A few years back, a crashed desktop and water fried laptop had me spending quite a bit of time at the local library. I really got hooked and even after my computers were back in working order, the library continued to be one of my favorite spots. Part of my regular routine, whether I am at home or on the road, is to get to the library and go through many of the current magazines (it provides a nice break from a computer screen). Today, the spring magazine American Bicyclist caught my eye with the feature “Bicycle Friendly Community Yearbook” along with a picture of three young children riding the bicycle path in Jackson, Wyoming.
Besides the recreational and environmental benefit, with gas over $4 a gallon these days, who wouldn’t want to live in a bicycle friendly community?
Davis, California won top honors with the one and only Platinum rating. Population between 60 – 65,000, a small city near Sacramento and about 1 ½ to 2 hours away to Tahoe resorts. Article noted that “In the last ten years alone, the city has spent well over $14 million on bicycle projects.”
Here are some of the cities and towns featured in and around the mountains that you may be considering along with their bicycle friendly rating of Gold, Silver or Bronze.
Gold
Boulder, Colorado
Silver
Bellingham, WA
Fort Collins, CO
Jackson, WY
Steamboat Springs, CO
Bronze
Ashland, OR
Bend, OR
Burlington, VT
Chico, CA
Denver, CO
Flagstaff, AZ
Longmont, CO
Park City, UT
Salt Lake City, UT
South Lake Tahoe, CA
Biking everywhere in the summertime as opposed to always getting in your car … makes daily life more pleasant and just another benefit that I have found while living in a small mountain town.
I would like to spend a couple of months this winter in a warm, small, town, close to Colorado with nice bike trails. Any suggestions?
I lived in the Boulder area for a year and was able to bike pretty much all year round. You may try Arizona, around Flagstaff or Sedona if you prefer somewhere warmer.