Hills, traffic, and crazy drivers aside, Seattle is the best U.S. city for cyclists. That’s according to a new report from Zillow. The real estate site ranked its hometown the top bike city in the country, followed by Portland and San Francisco.
Zillow considered the percentage of bike commuters, duration of bike commutes, rental listings with bike storage, and miles of protected bike lanes in 50 U.S. cities, to create its ranking.
“It’s hard to say whether bike-friendly cities attract cyclists, or whether cyclists influence their cities to become more bike-friendly. It’s probably a little of both,” said Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Svenja Gudell in a press release. “Bike-friendly amenities – like pet-friendly amenities – in apartments say something about the people who live in the cities on this list. These things often go hand-in-hand with a taste for urban living and an active sensibility.”
Seattle has seven miles of protected bike lanes and it takes approximately 27 minutes for the average bike commuter to get to work. Commuting via public transportation takes about 32 minutes. There are 42 cyclists per 1,000 commuters and 23 units with bike storage per 1,000 rental listings, according to Zillow.
Zillow conducted the study in honor of National Bike to Work Week, which begins Monday.
The top three cities on the list (Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco) also have some of the least affordable housing markets. Zillow says this may not be a coincidence. According to the company’s research team, “cities that prioritize protected lanes for cyclists are likely to have other regulations that may complicate development of additional housing units, driving up rent.”
Despite a struggling bike-share program, cycling still remains one of the most popular ways to get around in Seattle. The trend isn’t likely to slow down anytime soon, as Seattle’s tech boom continues to draw commuters, eager to avoid rush hour traffic.
Continue reading for the top 10 U.S. cities for biking.
