In celebration of a Bike to Work Week and National Bike Month, we’ve updated our ranking of Most Bikeable Large U.S. Cities.

Portland narrowly edges out hilly San Francisco for the top spot, with Denver (home of the legendary B-cycle bike share) coming in a close third.

Top 10 Most Bikeable Large U.S. Cities

1. Portland (Bike Score: 70.3)

2. San Francisco (Bike Score: 70.0)

3. Denver (Bike Score: 69.5)

4. Philadelphia (Bike Score: 68.4)

5. Boston (Bike Score: 67.8)

6. Washington D.C. (Bike Score: 65.3)

7. Seattle (Bike Score: 64.1)

8. Tucson (Bike Score: 64.1)

9. New York (Bike Score: 62.3)

10. Chicago (Bike Score: 61.5)

Note: to keep our rankings apples-to-apples the list above only includes cities with 500,000 or more residents.

Smaller cities like Cambridge, MA crushed it with a Bike Score of 92 and Davis, Boulder, and Berkeley all scored in the high 80s.  Minneapolis also deserves an honorable mention with a Bike Score of 79.

Bike Score Now Available For 100+ Cities

Portland Bike Score Heatmap

Bike Score is now available for over 100 U.S. cities.

Type your address into the “Get a Walk Score” field at the top of this page to get your Bike Score.

Across the U.S. bicycle commuting grew 47% between 2000 and 2011. However, in cities that are making investments in bicycle infrastructure and education (which includes all of the Top 10 Bike Score cities listed above), bicycle commuting has grown 80% over the same period. This trend is leading a growing number of multi-family developers to build bike-friendly housing with secure storage spaces for bicycles and even putting repair shops in the buildings.

Search by Bike Time

Find a Bikeable Place to Live

With Walk Score’s unique apartment search by commute time you can find places to live within an easy bike commute to work.

If you’re still not biking, ask yourself if you’d like to be healthier, save money, and save the world.

More Details

• Bike Score is compiled from a data set that includes bike infrastructure, hilly terrain, number of bikers on streets and more.
• Want to add Bike Score to your site? Request a Bike Score API for your site.
• Contact us to learn how you can use Bike Score data in your research and analysis.

Bike Score: Built by bikers, for bikers!

With a Walk Score of 63, Sydney tops our first ranking of Most Walkable Australian Cities and Suburbs. To arrive at this ranking, we rated the walkablity of more than 100 Australian cities and 3,000 suburbs.  Read the official press release and our ranking methodology.

Australia’s 10 Most Walkable Large Cities

1. Sydney (Walk Score: 63)
2. Melbourne (Walk Score: 57)
3. Adelaide (Walk Score: 54)
4. Brisbane (Walk Score: 51)
5. Perth (Walk Score: 50)
6. Newcastle (Walk Score: 49)
7. Wollongong (Walk Score: 48)
8. Gold Coast (Walk Score: 48)
9. Central Coast (Walk Score: 41)
10. Canberra (Walk Score: 40)

Australians can also look up the Walk Score of their individual addresses and find Walk Score ratings on Harcourts.com.au, Homehound.com.au, realestateworld.com.au, WestRealEstate.com.au and other leading Australian real estate sites.

“Adding Walk Score to our real estate research products resulted in a significant uplift in our site usage,” said Tom White, CEO of PriceFinder.com.au. “The thirst for relevant and useful local information, from buyers, sellers and agents alike, cannot be overlooked and Walk Score provides this in spades. We especially appreciate the insights Walk Score brings to consumers looking to lower the cost of their transportation by selecting locations that suit their preferred transport options.”

Walkability Boosts Health and Real Estate Value

Walkable neighbourhoods offer a number of health and economic benefits. For example, a 10-year long study of Australians by the University of Melbourne found that walkable neighbourhoods with proximity to shops, parks and public transit improve people’s health and wellbeing. And, over the past decade, home values in Sydney’s walkable neighbourhoods have outperformed the rest of the city and can attract a 20% premium.

Apartment & Rental Search in Australia

Apartment Search by Commute Time in Sydney

Today, we’re also excited to launch our unique apartment and rental search for Australia. Search rental listings in major cities across the country by Walk Score and commute time and mode preference (foot, bike, transit, car) on the web and with our updated iPhone app.

Australian Real Estate Opportunity

Australian real estate professionals can now use Walk Score to their advantage. Showcase your properties and market yourself as a local expert. Boost your home listings with neighbourhood information including nearby amenities and commute times.

Learn more about Walk Score for real estate professionals.

