Top Three Cities to Discover by E-bike in the US
Updated: Jul 24
If you are tired of having to book a rental car or taking Ubers just to sight see, this is especially for you. We have found some of the best cities in the US of A to discover via e-bike. We based our list on cities with the highest bikeability scores, bike access, and things to do.
San Francisco, California
First up, we have a well-known fan favorite, San Francisco. Now San Francisco is not new to the bike-friendly game, the city’s first bike-friendly policy was introduced in 1973, so they are pretty much OG’s.
Check out this blog from Nina Near and Far to map out The Perfect Self-Guided San Francisco Bike Tour. This tour takes you through most of the main attractions and maybe some that aren’t necessarily on your list. If you follow this route you will see Crissy Fields, The Golden Gate Bridge, Land’s End, Legion of Honor, Cliff’s House, Alamo Square, and Lombardo Street.
For other ideas for your perfect San Francisco bike tour route check out SF Travel. Along with routes, they are also give some great suggestions for bike tour companies and bike rental shops around the city.
Remember, San Francisco is the hilliest city in the US and second in the world! E-scooters are a good option to explore some places in the city, but to tackle the majority of the city we suggest an e-bike!
Minneapolis, Minnesota
To many people’s surprise (ours included), Minneapolis has consistently been in the Top 5 of the Most Bikeable cities in the US. Minneapolis has been fighting the good fight for a bike-friendly city since the 1890’s. Today, Minneapolis is ranked number 4 when it comes to the most bike-friendly city in the US, with a bikeability score of 83 out of 100. The city has 16 miles of protected bikeways, 98 miles of bike lanes, and 101 miles of off-street bike trails.
One of the city’s most prized possessions is the Midtown Greenway, which used to be a railroad corridor, but now is a 5.5 long bike and running path. The Greenway has its own coalition and is always taken care, so you are guaranteed a smooth and safe ride rain, sleet, or snow.
You can find bike tours all over the city, but we’ve found a couple of self-guided tours to get you started. Traillink.com has a great self-guided tour with a map, that takes you up down and all around the city and notable sights. The city also recommends some great scenic options as well. You can’t go to Minneapolis and not see a brewery or two right? Well, Beer Dabbler couldn’t agree more! They've curated three great brewery bike tour routes ranging from 4 miles to 20 miles, depending on how thirsty you are.
Portland, Oregon
To no one’s surprise, Portland is THE top bikeable city in the US of 2022. Portland, like San Francisco have held the top spots for the most bike-friendly cities in the US and we don’t think that will change any time soon! The city of Portland does a great job of making sure that the city is safe for cyclists, rain or shine! The city even provides some great bike routes around the city! With nearly 400 miles of bike lanes and paths, whether you want to be surrounded by nature or see what’s hip and happening in Portland, they’ve got something for you!
Along with the numerous bike rental shops around the city, Portland also has a bike-sharing program called Biketown, which is sponsored by Nike and Lyft. There are over 180 stations in the city of Portland, so you are sure run into one on your adventure through the city. Biketown offers some great suggestions to see the city as well. And again we had to throw in a brewery bike tour! Like Minnesota, Portland is another micro-brewey hotspot, and when in Rome do as the Romans do. If you are interested in doing as the Portlanders do, here is a great bike brewery tour.
Here is a bonus...just because we love you
Washington DC:
To many people’s surprise the nations capitol ranks pretty high on the list of the top bikeable cities in the US. Coming in at number 7, with a bikeability score of 70, Washington DC is a Mount Must when with comes to exploring on a bike. Jam packed with historical monuments, museums, and sights to see, the only way to see it all is by bike, better yet, e-bikes. According to AnytimeEstimate.com, Washington DC has over 100 miles of bike lanes and permits Class 1 and 2 e-bikes, which means they cannot go over 20 mph. With dozens of rental shop options in the city, you’ll be able to find one near you without a sweat.
Along with e-bikes rental shops, DC also offers a bikesharing option with over 600+ stations around the city. Along with classic bikes, the Capital Bikeshare in DC has e-bikes for all to rent and enjoy! Like in Portland, this program is sponsored by Lyft and offers a few suggested routes of popular trails and sights around the city. We found a great route that's 16 miles and let’s you see almost everything you wanted to see and somethings you didn’t even know existed! If you are looking for a little more one-on-one time with the monuments, try a night tour! We found a great FREE self guided tour by Day Tripper or there are tons of guided tours as well. But trust us, which ever way you do it, you won't be disappointed!
Do you think your city should be on this list? Let us know in the comments.
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