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League of American Bicyclists Ranks US States in Bike-Friendliness

Written by Colin McCaleb
League of American Bicyclists BIcycle Friendly State
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League of American Bicyclists BIcycle Friendly State

In celebration of bike month and to advocate improved cycling infrastructure in America, League of American Bicyclists just released their list of US states classified by bike-friendliness. Used in ranking were the criterion – Legislation & Enforcement, Policies & Programs, Infrastructure & Funding, Education & Encouragement and Evaluation & Planning. Placing first through tenth – respectively – were Washington, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Colorado, Oregon, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Maryland, Maine, and Delaware.

Congratulating these states, LoAB wrote:
“Washington once again set a high bar in 2012. With support from the highest levels of government, the state leads the nation in creating new bicycle infrastructure and using federal funds for bicycle and pedestrian projects. In 2011, the state passed a safe passing / vulnerable user law, due in no small part to the efforts of the Cascade Bicycle Club and Bicycle Alliance of Washington, which have some of the highest advocacy capacity in the country.

Also on the right track, Colorado and Delaware rose to #4 and #10 respectively in the 2012 rankings. Colorado exemplifies many of the qualities the League looks for in a bicycle friendly state, including a bicycle commuter mode share that’s more than double the national average, a bike-friendly department of transportation, and a top-notch statewide advocacy group.”

Click ‘more’ for the full list of states…

  1. Washington
  2. Minnesota
  3. Massachusetts
  4. Colorado
  5. Oregon
  6. Wisconsin
  7. New Jersey
  8. Maryland
  9. Maine
  10. Delaware
  11. Illinois
  12. California
  13. Utah
  14. Arizona
  15. Pennsylvania
  16. Iowa
  17. Virginia
  18. Vermont
  19. Michigan
  20. Connecticut
  21. Florida
  22. New Hampshire
  23. Georgia
  24. North Carolina
  25. Wyoming
  26. Tennessee
  27. Texas
  28. Missouri
  29. Nevada
  30. Indiana
  31. Louisiana
  32. South Carolina
  33. Alaska
  34. Kansas
  35. Oklahoma
  36. Idaho
  37. Ohio
  38. Mississippi
  39. Rhode Island
  40. South Dakota
  41. Hawaii
  42. New York
  43. Nebraska
  44. Kentucky
  45. New Mexico
  46. Montana
  47. Alabama
  48. West Virginia
  49. North Dakota
  50. Arkansas

Check out the full report here.
Colin McCaleb
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WV Cycling
WV Cycling
12 years ago

YES! West Virginia isn’t dead last any more!!!!

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Jake Schneidewind
Jake Schneidewind
12 years ago

Wow, I live in Arkansas…great.

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Seth
Seth
12 years ago

I don’t know which Massachusetts they are referring to, but it’s not the one in New England. This is quite possibly the least bike-friendly place to ride in the entire US.

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Chris
Chris
12 years ago

Hrm, always heard Florida was one of the worst. Top half isn’t too shabby..

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Clay
Clay
12 years ago

I think these are purely political rankings. I live in Oregon, but have spent a lot of time in Washington. Oregon is a much nicer place to ride a bike, no question, but Washington has a good advocacy group and I think that is what matters to an advocacy group like the LAB(W). If you go for a bike ride in PDX and you go for a ride in Seattle, you will see a lot more bikes in PDX and a lot more accommodations as well. Get out of the biggest cities and then you see the difference. You can ride a bike in the burbs around PDX, but you need to be in an SUV to survive the Seattle burbs. Plus, if you look at Eugene, there are more ways across the river by bike than by car. No city in Washington can boast that kind of accommodations for cyclists.

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Brattercakes
Brattercakes
12 years ago

@Jake Scheidewind

Me too! Are you racing any of the crits? (Liberty Bell and/or Bike Route)

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Zeek
Zeek
12 years ago

50th? At least we can have the most posts complaining about being last

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Chris
Chris
12 years ago

LOTS of politics in this ranking, and a statewide ranking overshadows some really great places within certain states. Little Rock and North Little Rock Arkansas are actually pretty friendly. There’s a thriving cycling community and lots of support from local businesses. And I used to live in MA, so I can confirm Seth’s observation that it completely blows to ride in that state.

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Jimbo
Jimbo
12 years ago

I think Northwest Arkansas is pretty bike friendly but the rest of the state is not, which is why we got a bad rap…

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Diesel
Diesel
12 years ago

CA ranked 12th? Who’d we pay off for that crazy pack of lies and BS? What a joke! Thank you LofAB–your list is a totally invalid and worthless. You could have just listed the states alphabetically and it would have been just as accurate!

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Gillis
Gillis
12 years ago

Diesel, I think Los Angeles is a good reason they are twelfth. If you counted just NoCal then it probably would’ve been higher.
Clay, don’t be a hater. OR and WA are both great places for city and rural riding, on and off road. If you think your place is the best, fine, you’re biased and this is just a list.
I’ve ridden a fair amount in both states as well and I think they’re both great.

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Diesel
Diesel
12 years ago

Good point Gillis. Most of SoCal blows as far as cycling is concerned. But at least not many people live or bike here. Wait…

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george
george
12 years ago

Maryland is an awful place to ride a bike, while Arizona is really nice. This list is all sorts of wack.

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