| The trend towards green living seems to be here to | | | | vests and equipping your bike with lights), road rules |
| stay with more and more people making life choices | | | | and more. |
| that benefit the earth and themselves. Take biking for | | | | With over 100 miles of bike lanes, Davis, California is #5 |
| example - formerly the mode of transport for your | | | | on the list. Davis was one of the first U.S cities to |
| local "tree hugger," biking is rapidly becoming the go-to | | | | incorporate bicycle lanes and cycling into its |
| choice of transportation for more and more | | | | transportation infrastructure. It even voted to eliminate |
| Americans. | | | | school buses a few years ago! Davis is currently in the |
| Need proof? Oregon's own hippie hub, Portland, ousted | | | | process of building a massive underground bike-only |
| Copenhagen as the # 2 Most Bike-Friendly City in the | | | | tunnel that would run the length of one of the city's |
| world! In Portland, all parts of the city are connected by | | | | main roads. |
| a varied network of bike lanes and trails (offering | | | | Back in Europe, Sandnes, in Norway, is #6 on the list |
| faster routes or routes with fewer hills). Other | | | | followed by Trondheim. Both of these cities were |
| American cities are also embracing the trend! In Davis, | | | | chosen by the Norwegian government as test cities in |
| California more people bike to work than drive. And | | | | 1990 to try to reduce car traffic and pollution. Clearly, |
| Chicago pledged to be the Most Bike-Friendly City in | | | | the program was a success! Trondheim is, after all, |
| the U.S by 2015! | | | | where the bike lift was invented. |
| Why is biking suddenly so popular? In addition to being | | | | At #8 is San Francisco with about 40,000 people biking |
| great exercise, biking is cheaper (no insurance, less | | | | to work regularly. |
| financial investment) and does not produce one single | | | | At #9 is one of Europe's largest capitals - Berlin. |
| ounce of pollution for our atmosphere. | | | | Despite having a population of around 3 million people, |
| Of course, Amsterdam remains the # 1 Bike City in the | | | | Berlin has managed to create 130 kilometer of bike |
| world (hence the nickname "Bicycle Capital of Europe") | | | | lanes and about 400,000 people bike on a daily basis |
| with 40% of commuters on two wheels. Amsterdam | | | | (accounting for 12% of street traffic)! |
| has extensive biking trails and lanes and a network of | | | | Last but not least is beautiful Barcelona in Spain. Each |
| safety set up to ensure that drivers treat cyclists with | | | | September, Barcelona celebrates Car Free Day and |
| respect and caution. To prevent bike theft, many | | | | the Sustainable and Safe Mobility Week where |
| grassroots organizations have popped up and the | | | | residents are encouraged to forgo cars and choose |
| government has invested in more public sheds (for | | | | bikes (or walking or public transport) as their mode of |
| temporary storage when you're out running errands). | | | | transport, and to educate themselves on eco-friendly, |
| Copenhagen comes in at #3 with 32% of commuters | | | | healthy transportation alternatives. The city designated |
| traveling by bike. One neighborhood, Christiania, is | | | | a "green ring" around the metropolitan city center that |
| entirely car free! And don't worry if you don't bring | | | | functions as a bike path and Barcelona currently has |
| your own bike - there are hundreds of rent centers | | | | over 3,000 bike parking spaces. |
| around the city which offer returnable deposits. That's | | | | Other notable North American cities making strides for |
| right - you rent the bike, use it all day, return it and get | | | | cyclists include Chicago, Ottawa, Tcson, Philadelphia, |
| your money back! | | | | Austin, and Montreal. Local organizations and |
| Boulder, Colorado is the fourth most bicycle-friendly | | | | governments are changing the transportation |
| city in the world and the second American city on the | | | | landscape in these cities by providing more bicycle |
| list. What makes Boulder's biking great is the variety of | | | | lanes, bike repair classes, free visibility vests and lights |
| public programs available that educate people on bike | | | | for biking at night, and more resources to get people |
| safety and maintenance, self protection (using safety | | | | biking! |