Car-free trips might be the travel industry’s next big trend. Explore a destination by foot, rent a bike for a few hours, zip across town thanks to public transit and take a day-trip excursion via car share. You’ll save money and curb your carbon footprint. Walking around has always been the best way to see a destination and have an authentic, local experience.

What are the best US cities leisure or business travelers can visit sans car?

To answer this question, we examined the Walk Score, Transit Score and availability of car shares within a 15-minute walk of more than 5,000 hotels across the U.S. These 10 cities offer more hotel rooms in walkable neighborhoods and green transportation options than any other.

1. New York
2. San Francisco
3. Boston
4. Washington, DC
5. Seattle
6. Chicago
7. Philadelphia
8. Los Angeles
9. Honolulu
10. Portland

Travelers can save money, get exercise and lower their carbon footprint by walking from hotel to art museums, eateries, nightlife and shops while on a trip. And who doesn’t like the convenience of being able to get a cup of coffee, snack or drink without getting in a car?

Minneapolis didn’t make this ranking, but has the highest Bike Score in the US. Cycling and using bike shares are more ways travelers can go car-free. Meet Minneapolis Convention & Visitors Association’s Brandon Vasquez says, “Being a large city for biking, we always suggest leaving the car and using the our great public transportation options, as well as the Nice Ride bike sharing program. You can access a large majority of Minneapolis on two wheels, with two feet or via the mass transit system (bus and light rail).”

Travel trends point toward growth of car-free or car-light trips:

• Car Share Use Grows: Travel & Leisure’s most important travel trends for 2013 highlights changing travel preferences among Millenials and the growth of transportation-sharing models including car shares, bike shares and ride sharing. The New York Times reported that the number of people belonging to car-share services grew by 44% from 2011 to 2012.

• Bike Shares Expand: More cities are investing in bike shares where you can rent by the hour to traverse town or sightsee and many hotels rent bikes on site. Bike shares weren’t part of our city ranking for car-free travel, but several of the top 10 cities already have bike shares programs including New York, Boston, and Washington, DC.

• Travelers Seek Savings: Development Counsellors International reports that as travelers begin hitting the road on leisure trips in larger numbers following the economic recession, one thing remains constant – regardless of the cost of the trip, consumers are looking to get the most for their dollar. Have you checked the cost to park your car at a downtown hotel recently?

• Business Travel Shifts Gears: According to Carlson Wagonlit business travel trends in 2013, companies are looking to control ground transportation costs and to track carbon footprint and emissions from travel.

Find a Hotel Near Your Destinations

By popular demand, we extended our unique commute time search features to travel planning. With our new Hotel Search Demo you can now find hotels by travel time (by car, bus, bike or foot) to destinations, attractions or meetings and within close proximity to public transit, car shares and more.

Walk Score also just launched ChoiceMaps to show the depth of amenity choice like restaurants, public transit, car shares and bike shares. Below is a screen shot showing depth of choice of car and bike shares around Chicago. Learn more about our suite of products and services for travel providers.

Honolulu photo: Go Hawaii

A transportation shift is happening across America. Gas prices continue to rise. Car sales are down. Driver’s license ownership is declining. Car share use is up. And millennials, the largest demographic since baby boomers, are moving this trend forward across America.

Walk Score’s new car share infographic shows the top 10 car share cities with the most car share locations (pick-up and drop-off spots) and the top 3 neighborhoods in each city. Top 10 cities with hundreds of car share locations are:

1. New York City
2. San Francisco
3. Chicago
4. Portland
5. Washington, DC
6. Seattle
7. San Diego
8. Austin
9. Miami
10. Boston

Frequent car share user Suzzanne Lacey says, “I like that car shares allow me to have access to a car but not have to own one.” Lacey lives in a dense, but residential Seattle neighborhood and uses car shares about twice a month. “Parking is tough so along with city living and a lack of parking space, having a car just when I need one makes the most sense for my lifestyle.”

Search for Rentals by Car Share

Walk Score is the only place to search for apartments and rentals near car shares. Our “Gotta Have” apartment search allows you to filter your rental search by car shares (in addition to coffee shops and more).

More than 8,000 car share locations are listed on Walk Score, 7,500 of which are in 900 US cities. It’s easy and convenient for people to skip car ownership in favor of sharing, cutting costs, curbing their carbon footprint and living a more hassle free life. You can find car shares near your home, work or school on Walk Score’s site or iPhone app.

Notable Car Share Trends

Download Walk Score iPhone app.

Economic and cultural changes are driving the increase in car share use.

