What could be better than riding around the city on a bike? Only riding a bike in an unfamiliar city, exploring its attractions.
Bicycle is the most popular transport in the world. In this post I will tell you about the 20 most cycling cities in the world.
Copenhagen, Denmark
- Population: ≈1.2 million people.
- Rental: Bycyklen.
- Prices (Deposit): monthly subscription — $13.
In Copenhagen, about 35% people are cyclists. The authorities have ambitious plans to transfer 50% of the working population to bicycles by 2015. Almost every local resident has his own bike, and tourists and “horseless” citizens available about 2,000 bike rental centers. The city has 400 km of Bicycle paths.
Tokyo, Japan
- Population: ≈13 million people.
- Rental: CogiCogi.
- Price (mortgage): the monthly subscription — us $5.3; year subscription — $54.
Tokyo is a huge metropolis with a developed transport network, including Cycling. After all, it is much faster — no traffic jams, and more useful — the Japanese monitor health. Do not be surprised if you see a clerk in an expensive suit with a briefcase and a Bicycle. Special bicycle parking and rental services are available everywhere. All private bikes are registered with the police, given a unique number and a plate with the name of the owner on the frame.
Barcelona, Spain
- Population: ≈1.6 million people.
- Rental: Bicing.
- Prices (Deposit): first 30 minutes — free; every next 2 hours — €0,74; subscription for the year — €47,16.
Cycling originated in Barcelona in 2007 and becomes more and more popular. Nowadays, more than 30 000 residents of Barcelona are cyclists. The city has about 100 rental stations: any resident or tourist can take the bike, leaving a deposit, and then return to the same or another place. The number of parking is also constantly increasing.
Portland, United States
- Population: ≈576 thousand people.
- Rental: Alta Bicycle Share
Portland (Oregon) is one of the greenest and most cycling cities in the United States. About 9% of the locals use bicycles in their daily lives. The city has a huge number of bike trails (over 400 km), including mountain bikes. In addition, anyone can take a course of cycling.
Paris, France
- Population: ≈2.2 million people.
- Rental: Vélib’.
- Price (Deposit): rent for a day or €1,7; subscription for a week — €8; year subscription is €29.
Paris is one of those capitals where the problem of air pollution by car exhaust is acute. Therefore, more and more locals and visitors of the French capital are switching to bicycles. Today in Paris, there are about 1,500 free bike parks and more than 100 rental locations (conveniently located near the metro and bus stops).
Dublin, Ireland
- Population: ≈506 thousand people.
- Rental: Dublinbikes.
- Prices (Deposit): first hour — free; over 1 hour — €0.5; over 4 hours — €6.5; rental for 3 days — €5; subscription for a year — €20.
4% of cyclists (6-7% in the сentral districts) of the total number of Dublin residents is not too much in comparison to such bicycle cities as Amsterdam and Copenhagen. But, according to experts, soon the Irish capital will become a real Bicycle Paradise. Since 2006, the number of bikes in the city has doubled, and by 2021 the city authorities plan to five times increase the network of bicycle paths.
Montreal, Canada
- Population: ≈1.6 million people.
- Rental: Bixi.
- Prices (Deposit): first 30 minutes — free of charge; daily rental — $5 (for club members); monthly subscription — $31.25 (for club members); yearly subscription — $82.5 (for club members).
This is the most equipped city for cyclists in Canada. Bike modernization began here in the 1980s. Since then, the authorities have invested about $134 million in the city’s infrastructure to make it convenient for cyclists. Now in Montreal, there are about 600 km of Bicycle paths, hundreds of Parking lots and rental stations. Residents of Montreal are using the system to rent bikes to ride to work, and in other cases.
Berlin, Germany
- Population: ≈3.4 million people.
- Rental: Call a Bike.
- Prices (Deposit): first 30 minutes — free of charge; each minute (starting from 31st) — €0,08; rental per day — €15.
The development of Cycling in Berlin began in the early 2000s. A state program was adopted, providing for the construction of infrastructure (paths, Parking, rental and repair points, etc.) and various incentives for people moving on bicycles. So, recently Berlin introduced the “green wave”: now cyclists do not need to stop at a red traffic light. About 13% of Berliners (in some areas of the city – 20-25%) — are avid cyclists.
Bogota, Colombia
- Population: ≈7.4 million people.
- Rental: Cycling in bogotá yet
Bogota is the capital of Colombia and perhaps the most Cycling city in Latin America. They developed an extensive network of bike paths and 300 km. To improve the environmental situation in the city, the government began to encourage cyclists and decorate the town with greenery. Every year in bogotá held a day without a car — Ciclovia, when traffic is blocked for cars and everyone switches to bikes. Moreover, the same thing happens every Sunday in the Central streets of the city.
Budapest, Hungary
- Population: ≈1.7 million people.
- Rental: Bubi.
- Prices (collateral): first 30 minutes are free; rental car for the day — $2,3; hire for 3 days — $4,5; year subscription — $85.
The Hungarian capital is experiencing a real bicycle boom. Two decades ago, the bike was more like an entertainment (to ride on a weekend somewhere outside the city), and now Budapest is one of the most adapted for Cycling cities in Europe. By 2011, 144 km of Bicycle paths have been laid in Budapest, and in 2013, the city bike rental system was organized.
Beijing, China
- Population: ≈21 million people.
- Rental: Beijing Bike Share.
