Get Your Wheels Spinning During National Bike Month

Winter’s behind us and spring is in full bloom. What better way to soak up the new season than from your bicycle during National Bike Month in May?

Established in 1956 to celebrate and showcase the numerous benefits of bicycling, National Bike Month is the perfect time to dust off your ride, leave the car at home and reconnect with your community from the back of your bicycle.

Finding Ways to #BikeThere

National Bike Month lasts the entirety of May. Throughout the month, the League of American Bicyclists is highlighting ways Americans can #BikeThere instead of relying on their cars and trucks.

Eager to incorporate more cycling into your daily life for the entire month? Consider the following avenues for doing just that:

• Run Errands: Across the country, 40% of all trips are less than two miles, making cycling a feasible and emission-free way to run an errand or make a small trip. Consider grabbing your bike instead of your car keys to make that quick run to the post office or grocery store.
• Replace a Workout: Forget the gym for a day and instead hop on your bike to work up a sweat.
• Bike to Work: Less than 1% of Americans commute to work, but it’s possible — and growing in popularity in communities across the country. As part of the month-long celebration of all things bicycling, commuters are encouraged to leave their cars at home and bike to work. National Bike to Work Week is set for May 15-21. If a week is a bit much, try pedaling to work on Bike to Work Day, May 19.

Celebrating National Bike Month in America’s Bike-Friendly Cities

Although popular and growing across the country, not every community is created equal in terms of bike-friendliness and the ability to cycle to work.

But for those who may be exploring a move to a new city and want to know where they can bike more safely and easily, we’ve compiled three of the country’s best big cities for cyclists.

Portland, OR: America’s Bicycling Paradise

Regularly recognized as one of the most bike-friendly cities in the U.S., Portland is as close to a cyclist’s paradise as you can find in America. After all, it’s the only big American city to earn the distinction as a “platinum” bicycle friendly community by the League of American Bicyclists.

The city boasts 385 miles of bikeways including:

• 162 miles of painted bike lanes
• 35 miles of protected bike lanes
• 94 miles of greenways shared with vehicles with lower speed limits and islands to calm motor traffic
• 85 miles of multi-use paths for pedestrians, cyclists and other non-motorized traffic

In addition, there are 6,500 public bike racks around the city and 31 intersections feature bike-specific traffic signals.

Oh, and Portland leads the country in percentage of commuters who bike to work at more than 6% — significantly higher than the national average of 0.5%.

Notable Bike Trails

• The Classic Waterfront Loop: Ride along the Willamette River between the Sellwood and Steel bridges over mostly flat, paved trails for a scenic 10.6-mile loop.
• Roses, Parks & Greens Tour: Soak up the greenery in this northeast Portland ride that runs through residential streets and greenways, including a community orchard and hydro park.
• The Art of Foster Ride: Discover the many murals and street paintings of Portland’s Foster-Powell area on this 5.6-mile trail.

Minneapolis: Bike-Friendly Meets Minnesota Nice

Perennially recognized as a top bike-friendly city, Minneapolis residents have plentiful options and opportunities to spin their wheels when getting around town.

The Minnesota city’s bicycle bona fides include:

• 16 miles of on-street protected bikeways
• 98 miles of bike lanes
• 101 miles of off-street bikeways and trails

The city is so focused on bike safety and friendliness, that even during its notoriously snow-filled winters, Minneapolis regularly maintains and plows the bike lanes for commuters and riders.

And despite those harsh winters, biking to work in Minneapolis may make you happier. According to a University of Minnesota study, bike commuters were happier than their non-biking counterparts.

Notable Bike Trails

• The Midtown Greenery: A former railroad corridor, the Midtown Greenery is a 5.5-mile trail boasting two bike lanes and one runners’ lane. For much of the trail’s distance, paths are separated from streets, offering a safe, barrier-free ride.
• Chain of Lakes: Take in the majesty of several Minneapolis lakes with this 15-mile-plus trail that takes riders beside the shorelines of Brownie Lake, Cedar Lake, Lake of the Isles, Bda Maka Ska and Lake Harriet.
• Minneapolis River Parkways: One of Minneapolis’ most well-known bike trails, this 9-mile loop takes you along both the east and west sides of the Mississippi River. On the east side, you’ll ride along the University of Minnesota’s campus and Dinky Town before crossing the Stone Arch Bridge for the western stretch along Gold Medal Park and Bohemian Flats.

San Francisco: The Cycling City by the Bay

One of the most bikeable cities in the nation, San Francisco regularly collects accolades for its bike friendliness. The city has put a significant amount of time and resources into creating a biking experience for residents across the City by the Bay.

Bicycling may be the real San Francisco treat, considering across its 464 miles of bikeways, the city has:

• 42 miles of protected bike lanes
• 78 miles of off-street paths and trails
• 21 miles of buffered bike lanes
• 139 miles of striped bike lanes

San Francisco’s extensive bike infrastructure makes it easier to bike to work for many. In 2018, 22,000, or 4.2%, of commute trips by city residents were by bicycle.

Notable Bike Trails

• The Golden Gate Bridge Bike Trail: It doesn’t get any more iconic than this epic 11.7-mile loop across the Golden Gate Bridge and back. Despite typically windy and steep conditions, you won’t find better views of the bridge and other Bay Area sights.
• The Great Highway Bike Path: Inhale the crisp coastal air to power your pedals on this north-south route on the western edge of San Francisco, where you’ll find beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean throughout the trail.
• Angel island Loop: Explore historic Angel Island along this 6.2-mile trail through the quiet, tree-lined hillside. Look out for wildlife sightings as you catch plenty of sunshine. Cyclists also can ride through abandoned army barracks and the old immigration station where hundreds of thousands of immigrants were processed when they entered the U.S.

CubeSmart: Storage Solutions for Bicycling & Warmer Weather Activities

Bike trip? Road trip? Staycation? As the weather warms, be sure you’re properly storing and packing gear for your looming adventures. CubeSmart also offers a range of storage solutions whether you’re moving or just need to declutter around the house. Explore storage facilities and options available near you.