From the obvious cycling capitals of the Netherlands and Denmark to Paris, Bogotá, Montreal and a surprisingly transformed London, these are the cities getting cycling right in 2026.
If you asked me a few years ago to name the most cycle-friendly cities in the world, the answer would have been fairly predictable.
Copenhagen. Amsterdam. Utrecht.
Perhaps a few other Dutch cities, a Scandinavian city or two, and then a handful of ambitious newcomers trying to catch up.
But cycling cities are changing.
And that is what makes the cycling landscape of 2026 so interesting.
Cities are taking road space away from cars, building protected cycleways, introducing low-traffic neighbourhoods, expanding bike-share schemes and, increasingly, treating the bicycle as a serious piece of transport infrastructure rather than simply something people do for exercise.
Paris is perhaps the most dramatic example. During Anne Hidalgo’s time as mayor, the city’s cycle network expanded from around 700km to 1,678km. (Le Monde.fr)
Helsinki is investing heavily in cycling even though its winters might make many of us reach for the car keys.
Montreal has built an enormous network that remains usable throughout the year.
And London? Well, London is the interesting one. It still has plenty of problems, but cycling levels and infrastructure have changed enormously. In the City of London alone, the number of daily cyclists rose from around 89,000 in 2022 to 139,000 in October 2024. (Reuters)
So, what actually makes a city cycle-friendly?
It isn’t simply the number of cycle lanes.
I’ve considered protected infrastructure, network connectivity, cycling culture, political commitment, bike-share, road safety, weather, geography, public transport integration and how easy it feels for an ordinary person to cycle from A to B.
With that in mind, here is my somewhat subjective — but evidence-informed — list of the 20 most cycle-friendly cities in the world in 2026.
1. Utrecht, Netherlands 🇳🇱
If cycling had a capital city, Utrecht would have a very strong claim to the title.
Above: World's biggest bike parking garage opens in Utrecht
The Dutch city is compact, relatively flat and incredibly well connected by bicycle. Cycling isn’t treated as an alternative lifestyle here — it is simply one of the normal ways of getting around.
One of the things I love about Dutch cycling cities is that infrastructure isn’t usually designed as a little strip of paint squeezed onto the edge of a road. Cycling is built into the way the city works.
Utrecht currently sits at number one in the Copenhagenize Index, which assesses infrastructure, bicycle use and political commitment. (copenhagenizeindex.eu)
Why it works: flat terrain, excellent infrastructure, compact city, enormous cycling culture and genuinely integrated transport planning.
2026 verdict: Still the benchmark.
2. Copenhagen, Denmark 🇩🇰
You can’t really write a list like this without Copenhagen.
The city has spent decades making cycling an ordinary part of everyday life, and the result is a network that feels designed around people who actually use bikes to commute, shop, take children to school and run errands.
Copenhagen’s cycle superhighways also show where urban cycling is heading: not just short inner-city journeys, but longer commuter journeys connecting the city with surrounding areas.
It isn’t perfect. Even Copenhagen has crowded cycleways and bottlenecks, particularly as cycling becomes more popular. Research into the city’s network has identified areas where infrastructure could be improved further. (arXiv)
Why it works: exceptional infrastructure, cycling culture, flat terrain and decades of political commitment.
2026 verdict: Still one of the world’s great cycling cities.
3. Amsterdam, Netherlands 🇳🇱
Amsterdam is probably the city most people instinctively associate with cycling, and for good reason.
Bicycles are everywhere. There are dedicated cycleways, bike parking, traffic-calmed streets and a culture in which cycling is so normal that nobody really considers it an unusual mode of transport.
The interesting thing about Amsterdam in 2026 is that it isn’t resting on its reputation. The city is having to think about overcrowding on cycleways, increasing numbers of e-bikes and how to manage enormous volumes of bicycle traffic.
Why it works: cycling is embedded in everyday life rather than treated as a transport experiment.
2026 verdict: Famous for cycling — and still deserves the reputation.
4. Ghent, Belgium 🇧🇪
Ghent might be one of the most interesting cities on this list.
It doesn’t have Amsterdam’s global cycling fame, but its transformation has been remarkable.
The city’s traffic circulation plan famously changed the way cars could move through the centre, helping create a much more pleasant environment for cycling and walking.