• Car shares save money: Average cost of owning a car is $9,859, while the average hourly cost of a car share is $9.64. If you drive less than 2.5 hours a day, a car share could save you money.
• According to the New York Times, “Last year, about 800,000 people belonged to car-sharing services in the United States, a 44 percent increase from 2011….”
• The millennial generation is ditching their cars in droves: “The share of new cars purchased by those aged 18-34 dropped 30% in the last five years, according to the car shopping web site Edmunds.com.” Source: CNN Money
• Driver’s license ownership down: “According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, just 28% of 16-year-olds and 45% of 17-year-olds had driver’s licences in 2010 (the most recent data available). In 1978, the corresponding figures were nearly half and more than two-thirds.” Source: The Globe and Mail
• Automakers are taking note: Ford Motor Company released a report on the rapidly rapidly changing auto trends. “Car-sharing services…, carpooling by Gen Yers, bike sharing and ‘multi-mix forms of mobility’ are all explored as signs of how consumers are changing their car habits,” writes Adweek.
• Americans drive fewer miles: Is the recession causing a temporary blip in car ownership and miles driven? Trends show the shift is more permanent. “…the move away from cars is bigger than the U.S. (and bigger than the recession).” Source: The Atlantic. A DC Streets Blog analysis reports, “Since 2005, Americans have been driving fewer miles each year. While the shift predated the onset of the Great Recession, the question of whether the decline in driving marked a sea change in the way we get around or simply reflected a drop in economic activity has been a matter of considerable debate.”
• Gas prices keep rising: It’s no surprise to anyone who fuels up. Aside from disposable income being less than any time in decades, gas prices keep rising, making car ownership costs also rise.
• Car shares offer self-service convenience: Car shares can be rented by the hour 24/7 vs. traditional rental car companies which often require a 1-day minimum rental. You can take public transit to work, then use a car share for a 1-way trip home to grocery shop. Car share locations are all over cities and residential neighborhoods vs. a centrally located rental car office, making car sharing part of every life vs. only on vacation.

Car Share Infographic Footnotes

• $9,859 yearly car ownership data is from AAA.
• Hourly costs is based on car share data from Getaround.
• Top model data is based on peer-to-peer car shares only (Getaround and RelayRides).
• Ranking is based on most car share locations per city/neighborhood.
• Car share providers on Walk Score infographic: City CarShare, Enterprise CarShare, Getaround, Hertz On Demand, I-GO, RelayRides, WeCar, Zipcar, car2go
• See more car sharing trends.

Vancouver, with a Walk Score of 78, topped Canada’s most walkable cities in our first ranking of Most Walkable Canadian Cities and Neighbourhoods. We rated the walkability of more than 300 Canadian cities and 1,200 neighbourhoods. (This means Vancouver is the Pacific Northwest’s most walkable large city, outranking our own Seattle by four points). Apartment search and Transit Score are also now available in most major Canadian cities. Read the official press release.

Canada’s Top 10 Most Walkable Large Cities

1. Vancouver (Walk Score = 78)
2. Toronto (Walk Score = 71)
3. Montreal (Walk Score = 70)
4. Mississauga (Walk Score = 59)
5. Ottawa (Walk Score = 54)
6. Winnipeg (Walk Score = 53)
7. Edmonton (Walk Score = 51)
8. Hamilton (Walk Score = 51)
9. Brampton (Walk Score = 48)
10. Calgary (Walk Score = 48)

You can now also find Walk Score ratings on Realtor.ca, RoyalLePage.ca, Centris.ca and other leading Canadian real estate sites.

“Buyers are factoring in what’s nearby in their search for properties,” said Marc Lafrance, The Canadian Real Estate Association’s director of product management. “Adding Walk Score to Realtor.ca provides home buyers with valuable insight into the location of a property and has been well received by our users. Walk Score’s new Canadian city and neighbourhood rankings are a great new resource for people deciding where to live.”

Walkable neighbourhoods offer numerous benefits:

• A recent Toronto Public Health study found overwhelming consumer preference for walkable neighbourhoods with a range of shops and services within walking distance, a short commute to work or school, and easy access to public transit.  The study further found that people living in walkable neighbourhoods have lower body weights and that walkable neighbourhoods contribute to better air quality and traffic reduction.
• People who live in walkable areas are 2.4 times more likely to get the required daily amount of physical activity (Healthy Weights for Healthy Kids: Report of the Standing Committee on Health, 39th Parliament, 1st session, Government of Canada).
• One point of Walk Score adds up to US$3,000 to home values according to independent research conducted by CEOs for Cities.

