If your local route is getting tiresome, there’s plenty of new territory out there. And PeopleForBikes’ 2026 International City Ratings has them, from a car-free Michigan island to Dutch cities where bicycles seem to outnumber cars.

PeopleForBikes announced its international results earlier this month, covering 403 cities across 38 countries. The international release follows ratings for 3,019 U.S. communities published earlier this year. The ratings measure the quality of cities’ bike networks, with scores of 80 to 100 indicating that most common destinations in a city are accessible by safe, comfortable routes. A score of 50 or higher means a city generally has a connected, low-stress network with slow neighborhood streets, off-street bike paths, and protected bike lanes.

Netherlands cities ranked high, grabbing four of the top five large-city spots. Utrecht and Amsterdam finished first and second, with The Hague and Rotterdam fourth and fifth. Landing in in third was Hamburg, Germany. All five cities scored in the 80s.

Three U.S. cities had perfect scores. Mackinac Island, Michigan; Old Orchard, Pennsylvania; and Crested Butte, Colorado are the small cities that each notched 100.

The analysis considers access to destinations such as schools, shops, medical services, parks and trails.

The ratings offer a good way to examine a cycling destination before booking a trip. The report’s emphasis on connections helps explain why a well-known trail and a strong citywide score do not always go together. Urban cyclists will likely get the most use from the survey’s finding.

The Netherlands dominates

The Dutch results extend well beyond the Netherlands’ placing in the top five among large cities. Among medium-sized cities, Almere and Delft both scored 88. In fact, eight of the first 10 medium-sized cities outside the U.S. are Dutch. Belgium accounts for the other two: Leuven, at 85, and Mechelen, at 81.

Canada produced the highest-scoring small international community. Canmore, Alberta, received 87, ahead of Chambly, Quebec, at 79.

PeopleForBikes separates small communities with fewer than 50,000 residents, medium-size cities with 50,000–300,000, and large cities with more than 300,000.

Leading large international cities and scores:

• Utrecht, Netherlands - 88

• Amsterdam, Netherlands — 88

• Hannover, Germany — 87

• The Hague, Netherlands — 85

• Rotterdam, Netherlands — 84

• Antwerp, Belgium — 84

• Munich, Germany — 84

• Valencia, Spain — 84

• Münster, Germany — 83

• Bremen, Germany — 82

America’s leaders range from islands to major cities

Mackinac Island is a great example of how bicycles serve visitors and residents. Its car-free streets make cycling part of getting around town, which is not only appealing to locals, but is an attraction for cyclists looking for a destination that is safe and practical.

Among medium-size U.S. cities, Hoboken scored 83, Rochester Hills, Michigan, received 80, and Anchorage earned 72. Ames, Iowa, followed at 68, with Grand Forks, North Dakota, at 67.

Leading small U.S. communities

• Mackinack Island, Michigan

• Old Orchard, Pennsylvania — 100

• Crested Butte, Colorado — 100

• Washburn, Wisconsin — 98

• Kent Narrows, Maryland — 97

Leading medium-size U.S. cities:

• Hoboken, New Jersey - 83

• Rochester Hills, Michigan — 80

• Anchorage, Alaska — 72

• Ames, Iowa — 68

• Grand Forks, North Dakota — 67

Leading large U.S. cities:

• Brooklyn, New York - 70

• Minneapolis, Minnesota — 68

• Seattle, Washington — 66

• Queens, New York — 63

• San Francisco, California — 61

For trail cyclists, Minneapolis offers an extensive network to explore. Its Grand Rounds system includes approximately 51 miles of bicycle trails around lakes and along parkways, linking recreational riding with travel through the city.

Seattle illustrates how gaps can remain even in a highly rated destination. The Burke-Gilman Trail serves commuters and recreational cyclists, but gaps in Ballard separate existing trail sections. That is the sort of interruption you need to know when planning a ride through an unfamiliar city.

For an urban cycling trip, the ratings can help narrow the search. Before settling on a destination, research the route (Bike Trail Journal has reviews of many urban trails). Consider the access from your lodging to the trail, crossings along the route, and connections to lunch stops or transit. A high citywide score cannot settle every route question, but the report is a good first step in trail-finding.

Rankings make finding safe cycling cities easier

Plan your next urban trail ride. The PeopleForBikes ratings can help.