New York City Leads U.S. in Annual Bicycle Travel

A new report ranks major American cities by bicycle miles per resident and pedestrian travel habits.

Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Cycling

Bold vector editorial illustration of a solitary bicycle leaning against a concrete pillar on a city sidewalk, representing urban cycling. — New York City ranks first in the U.S. for annual bicycle miles per resident according to a new report from StreetLight. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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StreetLight has released a comprehensive report analyzing bicycle and pedestrian travel across the 100 largest cities in the United States. New York City currently ranks as the leader in annual bicycle miles per resident.

Why it matters

The analysis highlights how urban density, climate, tourism, and infrastructure significantly influence travel patterns. A notable gap exists between walking and biking, largely attributed to limited safe and accessible cycling infrastructure.

New York City leads the nation with 58 annual bicycle miles per resident, followed closely by Boise, Idaho with 53 miles. Nationally, walking is seven times more common than cycling by distance.

The players

StreetLight

This organization specializes in mobility analytics and data-driven insights regarding transportation and urban travel patterns.

The details

Jersey City holds the top position for bicycle density with 7,893 miles per square mile, while Orlando, Florida, leads in pedestrian travel with 653 miles per resident. The study assessed the 100 largest U.S. cities to determine these figures.

StreetLight published the report on October 22, 2026.

Season Trajectory

This data follows the reporting cadence established by the StreetLight mobility analysis report series. It marks a significant update to how researchers and city planners compare urban infrastructure performance across the United States.

Readers can assess their local city's infrastructure priorities by comparing their area's bicycle density against top-ranked cities like Jersey City or New York. These statistics provide a benchmark for how accessible cycling is in major metropolitan hubs versus pedestrian-heavy locations like Orlando.

The takeaway

The data suggests that infrastructure development remains the primary driver for shifting residents from walking to cycling. City planners and residents looking to improve local bike culture should prioritize safety and connectivity to close the gap between current pedestrian and bicycle usage.