Boulder rolled in as the third most bike friendly city in the U.S. according to Bicycling magazine's annual rating.Portland, Oregon and Minneapolis, Minnesota were rated first and second.
Boulder was singled out for its substantial paths and bike lanes, along with having the second highest percentage of bike commuters after Davis, California. Bicycling magazine also cited a $49 million transportation bond which was passed last year that provides funding for bike projects such as the Baseline Path, which will connect East Boulder and the University of Colorado.
Valmont Bike Park was a key component to Boulder's number 3 ranking. Bicycling magazine called it “ a 40-acre bike playground with knobby-tire amenities for all types, including a balance-bike track for toddlers,” and credited it as a place where any ability level can ride.
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Other Colorado cities also made the list:
- Fort Collins ranked eleventh for its 310 mile cycling network and its bike sharing initiatives like the Bike Library, which has served more than 11,000 people since its inception in 2008.
- Denver rolled in at 14th. Like Fort Collins it was credited with its increasing bike sharing programs and its police officers who patrol on bikes.
- Colorado Springs was ranked 31st for the city's efforts to add more bike lanes and cycling facilities.
In order to be considered in their rating for the top 50 bike-friendly cities of 2012, the magazine looked at cities with populations of 95,000 or more, used data from biking groups and considered input from locals.
The cities also needed to have “both a robust cycling infrastructure and a vibrant bike culture,” according to Bicycling magazine.
The complete list of cities can be found here.
