Is Your City a Cyclists Dream?
So is where you live a cyclist’s paradise or a pedal-powered nightmare? Whether you glide down smooth bike lanes or dodge potholes on your morning commute, some places really seem to prioritise cycling. Based on research into safety, infrastructure and accessibility, here are the top four European cities that make life on two wheels a breeze.
Top 4 Cycle-Friendly Cities in Europe
🚴 Utrecht, Netherlands
Fun fact: Utrecht boasts the world’s largest bike parking garage at Centraal Station, with space for over 12,500 bicycles! No more fighting for a spot.
🚴 Münster, Germany
Fun fact: This city has more bicycles than residents - around 500,000 bikes for just 310,000 people! That’s a lot of pedal power.
🚴 Copenhagen, Denmark
Fun fact: Since 2016, bikes have outnumbered cars in the city centre, with a staggering 675,000+ bicycles cruising the streets.
🚴 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Fun fact: Cycling isn’t just a hobby here - it’s a way of life! 36% of all trips are made by bike, and the city has a mind-blowing 880,000 bicycles for a population of 900,000.
Other Global Cycling Hotspots
Beyond these places, cities like Malmö (Sweden), Hangzhou (China), Paris (France), Montreal (Canada), Berlin (Germany), and Melbourne (Australia) also rank high on global cycling indexes. They invest heavily in making cycling safe, efficient and fun.
So What About the UK?
Let’s be honest - the UK still has a long way to go to catch up with its European neighbours.
In 2023, the City Rating Index included UK cities for the first time. The results? The London region leads the way in England with an average score of 69/100, far ahead of Greater Manchester (49) and the West Midlands (46).
Of the 20 highest-rated boroughs in England, 16 are in London. Hackney (82), Islington (82), and Southwark (80), all making it into the global top 20.
But it’s Cambridge that is the UK’s No.1 cycling city. With a score of 84, it ranks 21st worldwide on the global list. On the flip side, Leigh-on-Sea landed at the bottom of the UK rankings, coming in 741st globally with just 35 points. Yikes!
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