Ghent consistently performs extremely well in international cycling rankings and sits third in the current Copenhagenize Index. (copenhagenizeindex.eu)
Why it works: car-free and low-traffic areas, compact geography, strong cycling culture and ambitious traffic policies.
2026 verdict: A brilliant example of what happens when a city is willing to redesign streets rather than simply paint cycle lanes on them.
5. Paris, France 🇫🇷
This is where the list gets interesting.
Paris has undergone one of the biggest cycling transformations of any major European capital in recent years.
The city has reclaimed road space from cars, introduced protected cycle routes and dramatically expanded its network. Research into Paris’s cycling transformation found that despite substantial reductions in road capacity in some areas, overall congestion did not increase as might have been expected. (arXiv)
PeopleForBikes’ 2025 international ratings also placed Paris at the top among its international cities, giving it a network score of 89. (PeopleForBikes)
Why it works: huge investment, protected routes, relatively compact urban geography and strong political intervention.
2026 verdict: Perhaps the world’s most dramatic cycling success story of the last decade.
6. Helsinki, Finland 🇫🇮
Helsinki is one of my favourite examples of a city proving that bad weather isn’t necessarily an excuse not to cycle.
Snow? Darkness? Freezing temperatures?
Helsinki simply maintains its cycleways.
For the 2025–26 winter season, around 160km of routes received intensified winter maintenance, including sweeping, salting and enhanced snow clearing. (Helsingin kaupunki)
The city has around 1,300km of cycle paths and is planning further expansion. (Reuters)
That doesn’t mean everyone suddenly cycles everywhere — cycling’s modal share has remained relatively stable — but the infrastructure commitment is impressive.
Why it works: serious winter maintenance, extensive infrastructure and long-term investment.
2026 verdict: If Helsinki can make cycling work in winter, the rest of us have fewer excuses.
7. Antwerp, Belgium 🇧🇪
Antwerp combines many of the ingredients that make cycling work particularly well: a relatively compact centre, extensive infrastructure and a growing network extending beyond the historic core.
It also benefits from being part of a wider Flemish cycling culture.
The city’s position in the Copenhagenize rankings is a reflection of the fact that cycling here isn’t simply about leisure — it is practical transport.
Why it works: compact city, cycling culture, separated infrastructure and good connections.
2026 verdict: One of Europe’s most consistently good cycling cities.
8. Münster, Germany 🇩🇪
Münster is sometimes described as Germany’s cycling capital, and it is easy to understand why.
It has a huge cycling population, relatively flat terrain and an extensive network of cycle routes.
The city is particularly interesting because it demonstrates that you don’t need to be a Scandinavian or Dutch city to develop a genuinely strong cycling culture.
Why it works: flat terrain, large cycling population, extensive network and university-city demographics.
2026 verdict: Quietly one of Europe’s cycling superstars.
9. Oslo, Norway 🇳🇴
Oslo is a city where cycling has become part of a much bigger transformation in how urban space is used.
The Norwegian capital has invested in protected cycling infrastructure while also pursuing policies designed to reduce car dominance in the centre.
And then there is the geography.
Oslo is not flat in the way Utrecht is. It has hills, snow and a climate that isn’t exactly designed to tempt you outside in January.l
That makes its progress particularly impressive.
Why it works: strong political commitment, protected infrastructure and a wider strategy to reduce car dependency.
2026 verdict: Proof that hills and snow don’t have to kill a cycling culture.
10. Strasbourg, France 🇫🇷
Strasbourg has been a cycling pioneer in France for decades.
It has an extensive network, a strong cycling culture and a relatively flat urban environment.
What’s particularly interesting about Strasbourg is that it shows Paris wasn’t starting from nowhere. France has had successful cycling cities for years — Paris has simply brought the idea to a much bigger stage.
The 2025 French Bicycle Barometer continued to place Strasbourg among France’s leading cycling cities. (Le Monde.fr)
Why it works: established cycling culture, extensive network and strong regional connections.
2026 verdict: One of Europe’s most underrated cycling cities.
11. Malmö, Sweden 🇸🇪
Malmö is small enough to be manageable but ambitious enough to experiment.
The city has invested heavily in cycling infrastructure and has developed a reputation for making cycling a genuine alternative to driving.
