Top 10 Bicycle Cities in the World

Based on the index developed by the Copenhagenize Design Company to rank the most bicycle-friendly cities in the world, the following cities made the most recent update (2017) for the top 10 bicycle cities, out of a total list of 136 ranked cities/metro areas. Cities are given between 0 and 4 points in 14 different categories. The Copenhagenize Index gives cities marks for their efforts towards re-establishing the bicycle as a feasible, accepted and practical form of transport. Bicycle Cities works towards assisting cities around the world to improve their ranking and become more bicycle friendly for all their inhabitants.

Read about the benefits and research of bicylce cites

Benefits of Cycling

Copenhagen, having spent Euro134m on its cycling network, reached the number one spot in 2015 and has held this position ever since. 62% of its 778,000 (2018) inhabitants ride bicycles on a daily basis.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=NAr5sB6aivk

Visit Copenhagen

Utrecht, with a population of 345,000 (2017), and a bicycle modal share of 60%, boasts the world’s largest bicycle parking facility, with a capacity of 12,500.

Visit Utrecht

Amsterdam, where almost 60% of the city’s 850,000 population (2017) ride bicycles, has long been seen as the foremost capital city for cycling, and still reaches a combined 2 million km a day by bicycle.

Strasbourg (279,000 inhabitants in 2016) has a bicycle modal share of 19%, and is copied by many other French cities. It’s Vélhop bike share scheme ranks as one of the best in the world.

Malmo in Sweden encourages regular and cargo bike cycling, and its 312,000 (2017) population have the opportunity to use a fancy new residential bicycle hotel.

Bordeaux (246,000 inhabitants in 2014) has built a powerful political and advocacy base – resulting in a Euro 75m infrastructure budget, with the aim to secure the top cycling spot amongst French cities.

Antwerp is carefully and deliberately building strong bike networks of bridges and paths alongside the harbour to expand levels of cycling for its 1.2m population.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=SC7BkI3q_2k

Ljubljana’s population of 290,000 (2018) has the political and social will to increase its modal split from 20% to 30% in the coming years. It also holds the title as the European green capital.

With a population of 38.1m (2018), Tokyo is the largest city in the world. Some 20% of the 20m commuters ride bicycles, rising to 30% in some areas.

Berlin’s 3.7m (2018) population has a powerful bicycle advocacy movement, resulting in 13% modal share of all trips, rising to 20% in some districts.