When you think about major cities, the word “cycling” doesn’t often come to mind. However, in Europe it’s making a comeback. Many European cities are very bicycle-friendly. Both locals and tourists are utilizing bikes as their main form of transportation. If you happen to find yourself in Europe and want to do some bike riding, here are our favorite bike friendly cities in Europe.
Berlin
Perhaps bicycling in Berlin is gaining popularity because there’s so much to see in Berlin that can’t be seen by car. There are also only a few hills that are steep so it’s fairly easy to get around. There are numerous bike paths in Berlin, known as Radewege.
Paris
Paris isn’t as bicycle friendly as some of the other European cities, but the use of bikes is gaining popularity thanks to a bike-loan program. Individuals can purchase a subscription to borrow bikes or park them in one of the docking stations. Bikes are pretty beneficial to tourists as they are a relatively easy way to get from one sight to another. There are also a lot of good bicycle paths in some of the parks, including Bois de Boulogne.
Copenhagen
Similar to Paris, Copenhagen has a bike loan program. Visitors can borrow bikes during the day to see the city. One of the more popular places to rent a bike is at the CPH since they have a variety of bikes available, including ones that have trailers in the front where children can ride. There are plenty of paths and bike lanes in Copenhagen as about half of the locals ride their bikes every day.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is known for its use of bicycles. Bikes are so popular in fact that there are even garages to store them. Despite the fact that there’s excellent public transportation, many individuals utilize bikes as their main way of getting around the city as there are plenty of bike lanes and the city is fairly bicycle friendly. There’s a great program called Rent-a-bike Damstraat where individuals can rent practically any kind of bike imaginable.
Barcelona
Barcelona is immerging as a bike-friendly city. They have a bike share system that has become quite successful. New bike paths are being developed often and the city is a great place to cycle in. Must See Sites in Barcelona is another post that may interest you so you can plan your bike route.
Budapest
Budapest is another city where the population of people who bicycle is continuing to grow. As bicycling becomes more socially acceptable as a main way of getting around, the country hopes to develop more programs to benefit bicyclers. Overall, the city is fairly easy to bicycle in and there are numerous sites that can be visited while riding a bike.