While the official ranking covers Canadian’s ten largest cities, here are a couple of Canadian notables:

• Of the 1,200 we scored, 30 neighbourhoods are “Walker’s Paradises” with a Walk Score of 90 or higher.
• Toronto has more “Walker’s Paradise” neighbourhoods (17) than Vancouver (3).
• Victoria, highly walkable with a Walk Score of 78, is too small (population under 100,000) to make the ranking, but otherwise would have rivaled Vancouver. And Westmount, a small city on the Island of Montreal (with a population of approximately 20,000) takes home the top Walk Score with a 79.

Canadian Real Estate Opportunity

Canadian real estate agents can now use Walk Score to their advantage. Showcase properties and market yourself as a local expert. Boost your home listings with neighborhood information including nearby amenities, transit access and commute times. All things buyers want. Stimulate new business opportunities by marketing neighborhood value and amenities to buyers. Learn more about Walk Score for real estate professionals.

Toronto apartment search by walking commute

Apartment Search in Canada

We also launched apartment search via the web and our iPhone app in Canada today. Search rental listings in major cities across the country by Walk Score, commute time and mode preference (foot, bike, transit, car), and proximity to public transportation. Search for apartments and rentals now.

Local Insight

Two native Canadian coders who work at Walk Score helped calculate their homeland’s ranking.

Kenshi Kawaguchi, one of our score-maestro engineers from Calgary talks about his home town, “Calgary isn’t really that walkable. In fact, they made a mockumentary about suburban sprawl in Calgary. There are some walkable neighbourhoods, like Kensington, and I think there is definitely a shift towards walkability with some recent neighbourhood redevelopments and a more socially conscious mayor.” Video: New development in Calgary’s East Village neighbourhood.

Walk Score computer systems analyst Tony Targonski, from Toronto, has another angle on Canada’s 2^nd most walkable city. “Toronto’s outer edges have much to gain from improving walkability. Growing up in a 47 (Walk Score) house felt very restrained and I found myself naturally gravitating towards areas that have scores in the 90s. The moment one gets close to a subway station, establishments in every category suddenly become accessible. It’s very liberating.”

We released a ranking of Canada’s most walkable large cities. Vancouver, Toronto and Montréal ranked top 3 respectively. But depending on the neighbourhood, you can enjoy the health, environmental and community benefits of living in a walkable area.

We scored 1,200 neighbourhoods across Canada—and there are 30 “Walker’s Paradises” with Walk Score above 90.

Type in any Canadian neighborhood or city on Walk Score to find a detailed heat map of its walkability.

1. Bay Street Corridor—Toronto
2. Harris Green—Victoria
3. Church-Yonge Corridor—Toronto
4. Kensington-Chinatown—Toronto
5. Downtown—Victoria
6. University—Toronto
7. Downtown—Vancouver
8. Palmerston-Little Italy—Toronto
9. Mount Pleasant West—Toronto
10. Chinatown—Calgary
11. Moss Park—Toronto
12. West End—Vancouver
13. Annex—Toronto
14. Trinity-Bellwoods—Toronto
15. North St. James Town—Toronto
16. Strathcona—Vancouver
17. Downtown Commercial Core—Calgary
18. Plateau-Mont-Royal—Montréal
19. Waterfront Communities-The Island—Toronto
20. Saint-Jean-Baptiste—Québec
21. Cliff Bungalow—Calgary
22. Cabbagetown-South St. James Town—Toronto
23. South Riverdale—Toronto
24. Roncesvalles—Toronto
25. North Park—Victoria
26. Central Business District—Saskatoon
27. Eau Claire—Calgary
28. Downtown—Edmonton
29. Ville-Marie—Montréal
30. Dufferin Grove—Toronto

Zillow used Walk Score neighborhood data to help create their annual Halloween best 20 trick-or-treat cities. Why are these cities and neighborhoods ideal for costume-attired kids going candy hunting? In part, Zillow says, because of the walkability (along with population density, home values and safety) of these US urban streets.

Check out the Walk Score of Zillow’s best trick-or-treat cities (and top 2 neighborhoods within each city) to plan your door-to-door route. Maximize candy for kids. Once Halloween hoopla settles down, send them outside to walk or bike off those calories.

While four chunks of “big data” were compiled for Zillow’s index, people and kids have personal preferences. What are your favorite neighborhoods for trick-or-treat activity? Are there old trees with gnarly (and scary in the dark) branches? Any local business hubs that invite families for Halloween? Share neighborhood gems on Walk Score. (Tip: Tag places #trickortreat to make it easier for others to find.)

