As governments around the world work to reduce carbon emissions, more and more cities are encouraging people to ditch cars and make it easier for them to travel by bike, Euronews writes. But which cities are the friendliest for cyclists? According to this year’s Global Bicycle Cities Index, the majority of them are in Europe.
Global Bicycle Cities Index “Luko” looked at 90 cities around the world and rated them according to 6 main parameters: percentage of bicycle users, weather conditions, crime and safety (e.g. accidents and bike theft), infrastructure, bike-sharing opportunities, and special events, e.g. ., days without a car. The final results are presented on a scale from 0 to 100 points. The higher the score, the more bike-friendly the city. European cities lead the list. They are rated for quality bike paths and weather conditions that allow cycling on many days.
Here are the 10 best cities in the world for cyclists:
10. Hanover, Germany
This German city has great parks, so what better way to explore them than by bike? Hanover topped this year’s ranking thanks to its quality infrastructure and cycling-friendly events, including car-free days.
9. Bremen, Germany
Bremen is another popular city for cyclists in Germany, with very flat terrain and cycle paths that criss-cross the city and connect it to other nearby cities. Bremen is also the first city in Germany to have an entire “bicycle zone” in the Neustadt district, an area with a speed limit of 30 km/h. and where bicycles have priority.
8. Bern, Switzerland
According to the index, the Swiss capital has invested heavily in quality cycling infrastructure, is highly regarded for bike-sharing, and regularly organizes ‘car-free days. The city also has a very low number of cyclist deaths.
7. Hangzhou, China
An unexpected appearance in the top 10. The Chinese city of Hangzhou is the only non-European city in the top ranking. The city has 30 percent cyclists in its population and has outperformed most competitors in bike sharing.
6. Malmö, Sweden
Due to the high-quality infrastructure and regularly organized cycling events in Malmö, cyclists are rarely killed.
5. Amsterdam, Netherlands
You might have expected the Dutch capital to top this ranking, but it may be because of security: Amsterdam has 100,000 cyclists and there are more than 1 thousand traffic accidents. This is almost 5 times more than its nearest competitor in Copenhagen.
4. Copenhagen, Denmark
In the capital of Denmark, it is safer not only for cyclists but also for bicycles, because there are few sidewalks. The city invests heavily in cycleway infrastructure, and the majority of residents who cycle do so during the long and harsh Danish winter.
3. Antwerpen, Belgium
This Belgian port city isn’t particularly bike-friendly, but a strong bike-sharing system and Car-Free Sunday events have made it decidedly bike-friendly.
2. Münster, Germany
Very few cyclists die in this German city, although more than 39 percent of residents ride bicycles every day. Münster also regularly hosts cycling events.
1. Utrecht, Netherlands
At the top of this year’s ranking is the Dutch city of Utrecht. The city boasts high ratings for cycling infrastructure and weather, and more than half of its residents (51%) use bicycles in their daily lives.