Its location is another advantage: relatively flat terrain and short urban distances make cycling particularly practical.
Why it works: compact geography, flat terrain, infrastructure and strong Scandinavian transport planning.
2026 verdict: A small city with big cycling ambitions.
12. Montreal, Canada 🇨🇦
Montreal deserves a place high on this list partly because it shows that cycling success isn’t exclusively European.
The city now has around 1,083km of cycling routes, with the Réseau express vélo (REV) acting as the backbone of the network. (montreal.ca)
And yes — Montreal has proper winters.
The city maintains key cycling routes through winter, making year-round cycling much more realistic.
Why it works: huge network, protected routes, bike-share culture and increasing year-round provision.
2026 verdict: North America’s most convincing large-scale cycling city.
13. Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷
Bordeaux has quietly become one of Europe’s best cities for cycling.
The historic centre is relatively compact and increasingly pedestrianised, while cycling infrastructure connects the centre with surrounding neighbourhoods.
The city’s flatter terrain and generally mild climate don’t hurt either.
Why it works: flat geography, compact centre, extensive cycle network and pleasant weather.
2026 verdict: A particularly good city for visitors who want to explore by bike.
14. Nantes, France 🇫🇷
Nantes has been investing in cycling for years and has developed an extensive network alongside broader policies designed to reduce car dependency.
It is another good example of a city that doesn’t necessarily get the same attention as Amsterdam or Copenhagen but has quietly been doing the work.
Why it works: investment, traffic calming, cycle routes and a relatively compact urban form.
2026 verdict: One to watch as French cycling continues to grow.
15. The Hague, Netherlands 🇳🇱
The Hague benefits from the Dutch cycling advantage — but has its own character.
It combines dense urban neighbourhoods, excellent cycle infrastructure and access to the coast.
It is also a useful reminder that being a cycle-friendly city doesn’t mean being a tiny historic town. The Hague is a substantial modern city where cycling can form part of everyday transport.
Why it works: Dutch infrastructure, flat terrain, good connections and high everyday cycling.
2026 verdict: Another Dutch city making cycling look completely normal.
16. Lyon, France 🇫🇷
Lyon has been moving rapidly up the cycling ladder.
The city has expanded its cycle network and introduced major routes designed to make longer journeys possible without constantly mixing with heavy traffic.
It is another example of the broader French cycling transformation.
France is particularly interesting in 2026 because the country’s cycling success is no longer confined to one or two cities.
Why it works: investment in protected routes, bike-share and increasing political commitment.
2026 verdict: A city that could climb significantly higher by 2030.
17. Vienna, Austria 🇦🇹
Vienna has a lot going for it: excellent public transport, a relatively compact centre, plenty of green space and an increasing emphasis on active travel.
Cycling is not yet as dominant as in Amsterdam or Copenhagen, but the combination of cycling and public transport is particularly attractive.
That is an important point.
The best cycling cities aren’t necessarily the ones where everyone cycles everywhere. They’re the ones where cycling works seamlessly alongside trains, trams, buses and walking.
Why it works: public transport integration, compact urban form and increasing investment.
2026 verdict: A strong all-rounder with plenty of room to improve.
18. Bogotá, Colombia 🇨🇴
Bogotá is perhaps the most surprising city on this list — and absolutely deserves to be here.
The Colombian capital has developed one of the largest urban cycling networks in Latin America and has an enormous cycling population.
The city now has around 425 miles of protected cycle lanes and nearly 900,000 daily bicycle trips are reported. (The Guardian)
This set in motion Bogotá’s now famous ‘Ciclovía’, where every Sunday and national holiday the major tarmac arteries of the city are only accessible by foot or cycle. From 7am to 2pm, a north-south circuit of 121km opens up to families, joggers, dog walkers, and people on bicycles. The average time spent at Ciclovía is three hours, making it a savoured event.
Its famous Ciclovía programme, which opens major roads to bicycles on Sundays and holidays, has also become a model for cities around the world.
There are still major challenges around safety, theft, gender equality and infrastructure quality. But the sheer scale of cycling makes Bogotá impossible to ignore.
Why it works: enormous cycling culture, extensive infrastructure, Ciclovía and political commitment.
2026 verdict: One of the world’s most important cycling cities — even if it doesn’t always feel like the easiest.
