Although they lag behind their European counterparts, American cities are becoming more and more bike-friendly. A growing number are launching bike sharing schemes -- New York and Chicago being the latest -- and bike lanes continue to grow in mileage nationwide (Credit: Flickr/Philly Bike Coalition).
While bike lanes are nice (when they're not blocked by double-parked cars, that is), nothing quite puts cycling on par with driving like a dedicated bike path. A great path can make city cycling a truly different experience: you can skip traffic, commune with nature and see the city from a new angle. In some cases, paths can even get you out of town as fast as you can pedal.
Some bike paths, naturally, stand out for truly elevating the quality of life in their cities. The 19 we found -- some of which we've ridden ourselves -- ought to be celebrated and emulated, and even built upon and improved.
To determine which ones meet this standard, though, we first had to ask what makes a great bike path.
For starters, many on our list are important commuting arteries that give cyclists direct access to business districts while avoiding city traffic and making few street crossings. A few, like Boston's Minuteman Bikeway or Philadelphia's Schuylkill River Trail, were even designed, in part, to bring commuters in from the suburbs where they'd otherwise be out of reach of mass transit.
Almost all are paved, and those that aren't are well surfaced with finely crushed rock and graded for ease of riding.
Most importantly, though, a great bike path is separate from traffic for all or most of its length. Our selections, for the most part, are rail trails, which are former railway lines that have been paved over and converted for non-motorized use. With one exception that was too good to leave out -- San Francisco's Embarcadero, in case you're wondering -- these paths are only occasionally broken by segments where cyclists have to share the road with cars. (All but one are multi-use, though, meaning they're open to pedestrians, inline skaters, and, in some cases, horses.)
They also happen to be exceptionally beautiful. All but three of these bike paths run alongside a body of water, and almost all are bounded by parkland, giving cyclists a decidedly non-urban respite from the stress of city riding.
We also looked at other factors: Does the path offer exceptional views of, and access to, the city? Is it good for recreational riders and tourists? Does the city take pride in it?
While there's no objective way to say one bike path is the best, we will say these are all strong contenders and there are doubtless many more we missed. Let us know in the comments.
- Mark Lebetkin, The Active Times
Americas Best City Bike Paths
(01 of10)
Open Image Modal9. Manhattan Waterfront Greenway—New York City(02 of10)
Open Image Modal8. Lakefront Trail—Chicago(03 of10)
Open Image Modal7. Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail—Austin, Texas(04 of10)
Open Image ModalAlthough the Lance Armstrong Bikeway may speak in name to the Texas capital’s love affair with cycling—and its most famous resident, recent unpleasantness aside—it’s the Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail that has the city’s heart. This 10-mile trail of easy-riding crushed granite loops around Lady Bird Lake (named for the late first lady, Lady Bird Johnson) right in the center of Austin. Popular among joggers as well as cyclists, the trail passes alongside Barton Springs, the aquifer-fed natural pool where Austinites love to cool off in the summer.Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Larry D. Moore
6. Minuteman Commuter Bikeway—Greater Boston(05 of10)
Open Image ModalAs with everything in Boston, function is closely tied to history. This 10-mile rail trail roughly tracks Paul Revere’s famous ride (hence the name) and connects the Greater Boston towns of Cambridge, Lexington, Arlington and Bedford. This multi-use path terminates at the Alewife ‘T’ station where riders can park at the “pedal and park” facility before hopping on mass transit.Credit: Wikimedia Commons/ArnoldReinhold
5. Cherry Creek Bike Path—Denver(06 of10)
Open Image Modal4. Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade & Springwater Trail Corridor—Portland, Ore.(07 of10)
Open Image ModalNamed the country’s best biking city by Bicycling Magazine in 2012, Portland boasts one of the densest networks of dedicated bike paths, greenways, and “bike boulevards” around. For a one-two punch of Portland’s best, take the Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade along the Willamette River and switch to the Springwater Trail Corridor. The highlight of the 1.5-mile esplanade is a 1,200 foot “floating walkway”—the longest of its kind in the U.S. according to Portland Parks and Rec. After leaving Portland’s heart, the path connects with with the 21-mile converted rail trail that heads all the way to the eastern suburb of Boring. On its way there, the tree-lined path follows the meandering Johnson Creek through wetlands, parks, a wildlife refuge and several of the city’s colorful neighborhoods.Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Cacophony
3. Burke-Gilman Trail—Seattle(08 of10)
Open Image Modal2. Boulder Creek Path—Boulder, Colo.(09 of10)
Open Image Modal1. Midtown Greenway—Minneapolis(10 of10)
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