- Prices (Deposit): first hour — free; each subsequent hour – $0.2.
Beijing is not only the economic and cultural capital of China, but also a bicycle. The city officially counts more than 11 million bikes (by law the bicycle as a machine, need to register). But the environmental situation in Beijing still leaves much to be desired, so the authorities are actively developing urban cycling. They add new tracks, parking lots and open new rental points.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Population: ≈813 thousand people.
- Rental: Mac Bike, Bike City, Star Bikes and others.
- Prices (Deposit): rental per day — €4,4 (Mac Bike); rental per day — €9 (Star Bikes); rental for 4 hours (Bike City) — from €10 (depending on the bike and the time of year).
Amsterdam is the Bicycle capital of Europe. More than 40% of urban traffic is cycling. There are more than 400 km of bicycle paths equipped with special signs and traffic lights. The city has many parking lots and bike rental stations. You can rent not only classics, but also children’s bikes, tandem and so on.
Basel, Switzerland
- Population: ≈171 thousand people.
- Rental: SBB.
- Prices (Deposit): ticket for a day — $20; ticket for a year — $246.
Basel is a quiet and picturesque Swiss town on the banks of the Rhine. That is exactly what you need for a bike ride! Moreover, in Basel all conditions are created for this. There are about 1600 Parking lots for bikes. All private bikes are registered with law enforcement and insured. Besides the riding to work, there is a bicycle courier service in the city. The most popular place to pedal in Basel is the “bridge of three countries”, connecting the French uning and the German Weil on the Rhine.
Malmö, Sweden
- Population: ≈310 thousand people.
- Rental: Stromma, Fridhem Sykel, Travelshop and others.
- Price (mortgage): rental for a day (Stromma) — $26; renting for a day (Travelshop) — $23.
Malmö is the third largest city in Sweden. However, it is only 19 km from Copenhagen. The city authorities have invested €47 million in the development of сycling — the construction of paths and parking lots, as well as holding “Days without cars.” About 25% of malmö residents are using bikes. The peculiarity of bicycle paths malmö — each of them has a name. They are named specifically to make it easier to find them by GPS.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Population: ≈6.3 million people.
- Rental: Bike Rio.
- Prices (collateral): first hour — free of charge; hire a day — of $2.3; subscribe to month — $4,45.
Sunny Rio is a very sporty city. Many residents run in the morning, surf and ride bicycles. Bicycle paths began to appear along the Copacabana beach before the climate summit in 1992. Since then, the network is constantly growing. The authorities pay special attention to the bicycle infrastructure on the eve of two major sporting events that will be hosted by this city — the World Cup and the summer Olympic games.
Antwerp, Belgium
- Population: ≈503 thousand people.
- Rental: Velo Antwerp.
- Prices (security Deposit): the rent on the day — €3,6; subscription for a week — €8; subscription for the year is €36.
Antwerp is the second largest and most important city in Belgium. Politicians in the local elections in 2006 promised to build 100 km of bike trails in the coming years. And by 2012 it was realized. Bike paths in Antwerp are painted red so that motorists are attentive. Today, 16% of Antwerp’s (which is more than 80,000 people) – are cyclists.
Seville, Spain
- Population: ≈706 thousand people.
- Rental: Ayuntamiento de Sevilla.
- Prices (Deposit): first 30 minutes — free, subscription for a week — €5.
Spanish Seville is one of those cities where cycling is intensively developing. Take a look: in 2006, only 0.5% of residents regularly traveled by bikes, while today, that number has already reached 7%. In Seville, as in Barcelona, there is a developed network of cycling routes, and they are all in good condition. “Horseless” residents and guests of the city can rent a bike.
Christchurch, New Zealand
- Population: ≈341 thousand people.
- Rental: Nextbike.
- Prices (collateral): first 2 hours free of charge, rental for a day — $16; subscription for a week — $65; subscription for a month — $163.
Christchurch is the largest city on the South island of New Zealand, as well as the most cycling place in the country. Local residents scrupulously monitor their health, and therefore gladly change to bicycles. The picturesque nature promotes long cycling, especially since the city has created the entire infrastructure for this — even the highways are equipped with paths for cyclists. But the most amazing thing is that in Christchurch there is an open-air cinema for fans to pedal. Want to watch a movie? Pedaling on a stationary bike, or the electricity will run out.
Trondheim, Norway
- Population: ≈169 thousand people.
- Rental: Clear Channel.
- Prices (Deposit): subscription for the year — $19.
Trondheim is a small Norwegian town – the technological capital of the country. In Norway, cycling is very common. Trondheim is a vivid proof of that. Cycling was born here in the 1990-ies. Nowadays, the city has about 30 municipal bicycle rental stations, as well as the famous European Bicycle Elevator. He helps residents and guests of the city to climb the Brubakken mountain with an iron horse.
Utrecht, Netherlands
- Population: ≈313 thousand people.
- Rental: Civitas Mimosa.
Utrecht is located in the heart of Holland and is the largest railway junction of the country, as well as one of the most cycling cities in Europe (third place according to Copenhagenize). The cyclist — the respected participant of traffic in Utrecht. Citizens ride bikes to work, to visit, to the cinema, on business, etc. And the good infrastructure of the city allows that.
Whatever city you choose, riding around the city on a bike is a great opportunity to feel the real atmosphere of the city and enjoy all attractions.
