The invaluable benefits of cycling are recognized in modern societies. Cycling is believed to reduce the risk of cancer, lessen disease, improve well-being, and prevent you from becoming overweight. Aside from its health benefit, another observed advantage of cycling is its growing popularity as alternative transportation.
With its lack of fuel use and small space consumption on the road, cycling has become a priority of several jurisdictions as part and parcel of transforming megacities and even smaller areas into livable townships. One of the manifestations of recognizing cycling as a good transport option is the establishment of bike lanes and parking areas specially designated for bikes only.
With cycling being an eco-friendly and efficient alternative, there is no apparent harm in the exercise except if you do not properly maintain your bike. That is why bikers need to check their bikes from time to time and make necessary adjustments so that it’s always roadworthy. If you bike most of the day, better match your cycling experience by purchasing a pioneer power meter to know whether you have reached your optimal performance.
If you really want to choose cycling as part of your daily life, you might want to consider living in top cycling cities in the United States. In this brief summary, you get to know which cities are the best places for riders.
Chicago’s Bike Passion
Biking is something that Chicago puts in high regard. Having 170 miles of bike lanes in the city is sufficient proof that Chicago values bikers. Around 117 miles of this is allotted as on-street bike lanes while shared bike lines extend to more than 30 miles.
And it does not end there as it was announced earlier that additional bike lanes with an estimated length of 30 miles will be added to ensure that bikers have a place in the Windy City. Bikers are recommended to try the 18.5-mile Lakefront Trail.
Bike Sharing in Washington, DC
Oddly enough, Washington, DC, is the best place for people who have always wanted to try out cycling but do not have a bike. Is that even possible? The District of Columbia makes it so by implementing the first bike-sharing program in the United States.
Starting with 120 distributed bikes in different stations, the number of bikes shared by residents has increased to 1,670. There are now more than 170 stations across DC where residents can simply use the available bikes to reach different places in the area. If you are short and can’t afford buying your own bike, you still won’t have any excuse in this city not to try out this eco-friendly alternative.
Aside from the option to bike share, an estimated 109 miles of trails, bike lanes, and cycle tracks are in place to make your cycling experience a comfortable and accessible one. The multiuse paths and on-road routes of Rock Creek Park are recommended areas to do cycling activities in Washington, DC.
Time-Efficient Cycling in Denver
Denver has a different cycling offering among other cities. It is observed that riding a bike around Denver is completely easy and takes just a relatively short time. The city has a very accessible downtown area, with trails that crisscross to every part of the city.
With your bike, you can easily reach different places in just a day. You can see the riverfront and the famed Botanical Gardens, shop at thrift shops and specialty stores, and visit the museum districts. There are about 850 miles of paved trails aside from the hundreds of miles of bike lanes and off-road trails in Denver.
Moreover, the Mile-High City is generally sunny, with an average of three hundred days of sunshine annually. This means that there are less chances of rain to keep you from cycling. You may start your journey in Denver by taking the Cherry Creek bike path to see the picturesque cherry blossoms in the spring.
Madison Is Wisconsin’s Bike Haven
In Wisconsin, Madison holds the reputation of being the state’s bike haven due to the widespread bike trail systems. Madison also has the largest population of bike owners in the same state. Aside from 275 miles of bikeable trails and ways, the city offers unique and adventure-friendly cycling experiences such as the Lake-to-Lake Trail and Blue Mound State Park’s three-mile trail. For starters, you may try the Ride the Quarry trail, which is described as a natural roller coaster.