Denver Named One of Most Bike-Friendly Big Cities in the U.S.

Denver is one of the top major cities for biking nationwide, even though it can't crack the top ten in Colorado.

That's according to a new study from Buycycle, which named the Mile High City the fourth best cycling city in the United States for 2025. The second-hand bike marketplace analyzed cities with populations over 300,000 based on cycling-related Google search data and PeopleForBikes ratings, including safe speeds, protected bike lanes and intersection treatments.

Denver was beaten only by first-place Portland, Oregon, which was followed by New York City and San Francisco.

"Known for its wide-open spaces, scenic parks, and access to mountain trails, Denver caters to cyclists of all levels," the study concludes. "Whether you're cruising along the city’s heart, or tackling the rugged mountain paths just outside the city, the city delivers a thrilling cycling experience."

Denver leaders have made a concentrated effort to improve biking around town in recent years. From 2018 to 2023, the city built 137 miles of new bikes lanes. An August draft revealed that city planners want to add 230 more miles of bike lanes in the coming years, with an emphasis on protected bikes lanes on busy streets. A new $3 million bike trail is already set to open in the Westwood neighborhood this fall.

The progress hasn't been perfect, however. Denver bike lanes have led to frustrations from some downtown residents upset over reduced street parking and having to cross bike and scooter traffic to reach their homes. On the other side, bicyclists often complain of parked cars and trash bins blocking the lanes, forcing riders into the street. Last month, the Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure began replacing some flex post dividers on bike lanes with speed cushions, causing more strife as officials attempt to balance biking safety with business visibility and aesthetics.

Without considering population or Google search data, Denver ranks just thirteenth in the state for bike-friendliness, according to the PeopleForBikes ratings used in Buycycle's report.

PeopleForBikes grades Denver's bike network as above average in five out of six categories — scoring the highest for access to shopping centers, parks and trails — but the city scores average for access to major transit hubs.

Here are the top ten Colorado cities for bike-friendliness, according to PeopleForBikes:

1. Crested Butte
2. Aspen
3. Boulder
4. Manitou Springs
5. Salida
6. Deer Trail
7. Longmont
8. Fort Collins
9. Louisville
10. Golden

Here is the national top ten for major cities, according to Buycycle:

1. Portland, Oregon
2. New York City, New York
3. San Francisco, California
4. Denver, Colorado
5. Minneapolis, Minnesota
6. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
7. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
8. Boston, Massachusetts
9. Detroit, Michigan
10. St. Paul, Minnesota