As cities around the world strive to be more sustainable and liveable, bike infrastructure has become a key focus. The planners’ toolbox includes dedicated lanes and parking for bikes, comprehensive cycling networks, clever multi-modal integration and a raft of measures to reduce the danger from vehicle traffic. These initiatives have revitalised the urban environment in many places – and transformed how citizens get around.
In this article, we will explore some of the most bike-friendly cities around the world and highlight the efforts of Bicycle NSW to advocate for better infrastructure closer to home.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen is often hailed as the world's most bicycle-friendly city. There are 850 kilometres of bike paths, more than 62% of residents ride bikes to work, and bikes outnumber cars by five to one!
Just a typical morning on Copenhagen’s bike lanes. With such a critical mass of bicycle commuters, it is a political necessity to be responsive and supportive of cycling (Image: Dr. Louise through Bikecopenhagen.dk)
The city has invested heavily in infrastructure, including the creation of Cycle Superhighways (supercykelstier).
26 routes connect the city centre to the suburbs, providing a safe and efficient way for cyclists to commute. The development of the Cycle Superhighways began in 2012 and continues to expand, with several routes completed and more under construction.
The city also features smart traffic lights that prioritise bikes, air pumps along the routes and some very spectacular cycle bridges.
Lille Langebro is the newest addition to Copenhagen’s collection of active transport bridges. And it’s already used by 10,000 cyclists a day (Image: Rasmus Hjortshøj)
Every two years since 1995, the City of Copenhagen has published The Bicycle Account. This great document provides detailed insights into the city's cycling infrastructure and future plans to maintain its status as the best cycling city in the world!
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Amsterdam is synonymous with cycling. The city is equipped with an elaborate network of paths which are so safe and comfortable that even toddlers and elderly people use bikes as the easiest mode of transport. With over 800 miles of designated bike lanes, 38% of all trips are made by by bike.
The city has implemented traffic signals specifically for bikes and reduced speed limits for motorists to make streets safer for all road users. Amsterdam's commitment to cycling has made it a model for other cities worldwide.
There are swarms on bikes everywhere in Amsterdam. It can be hard for people walking to find a gap! (Image: Reddit)
The bike infrastructure has been developed over several decades, with continuous improvements and expansions. Challenges included retrofitting existing streets, managing traffic flow, addressing safety concerns, and pushing back against continued motornormativity.
The Amsterdam Bicycle Plan outlines the city's strategies for improving cycling infrastructure and promoting cycling as a primary mode of transportation.
Utrecht, The Netherlands
While Amsterdam is well-known for its great number of bikes, Utrecht consistently ranks as the nation’s top cycling city.
The development of Utrecht's cycling infrastructure has been ongoing for several years, with significant progress made in recent years. The city boasts over 420 kilometres of cycle paths and has implemented smart traffic signals and dedicated fast lanes for e-bikes.
Some of the inspiring projects and initiatives that illustrate Utrecht’s ambitions to be a bicycle-friendly city are outlined here.
Utrecht is particularly famous for its huge bike parking facilities which are fully integrated with public transport to make multi-modal trips a breeze.
The Stationplein in central Utrecht is the largest bicycle parking in the world with 12,500 places. Across the country, 47% of train passengers arrive at train stations by bicycle (Image: Credit: Jochen Tack / Alamy)
The Utrecht cycling policy outlines the city's strategies to promote cycling and double the use of bicycles for commuting by 2030.
Cycling is perceived to be so intrinsic to Dutch identity that the Dutch Cycling Culture has been nominated for a place on the national list of UNESCO intangible heritage!
Bogotá, Colombia
Bogotá is Latin America’s undisputed cycling capital. At the heart of its story is the iconic ‘Ciclovía’ event. Every Sunday, for over 50 years, 12km of major roads are closed to vehicles and opened for cyclists, pedestrians, and other non-motorised transport. 1.4 million residents regularly take to the streets to exercise and socialise. Ciclovia has inspired countless other cities to reclaim space for its citizens, improving public health and happiness.
Main roads fill with bikes every Sunday in Bogotá (Image: RCN Radio)
But Ciclovia didn’t have much impact on the use of the bike for transport, which was maligned as a symbol of poverty. Visionary Mayor Enrique Peñalosa turned this around, constructing staggering 540km network of bidirectional bike paths, or ‘ciclorutas’, over twenty years.
“A protected bike way achieves two things,” said Peñalosa. “One, it protects the cyclist. But second, it right raises the social status of the cyclist. It shows that a citizen on a $30 bicycle is equally important to a $30,000 car”.
By 2019, Bogotá had a cycling modal share of 9%, by far the highest in the region.
Bogotá's 2020-24 Strategic Plan provides detailed insights into the city's future plans. The long-term goal is to have 50% of total trips made on bikes or other micromobility alternatives such as scooters.
