and families actionable information to guide decisions about where to live, travel, or invest, based on safety and accessibility.
What Makes a City Truly Bike-Friendly?
According to PeopleForBikes and cycling experts, the following attributes define the best biking cities:
- Protected Bike Lanes: Fully separated from vehicle traffic
- Low Speed Limits: Especially on shared or residential streets
- Connected Networks: Seamless links between neighborhoods and key destinations
- Safe Intersections: Marked crossings, traffic-slowing features
- Inclusive Design: Facilities comfortable for riders of all ages and skill levels
- Cycling Culture: Public education, visible presence, and city pride in biking
Case Study: SPRINT in Action – The Chicago Example
Chicago demonstrates how applying the PeopleForBikes SPRINT principles can speed up the transformation to a more bikeable city. By focusing on:
- Expanding protected bike lanes across diverse neighborhoods
- Reducing traffic speeds with traffic-calming measures
- Designing safer intersections using best practices from around the globe
Chicago has already improved its City Ratings score and serves as a template for cities looking to make progress, regardless of size.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the best U.S. cities for biking in 2025?
Mackinac Island, MI (100), Provincetown, MA (96), Sauk City, WI (90) lead for small cities; Davis, CA (81), Berkeley, CA (73), Corvallis, OR (71) for medium; Brooklyn, NY (73), Minneapolis, MN (72), Seattle, WA (66) for large cities. Internationally, Paris and The Hague lead.
Which city earned the first perfect score for bike-friendliness?
Mackinac Island, Michigan, with a score of 100, achieved the program’s first-ever perfect City Ratings score in 2025.
What does the SPRINT framework stand for?
SPRINT measures six dimensions: safe speeds, protected lanes, reallocated space, intersection treatments, network connections, and trusted data.
How many cities are becoming more bike-friendly?
In 2025, 234 U.S. cities scored 50 points or higher on the PeopleForBikes City Ratings, compared to just 33 cities in 2019. This reflects substantial progress driven by city-level investment and advocacy.
How can cities improve their City Ratings score?
Cities can achieve higher scores by investing strategically in the SPRINT focus areas: installing more protected lanes, building network connections, lowering speeds, implementing modern intersection designs, reallocating space for walkers and cyclists, and using performance data to drive decisions.
Conclusion: The Road Ahead for American Cities
The 2025 PeopleForBikes City Ratings reveal a nation in the midst of a gradual but meaningful shift. With hundreds of new cities crossing key tipping points and a growing number of city governments prioritizing safety, equity, and sustainability, urban America’s future is looking brighter for cyclists. As localities harness data and inspiration from leading examples—both at home and abroad—the momentum for a more bike-friendly future is now undeniable.
References
- https://www.bicycleretailer.com/studies-reports/2025/06/24/peopleforbikes-unveils-2025-city-ratings-best-places-cycling
- https://www.bikelegalfirm.com/best-biking-cities-us-2025
- https://buycycle.com/blog/en/post/top-10-best-cycling-cities-in-the-u-s/
- https://www.peopleforbikes.org/news/2025s-best-places-to-bike
- https://cityratings.peopleforbikes.org
- https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/biking-cities-infrastructure-peopleforbikes-ratings/751418/
Similar Articles
Read full bio of Sneha Tete
