Copenhagen, Denmark Montreal, Canada Amsterdam, Netherlands Amsterdam is a bike lover’s paradise and for good reason! According to reports there are more bicycles in Amsterdam than people, and locals even use bicycles to travel to and from work and school. Here, about 50% of all local trips are made by this mode of transport. This is how they get to work, buy groceries, go out, and visit friends. The capital of the Netherlands has an excellent infrastructure, parking lots, low-speed and wide bicycle lanes for safe overtaking, and special protection at intersections. For a scenic trail, follow the Amstel River south on the Ouderkerk aan de Amstel to see the landscape and windmills that inspired Rembrandt’s paintings and pass through the historic village of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel. Copenhagen, Denmark One of the most bike-friendly cities, in Denmark, the first bike lane was set up in 1892 in Copenhagen. Today, the capital has 385 kilometres of bike lanes. Today, nine out of 10 people own a bike and 25 per cent of people opt to bike when the journey is less than 5 ilometres. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that the capital city of Copenhagen is a paradise for bikers. The extensive Cycle Superhighway joins over 25 municipalities and the capital. For those who love design, there’s a 22-kilometer route that covers the buildings of innovative architect Bjarke Ingels. The Harbour Circle route offers 13 kilometres of waterside sites. Famous Tivoli Gardens is an easy ride from the center of the city. Montreal, Canada Make your way to the beautiful French-Canadian city of Montreal which is the most popular cycling city in North America. It has more than 800 km of bicycle paths, which are integrated into the Quebec Route Verte (one of the best in the world, according to National Geographic). In Montreal, the bicycle is considered part of the city’s transportation system, and there is also an annual Go Bike Montréal festival. The city’s most popular route for cycling is along the Bergé track, which connects the Verdun district to the western limits of Lachine, skirting the entire length of the St. Lawrence River and the NorthSouth axis. The twisting road in Parc du Mont-Royal also offer some of the city’s best views. This bilingual city, set on an island in the St. Lawrence River, has embraced bicycles in a big way. Now, the city plans to expand, by adding about 200 kilometers of protected, dedicated bike lanes over the next five years. It also has the first urban bike-sharing infrastructure in North America—the Bixi programme—making it convenient for travellers to simply rent a cycle and embark on a green adventure. Bogotá, Colombia It might be unusual to find a city like Bogotá in the list, but it is the best cycling city in Colombia, with the most extensive network of bicycle paths in Latin America. Here, the La Ciclovía tradition was founded in 1974, when every Sunday, a large part of the road is dedicated to pedestrians and cycling enthusiasts. Since then, Bogotá has been a leader in bicycle promotion initiatives and an example to follow. This city first tested the mobile app for cyclists, Biko, which promotes cycling culture and gives special bonuses for riding. Seattle, USA While most of the top bicycling cities are in Europe, a tourist favourite in the United States is Seattle. Seattle is one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the United States. One-third of the city’s residents use this mode of transportation regularly and the city has many beautiful places to bike and explore Emerald City. Tourists should remember that it has hilly terrain, but this problem is easily avoided if you get creative with your itinerary. Barcelona, Spain Barcelona is a firm leader among the best cycling metropolises in the world. Traffic is heavy in this city, but even beginners should not be afraid to take a trip through it. There’s a very high cycling culture and over 300 km of bike lanes. Barcelona is a lively city on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Beautiful hills surround it, so the best way to get acquainted with it is to take a leisurely bike ride. By starting at Plaça Catalunya and biking for a while you’ll cover most of the highlights, including Sagrada Familia, Arc de Triomf, and Casa Batlló. Take a right onto Av. Portal de l’Angel, left onto Carrer dels Arcs, then head to El Born, home to Museu Picasso de Barcelona. This route ends at Las Ramblas, a pedestrianfriendly walkway lined with cafes, bars, and shops. Barcelona recently started Bicing—bicycle-sharing programmes—across the city where travellers can simply rent a cycle by using a card that unlocks the bike. The best districts to ride in are Eixample, Gràcia, 48|LUXEBOOK|MARCH 2023 MARCH 2023 |LUXEBOOK|49
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