The brawny and active tourist of today is not content with public transportation and car rentals to flit about between one city and another. Rather, this brand of hearty tourist views a vacation as a chance to get outdoors, blow off some steam and experience a new town by way of pedal power.
As the mainstream throngs get hip to the allure of tourism on bicycle, the demand for compatible urban areas has seen a sharp rise. A form of travel that affords a more leisurely, if not healthy pace from which to observe sights and scenery, bicycle trails that meander through tourism-worthy parts of the world are all the rage. In our hectic world, where the move to go green is more than a trend but pure necessity, it just makes sense to live and travel this way. Urban plans to accommodate bicycles has become more and more of a standard and tour operators who deal solely with avid participants and cater to their travel needs, have proven a sustainable niche in the industry.
So whether you fly to your destination with your precious gear and bike in tow or rent when you touch ground, here are some of the best and most agreeable towns in the world for bicyclists.
Trails that meander through historic Basel lead to one architectural marvel after another and indicate how special Switzerland is for bicycle tourism, with networks that connect most major towns of interest.
One of the most livable towns by any measure, with an envious quality of life, Copenhagen has a phenomenal free bicycle program in place for residents and tourists. As such, a good portion of the city is car free and superior paths abound.
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As a state, California is on the progressive side of the green movement and bicycle culture, with the city of San Francisco on the forefront. Although famous for steep hills, officials have done a remarkable job to prioritize pedestrian and bicycle access throughout the city in recent years.
Travelers between Bologna and Venice would be wise to stop in Ferrara. The town on the Po River is a World Heritage Site and boasts a history well over a thousand years old. A veritable secret to outsiders, Ferrara inspires awe from the seat of a bicycle.
The modern metropolis of Berlin is a world leader in culture and urban quality of life. With almost half of residents without a car and over 80 km of bicycle paths, the city offers a superlative place to tour on wheels.
Stalwart Norway has set forth a pro-cycle agenda that is decidedly ambitious. Trondheim is a great example, with enviable access points and a lift that lugs weary riders over the burly terrain of the ancient town.
With a plethora of attractions, Barcelona can elicit vertigo. A recent step by city officials to ease traffic in the metropolis however, has been a boon for visitors. A free bicycle program, with 100 access points across Barcelona, signals happy days for active tourists.
The bicycle trails that flow around the island of Montreal take visitors through the most scenic areas of the city and suburbs, from the Lachine Canal to the Saint Lawrence Seaway, from iconic Mount Royal to the island home of the F1 Grand Prix race and Montreal Casino.
The ancient town of Munster is the bicycle capital of Germany. With a population of over a quarter million, 40% of residents cycle to work and for recreation every day. As a result, the town has a number of unusual cycle-friendly features, from traffic lights to underground space to deposit over 3,000 bicycles.
For recreational activity, the state of Oregon is among the best in the United States. The town of Portland in particular, is ground zero for the green movement and as such, has gone beyond the pale to appease bicycle lovers. The trail network around the city exceeds 400 km.
Another illustrious example of Norway’s avid support of active lifestyles, Sandnes is not only the bicycle capital of the country, but was once the home of manufacturer DBS. With bicycles part of the city fabric, there are a number of brilliant trails that wind around town, as well as a terrific public rental system.
What other town but Amsterdam could top a list of bicycle-friendly places around the world? The Netherlands is a veritable hub of cycle culture and the most notable city in the country is rife with bicycle traffic. Over 40% of residents commute with bicycles in Amsterdam and as such, urban development considers non-vehicle traffic first, not the other way around. Certainly a breath of fresh air for tourists on wheels who marvel at the network of paths that crisscross this beautiful world capital.
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