#1 San Francisco (Walk Score = 85)

Top trick-or-treat neighborhood: Presidio Heights

2nd best candy neighborhood: Sea Cliff

#2 Boston (Walk Score = 79)

Top trick-or-treat neighborhood: Beacon Hill

2nd best candy neighborhood: West Roxbury

#3 Honolulu (Walk Score = 63)

Top trick-or-treat neighborhood: Kapahulu

2nd best candy neighborhood: Kuliouou-Kalani Iki

#4 Seattle (Walk Score = 74)

Top trick-or-treat neighborhood: Loyal Heights

2nd best candy neighborhood: Phinney Ridge

#5 San Jose, CA (Walk Score = 55)

Top trick-or-treat neighborhood: Cambrian Park

2nd best candy neighborhood: Rose Garden

#6 Chicago (Walk Score = 74)

Top trick-or-treat neighborhood: Ravenswood Manor

2nd best candy neighborhood: Wrightwood Neighbors

#7 Los Angeles (Walk Score = 66)

Top trick-or-treat neighborhood: Cheviot Hills

2nd best candy neighborhood: Brentwood

#8 Portland, OR (Walk Score = 66)

Top trick-or-treat neighborhood: Laurelhurst

2nd best candy neighborhood: Alameda

#9 Philadelphia (Walk Score = 74)

Top trick-or-treat neighborhood: Chestnut Hill

2nd best candy neighborhood: Manayunk

#10 Washington, DC (Walk Score = 73)

Top trick-or-treat neighborhood: Kalorama

2nd best candy neighborhood: Chevy Chase

House photo: AICAD

Seattle photographer, beer blogger and local-living enthusiast Paul Gibson shared 10 of the best breweries and beer locations in Seattle – all of which reside in Ballard and Fremont. Does that make those neighborhoods beer capitals of Seattle? You decide. Both neighborhoods are highly walkable (and bikeable) making them optimal locales for happy hour beer-hopping or a leisurely evening of pairing varietals (IPA, stout, pale ales) with food.

Locally owned microbreweries keep springing up around the Pacific Northwest and US regularly. Craft brewing has even grown to a nano and micro-local level inside people’s garages, basements and kitchens. In fact, locally owned breweries often spring out of people’s passions and can start at home with a local home brewer practicing the art and science of beer making. Beyond the US, Italy and other non-traditional-beer countries are brewing up local beers as well.

Gibson’s locally owned beer recommendations (in no particular order):

1. Dray
2. Noble Fir
3. Hilliard’s Beer
4. Jolly Roger Taproom
5. Northwest Peaks Brewery
6. Norm’s Eatery and Ale House
7. Fremont Brewing Company
8. Hale’s Ales Brewery & Pub
9. Urban Family Public House
10. Brouwer’s Cafe

Where else can locals (or travelers) find great beer around the US or world? What’s the best locally owned beer establishment (even restaurant) in your neighborhood? Add great beer establishments (or bars) big or small to Walk Score and share your local knowledge with others who want to sip quality beer. Here’s how to add comments, places or photos via our iPhone app or website.

How can you quench your thirst for summertime fun while exploring some of the top walkable cities in the US? We’re compiling lists of urban beaches, ice cream shops, patio bars and sidewalk cafes that will do just that in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston and Washington, DC. Discover (or rediscover) neighborhood gems by foot, bike or public transit (or pogo stick, roller blades, skateboard if you prefer).

Vote for your favorite urban “gem” on Walk Score’s new place pages or share them with friends and family to make plans for the waning weeks ‘til fall. What’s missing? Add it to the list (with a photo).

Visit a Local Ice Cream Shop

Nothing says summer like a waffle cone topped with ice cream. Gelato, sorbet and ice cream cool the body and soul.

Ice cream shops in Seattle

Ice cream shops in Boston

Ice cream shops in Portland, OR

Cool Off at Sidewalk Cafes

Hunt down shady outdoor spots or dine alfresco while waiting for a breeze in sultry summers. Or hit coffee shops in mornings when temperatures are more bearable.

Sidewalk cafes in San Francisco

Sidewalk cafes in Washington, DC

Sidewalk cafes in Chicago

Splash Around Urban Beaches

Whether you dip your toes or dunk your body, cooling off at urban beaches is a summer ritual for adults and kids (plus dogs) of all ages.

Urban beaches in Seattle

Urban beaches in San Francisco

Urban beaches in Boston

Plop Down at Patio Bars to the Toast Dog Days of Summer

Sip wine, toast to your health, bike to pubs and sample tasty snacks at these outdoor bars or restaurants with killer patios.

Patio bars in Portland, OR

Patio bars in Chicago

Patio bars in Washington, DC

What’s the best ice cream, cafe, patio bar or urban beach in your neighborhood or city? When was the last time you took time to walk or pedal to one of these places? Life moves quickly. Summer will end soon. Get out and experience life and beat the heat this record-breaking year.