Our Favorite Bike Friendly Cities!
With summer in prime season, there is no better way to soak up the beautiful sun while staying active than hitting the road, BIKE style! Whether you are staying local or traveling elsewhere, getting on that bike is the perfect opportunity to get down and dirty around town. Check out our list of our favorite bike friendly cities!
The Los Angeles mayor called for a paradigm shift in how cars and cyclists share the road. High gas prices and ever-increasing gridlock certainly helped the cause, too. Last July, the city authorized the construction of 1,680 miles of bikeways. There is no better way to cut down on smog in this hotspot city than to hit the pavement, cycle style.
Filled as they are with old warehouses, brick factories, and hundreds of creative industries, the neighborhoods of East London at rush hour can feel a bit like a bearded, tatted-up Tour de France. Weekend rides, though, are much more relaxed. Start your immersion via a loose network of flower and craft markets, public parks, and bike-friendly canals that have further encouraged the growth of London’s rich cycling culture.
For more casual cycling than Manhattan's death race, cross the bridges to Brooklyn, where the scene is more serene and you can traverse a small world's worth of interlinking ethnic ’hoods in a day. The entire route is 27 miles -- an intrepid trek -- so therein lies the key to biking in NYC: Pick your start, play your finish by ear. There’s always a subway at the ready.
Today, the airfield is Berlin’s biggest park and a perfect destination for a summer bike ride. Start in the center of the city at the Brandenburg Gate and cycle through the layers of Berlin’s history, including the path of the former Wall, through funky Kreuzberg, shaped by waves of Turkish immigrants and German drop-outs; and finally, past the cemetery walls of the Luisenstadtische Kirche whereupon you hit the aerodrome. Make way for kite-flyers and picnickers, but there’s plenty of room here for everyone.
Portland is ranked as one of America’s top five most livable cities and THE most eco-friendly city. Innovative programs, from designated bike-only areas at traffic signals to free bike lights, make riding in Portland practical even for new cyclists. Once you’ve visited it, you will understand why. Portland is a green, clean and open-minded city that still has a small-town vibe. Gay Portland is one of the few urban cities that can stake its claim as being surrounded by mountains, forests, and waterways- all of which are great sites to see while on a bike!
Oz has nothing on the true Emerald City, also known as Seattle. Long derided as a haven for rain-lovers, there’s a big secret that Seattleites like to hold close: It actually rains less than most cities in the US, including New York City! This definitely contributes to this beautiful city's appeal as bike friendly. Seattle has a 10-year, $240-million bike master plan that seeks to triple the number of journeys made by bike and add 450 miles of bike paths.
San Francisco is saturated with gay people, history, and pride. The Castro is constantly pulsing with energy acting as a meeting place for all things diverse, and of course the Castro is, “the” spot for leisure time San Francisco gay activities and events- biking including! One of the best ways to get around town is on a set of wheels because of the beautiful sites to see. Commuter rails within the city allow bicycles; there's also a bike shuttle across the Bay Bridge during rush hour.
Chicago - a city famous for culturally and architecturally rich neighborhoods and stunning parks - couldn’t be better suited to the pleasures of the gay cyclist. Landmark skyscrapers and theater marquees loom over the downtown Loop and Near North sections, while countless boutiques and cafes thrive in the hip and gay-popular Lakeview and Andersonville districts, inviting you to ogle store-window displays and pass the hours sipping frothy espressos. The best part is that all of this is easily accessible by bike!
World famous for the eclectic music found in the area, Austin has a well-deserved reputation as the live music capital of the world. Gay travelers to this city will be pleasantly surprised by the large gay and lesbian population of what is quickly becoming “Gay Austin.” This hometown of Lance Armstrong has a policy to incorporate bike facilities into all new road projects.
The Mile High City is high on fun for the gay traveler. From outdoor recreation such as skiing and mountain biking to renowned fine dining, great museums, and, of course, an active gay nightlife. Gay Denver is a city for the active so don’t be surprised if you are floored by the tanned and toned bodies you see when walking around the city, dancing in a club, or catching some air on your set of wheels! In addition to ample bike parking, an impressive trail system and a vibrant cycling community, Denver has police officers and EMTs who patrol on bikes.
