I think we can all agree that the US is one of the greatest countries in the world. Sure, the system isn’t perfect; there are lots of things that need improvement.
As an avid cyclist, one thing that annoys me to hell about the United States is its horrid city infrastructure. You see, the US is synonymous with cars and ginormous highways. There’s no going around it; most cities in this country are simply car-centric - meaning you need a car to commute over the town.
Thankfully, things are changing. Pretty slowly, but at least they’re changing. With global warming ramping up every year, more and more Americans have started turning to alternative methods of transport - namely e-bikes. And since more and more people are turning to bikes for daily commuting, cities have started upgrading their infrastructure to accommodate this trend.
So, if you’re planning on visiting one of the US cities with your e-bike, I’ve compiled this short and sweet list of US cities best for e-bike commuting.
#1 Portland, Oregon
In my opinion, Portland is one of the best US cities for e-bike commuting. Why?
Well, this is because the City Of Roses adopted a bicycle urban plan almost fifty years ago. This makes it one of the safest and most popular cities for cycling.
Some studies have shown that nearly 6% of workers use bicycles to travel to and from work.
So, what is there to see in Portland? Well, the city is chock-full of artisan coffee shops and restaurants. And if you’re into riding on trails, you can visit the woods around town.
#2 San Francisco, California
San Francisco is famous for its hilly landscape set right beside a bay. Still, just because this town is so hilly, that doesn’t mean it’s one of the more welcoming to e-bikers.
Why? Well, the city planners have noticed more and more people are turning to bikes and have built a comprehensive bike lane network. Almost all major city streets have a dedicated bike lane, as well as tons of places where you can park your e-bike.
And as a cherry on top, San Francisco’s temperate climate is perfect for riding your e-bike all year round.
#3 Washington, D.C.
It shouldn’t be a surprise that Washington, the nation’s capital, made it on this list. This is because this is one of just a couple of cities in the US that had a successful bike share program.
Of course, the city also has an incredible bike infrastructure and is ranked one of the safest in the country. On top of that, the pleasant climate makes it perfect for commuting throught the year.
I recommend you give Washington a visit if you want to spend a couple of days just cycling around, visiting 160 of the city’s monuments and memorials.
#4 New York, New York
The first thing that most people think of when you mention New York are traffic jams, colorful insults, and pizza. However, NY has become more e-bike-friendly over the past couple of years.
The city planners are building more and more bike lanes each year. So much so that it’s become faster to commute with an e-bike than with a car. On top of that, you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for parking (if you can find a place to park your car).
If you’re planning on visiting New York, I recommend you visit it at summer since the winters there can be pretty windy and cold.
#5 Boston, Massachusetts
Boston is one of the most historically rich cities in the US. On top of that, the city has taken some of the notes from the European cities since it has a pretty impressive public transit network as well as tons of pedestrian walkways and bike lanes.
If you’re ever going to visit this town, I recommend you visit the downtown area and visit all the historic buildings and monuments. As for the best time of the year to visit, Boston is most beautiful in the summer.
Massachusetts Electric Bike Laws
#6 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Just because Philly is known for being a bit chilly, that doesn’t mean it’s not e-bike-friendly.
The City of Brotherly Love is home to a million and a half residents and is chock full of bike lanes and pedestrian walkways. In fact, there’s nothing stopping you from walking or cycling from one end of the city to another. This is impossible in some US cities because of those damned highways.
For the best cycling experience, I recommend you visit the Philly downtown area since it has specially designed bike lanes that will take you next to all the essential points of interest.
#7 Miami, Florida
Miami is ideal for anyone who’s looking for that sweet ocean breeze and sunshine all year round.
Although this city hasn’t been known for having the best bike infrastructure, that has changed quite a lot in the past couple of years - Miami has around 550 miles of bike lanes as of me writing this.
Thanks to this important change, more and more people are choosing e-bikes over cars for daily commuting. And since this city is in a tropical climate, you can ride your bike worry-free throughout the year.
#8 Seattle, Washington
Although it’s famous for being one of the rainiest cities in the country, Seattle is de facto one of the best cities for e-bike commuting.
The city has an amazing bike infrastructure that’s being expanded each year. Currently, you can safely e-bike through almost 80% of the city. I think that in the next five years, you’ll be able to reach every part of the city with nothing but a bike.
Sure, the rainy season lasts for almost 6 months, but the climate is pretty mild so you can ride your bike all year round.