Evaluating 3,019 U.S. municipalities, the nonprofit updated its methodology this year to incorporate fresh census data and revised safety standards from the National Association of City Transportation Officials. This shift allows for a more precise measurement of how effectively bike networks link residents to essential destinations like jobs, healthcare, and schools. Under these rigorous criteria, 555 communities surpassed the score of 50, the benchmark for a network capable of supporting reliable daily transit.

Among large urban centers, Brooklyn leads the pack with a score of 70, followed by Minneapolis at 68 and Seattle at 66. Smaller locales proved exceptionally adept at integration, with Mackinac Island, Michigan; Crested Butte, Colorado; and Old Orchard, Pennsylvania, each achieving a perfect score of 100. Hoboken, New Jersey, topped the medium-sized category with an 83. Jenn Dice, president and CEO of PeopleForBikes, describes the ratings as a roadmap for local leaders to identify gaps in their urban planning and prioritize safety investments. The full index is available for public review at cityratings.peopleforbikes.org.