Bicycles: No $4 Gas Required
June 19, 2008. While many Americans might still be happy to drive to luxury vacation rentals this year, they are still cutting back overall on their total driving. Americans drove 1.4 billion fewer miles in April this year than they did in April 2007, according to media reports.
That's boosted public transit in a big way. Does that mean more people are riding bicycles, too?
It's hard to tell, since the government doesn't track those numbers. But Forbes Traveler has identified America's Top Ten Friendliest Bicycle Cities. Bicycling is a great way to see a place. Not only does it cost less than driving, but the slower pace allows cyclists to enjoy the scenery more and notice things that would otherwise be a blur.
With 164 miles of bike lanes and 66 miles of bike paths, not to mention other bicycle-friendly road zones, Portland, Oregon, takes the cake as America's most bicycle friendly city. That makes it just as easy to stay on the outskirts of town.
Montreal, Quebec, tops that, with 200 miles of bicycle trails. Of course, it's a much larger city. But numerous cycling events cement this town's affinity for two-wheelers, and the European attitude conveys an attitude of respect that is sometimes lacking in American towns.
