The world’s most accommodating and affordable cities for bike riders has been revealed in a new study, by personal finances website money.co.uk.
According to the Cycle Cities Report, Copenhagen in Denmark, Estonia’s Tallinn and Amsterdam in the Netherlands are the top three locations for affordable, safe and comfortable bike trips.
After researching a cross-section of cycling-related elements across 40 global cities, looking at bicycle and e-bike rental costs, cycling laws, bike paths, pollution levels, elevation levels, average annual temperatures and rainfall levels, a ranking score was assigned to each location out of a possible 280.
The study calculated the most kilometres of bike paths per resident in each city, with Timisoara, Romania and Geneva, Switzerland topping the table with 89km and 86km respectively. Furthermore, the flattest terrains for a smooth and effortless bike ride can be found in the cities of The Hague, Copenhagen, Tel Aviv and Helsinki.
Of the locations analysed, Chiang Mai in Thailand and Haifa in Israel emerged as the two cities with the highest pollution levels, the report said both cities stand to benefit from an increase of tourists and residents switching to bike travel where possible.
At the other end of the scale, the Finnish capital of Helsinki – one of the most affordable cities to rent a bike in – was revealed as the city with the lowest pollution levels.
Salman Haqqi, personal finance expert at money.co.uk, said: “Whether you’re an experienced cyclist who feels more at comfortable on two wheels than by any other means of transportation, or you struggle to remember the last time you sat on a bike, it’s worth researching how to ensure your cycling plans are as affordable, safe and straightforward as possible.
“Despite the fact that some, less experienced, cyclists might feel more comfortable staying clear of the road and riding along pavements, many cities also consider this disruption to foot traffic a finable offence.
“Finally, make sure that once you’re on your bike, that you don’t check your mobile phone or any other handheld device unless in a stationary position. Many countries class texting while cycling to be as dangerous as doing so behind the wheel of a car. Officials in Singapore are known to hand out three-month jail sentences for rule-breaking bike riders in some extreme cases.”