Seville, Spain
Cycling increased 11-fold in Seville in the space of a few years following the rapid roll out of a complete network of connected, segregated bike lanes. 80km was completed in just a couple of years from 2006-2008. Temporary infrastructure was used in places and some corners were cut for expediency. But everything joined up safely. And the citizens took to two wheels enthusiastically, with the number of daily cyclists rising from 6,000 to over 70,000 almost overnight.
The busy cycleway along the Guadalquivir River in the heart of Seville (Image: Seville Bike Tours)
The city now has 120km of bike lanes and a municipal bike hire scheme, called SEVici, with 2,500 bikes and 250 docking stations.
Although far from a paradise for bikes, Seville remains the poster child for unleashing sustainable mobility by focusing on fully separated infrastructure.
Portland, USA
With almost 400 miles (650 km) of bikeways woven throughout the city, Portland is consistently listed as one of the most bike-friendly cities in America.
Portland is known for its extensive network of ‘Neighborhood Greenways’, which use low-traffic streets optimised for cycling and walking.
Riding on the Northeast Hancock Neighborhood Greenway. (Photo: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)
The development of Portland's cycling infrastructure has been ongoing for several decades, with continuous improvements and expansions. Multi-modal integration has helped build mode share. Tri-Met buses have bike carriers mounted to their front and trams allow bikes inside.
The Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030 outlines the city's goals and strategies for promoting cycling and, critically, improving safety.
Montreal, Canada
In August 2023, the Canadian city of Montreal was awarded the UCI Bike City label for its commitment to elite and every-day cycling.
The greater Montreal area has over 3000 kilometres of bike paths, including the popular ‘Route Verte’, which connects various parts of the city and extends far into the surrounding regions.
The backbone of the network is the REV (Réseau Express Vélo or Express Bike Network). 17 wide, separated, high-capacity bike lanes that are comfortable for fast, long-distance trips cross the city and extend into the suburbs.
The Rue Berri/Rue Lajeunesse/Rue Saint-Denis REV route, which crosses the island of Montréal from north to south, has more than 8.7 kilometres of bike paths. (Image: Ville de Montréal)
The huge (11,000 bikes!) public bike sharing scheme BIXI is properly integrated into the public transit system. BIXI adapts a portion of its fleet for winter riding with studded tyres and non-slip pedals, a first in North America. The famously cold and snowy winters are no longer a deterrent to city cycling.
Montreal has also experimented with large scale summer street closures. 11 major arteries are shut to cars and opened to festive activities, lively dining terraces, and local markets. The city is committed to turning the tide on car dominance!
Rue Wellington, which ranked number one on Time Out's list of the coolest streets in the world two years ago, is much better for bikes without the cars! (Image: Ville de Montreal)
In 2020, the modal share for cycling on the island of Montreal was 3.3%, and the city has the ambitious objective of increasing that percentage to 15%. The 2023–2027 Vision Vélo strategy provides details of City of Montreal’s plan to expand the cycleway network with 200 kilometres of separated lanes over the next five years.
Bike riders enjoying the Route Verte from Victoria Bridge to Sainte-Catherine in Montreal (Photo: Adobe Stock)
Taipei, Taiwan
Taiwan earned its Bicycle Kingdom monicker in the 1980s, when the island’s factories turned out more bikes than any other country in the world. But until recently, the tangle of highways and swarms of scooters did not make for comfortable cycling.
Taipei’s mobility vision isn’t about creating a bike-commuting capital. Instead, the city has worked tirelessly to embed cycling in a liveable, safe and inclusive urban ecosystem.
An extensive river bikeway network, which provides well-maintained and congestion-free routes to Taipei’s nooks and corners, has been central to this mission. In addition, cycling on footpaths was legalised, encouraging women to take to two wheels.
The Sanying Longyao Bridge stretches above Yingge River and connects the bicycle trails of New Taipei City and Taoyuan City with some serious pizazz (Image: Adobe Stock)
The YouBike public bike-sharing system has become immensely popular among both residents and tourists. With a daily turnover rate of 8.3 trips per bike and 200,000 users per month, usage figures match the world’s best. Check out our recent article for more on YouBike.
Taipei's efforts have significantly increased cycling rates and reduced traffic congestion. A 2014 ECF report showed cycling mode share in Taipei stands at 5.5%. The Taipei City Government website outlines the city's activities to promote cycling.
Promoting bike-friendly infrastructure in NSW
The world's best cycling cities have demonstrated the transformative power of bicycle infrastructure. From Copenhagen's supercykelstier to Bogotá's ciclorutas, these initiatives have improved public health, reduced traffic congestion, and contributed to environmental sustainability.
Here in NSW, Bicycle NSW advocated for policies and infrastructure that support cycling for nearly 50 years.
As the peak body for cycling, Bicycle NSW played a key role in the development of the 2023 NSW Active Transport Strategy, which aims to double the number of walking and cycling trips within the next two decades. Ongoing campaigns support safe e-mobility, the delivery (finally!) of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, rail trials and more active travel to schools.
Our campaigns, project updates, policy news and recent submissions can be found in the Advocacy section of the website.
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