Tag Archives: Bike Friendly States

Best States For Bicycling

The League of American Bicyclists released its annual Bicycle Friendly State rankings Monday to kick off the first day of National Bike to Work Week, May 11th – 17th.  For the eighth year in a row, Washington was named the most bicycle-friendly state in the country; while Minnesota retained its number two position for the second year; and other states like Massachusetts and Utah rose in the ranking.

The rankings are based on policies and infrastructure funding strategies that encourage people to get on bicycles. Surveys are completed by state transportation departments and bicycling advocates that assess progress in five categories (PDF): legislation and enforcement, policies and programs, infrastructure and funding, education and encouragement, and evaluation and planning.

Bike-friendly Minnesota (PDF) was runner-up for the second year for meeting much of the same criteria. It’s also one of 25 states that has enacted a safe-passing law requiring drivers to maintain a distance of at least 3 feet when passing a cyclist.

President Andy Clarke said the league was encouraged to see “measurable progress and improvement in many states, citing Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Utah as examples of states that have made gains through state-funded projects related to cycling infrastructure.

“We hope to see continued improvements as more statewide leaders recognize and invest in the many benefits bicycling has to offer,” Clarke said in a statement.

The complete rankings are as follow:

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

Source: League of American Bicyclists