Minnesota continues to shine as a top destination for cyclists in the 2025 PeopleForBikes City Ratings, a data-driven report ranking nearly 3,000 global cities on bikeability. Both Minneapolis and St. Paul made the top 10 list of large U.S. cities (pop. 300,000+), with Minneapolis earning a near-perfect score of 72, just one point behind this year’s leader, Brooklyn, New York.
Meanwhile, St. Paul scored 62, reinforcing the Twin Cities’ shared reputation for safe, connected cycling infrastructure and a culture that embraces biking for both transportation and recreation.
The City Ratings are powered by the Bicycle Network Analysis (BNA), which scores communities on a scale of 0–100 across six key factors summarized in the acronym SPRINT: Safe speeds, Protected bike lanes, Reallocated space for biking and walking, Intersection treatments, Network connections, and Trusted data.
Photo by PeopleforBikes
Richfield’s Remarkable Rise
Among the most improved cities in the nation was Richfield, which jumped from a score of 25 in 2024 to 53 in 2025—crossing the all-important “tipping point” of 50, which PeopleForBikes identifies as a sign of meaningful and sustainable infrastructure investment.
This leap puts Richfield in elite company as one of the fastest-rising midsize cities, joining the ranks of communities showing how targeted improvements—like protected bike lanes and safe crossings—make immediate and measurable impact.
Why These Scores Matter
The City Ratings aren’t just bragging rights—they’re a blueprint. With the integration of PeopleForBikes’ new Great Bike Infrastructure Project (GBIP), 2025’s data now also tracks the real-time progress of thousands of on-the-ground projects across the U.S. These include everything from neighborhood greenways to protected bike lanes, reinforcing the link between smart planning and safer streets.
According to Grace Stonecipher, infrastructure analyst at PeopleForBikes, “Cities that are truly great for biking have more than protected lanes and calm streets—they have a vision and a plan for continuous improvement.”
Photo by PeopleforBikes
Minnesota in the Bigger Picture
Minneapolis may have lost its No. 1 spot to Brooklyn this year, but its score of 72 shows consistent strength and national leadership. With nearby cities like Richfield stepping up and St. Paul staying strong, Minnesota remains one of the best places in the country to get around on two wheels. Explore the full 2025 City Ratings and see how your city stacks up at cityratings.peopleforbikes.org.
Read the digital edition of Minnesota Monthly‘s annual Bike Minnesota guide here!