19. London, UK 🇬🇧
And here is my controversial one -London.
The capital is nowhere near Amsterdam or Copenhagen yet. Some cycle routes are brilliant; others suddenly disappear. Some boroughs are fantastic for cycling while others remain much less welcoming.
But something important has changed.
Cycling is now visibly part of London’s transport system.
The Mayor and TfL are continuing to expand the Cycleway network, filling gaps in central London, connecting inner-London routes and developing new town-centre-focused routes in outer London. (London City Hall)
London’s cycling numbers have also risen significantly, while the City of London has seen particularly dramatic growth. (Reuters)
And the rise of e-bikes is changing the equation again. You no longer need to be particularly fit to cross London by bike — which potentially opens cycling to a much broader population.
For someone who lives and works around London, the change is noticeable.
It still doesn’t feel like Copenhagen.
But increasingly, it feels like London is trying to become a cycling city rather than simply talking about becoming one.
Why it works: huge investment, growing network, e-bikes, bike hire and rapidly increasing cycling levels.
2026 verdict: Not a finished product — but potentially the most interesting city to watch.
20. Taipei, Taiwan 🇹🇼
Taipei brings something different to the list.
It is dense, busy, humid and surrounded by mountains — not exactly the classic European cycling-city formula.
But the combination of bike-share, compact urban development and an increasingly mature cycling network makes cycling remarkably useful.
The YouBike system in particular has helped make bicycle hire part of everyday urban transport rather than something aimed primarily at tourists
Taipei’s inclusion also matters because cycling in Asia doesn’t always look like cycling in Europe.
Why it works: density, bike-share, short journeys and excellent integration with urban transport.
2026 verdict: One of Asia’s most interesting cycling cities.
So, what actually makes a city cycle-friendly?
Looking at these 20 cities, there are some surprisingly consistent patterns.
1. Protected infrastructure matters
A painted line on a busy road isn’t enough to convince most people to cycle.
The cities that perform best tend to create protected, connected networks rather than isolated cycle lanes.
PeopleForBikes’ research similarly focuses on whether people can reach everyday destinations through connected, low-stress cycling networks. (PeopleForBikes)
2. Flat cities have an obvious advantage
Utrecht, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Malmö and Bordeaux all benefit from relatively easy terrain.
But Oslo, Helsinki and Bogotá demonstrate that geography doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker.
And then there’s the e-bike.
The e-bike may turn hills from a genuine barrier into a minor inconvenience.
3. Weather matters — but perhaps less than we think
The classic excuse is:
“I’d cycle if the weather was better.”
And obviously, sunshine helps.
But Helsinki and Montreal show that infrastructure and maintenance can matter just as much.
If the cycle path is cleared of snow, connected to your destination and safe, cycling becomes much more realistic.
4. Political commitment is probably the biggest factor
This might be the most important lessons
Cycling infrastructure doesn’t magically appear.
Cities have to make decisions about what happens to road space.
Do you have another lane for cars?
A row of parking spaces?
Or a protected cycleway?
The cities climbing the rankings are generally the ones willing to make those choices.
The Copenhagenize Index explicitly includes political commitment alongside infrastructure and cycling use when assessing cities. (copenhagenizeindex.eu)
5. Cycling has to be useful
A beautiful cycle path beside a river is lovely.
But it won’t transform urban transport.
The best networks connect homes with schools, workplaces, shops, stations and neighbourhoods.
That is why Utrecht and Copenhagen are so successful.
Cycling isn’t simply something you do instead of driving.
It is simply how you get somewhere.
What about e-bikes?
This could be the biggest wildcard of the next decade.
Traditional cycling cities have often benefited from relatively short distances and flat geography.
E-bikes change that.
Suddenly a 7km journey doesn’t feel particularly long. Hills become less intimidating. Older riders can keep cycling. Families can carry children. And commuters who arrive sweaty after a conventional bike ride can turn up looking considerably more presentable.
London is already a fascinating example of this shift, with dockless e-bikes becoming a much more visible part of the city’s transport mix. (The Guardian)
The next generation of cycle-friendly cities may therefore look quite different from the traditional Dutch model.
My predictions: The most cycle-friendly cities of 2030
And now for the fun bit.
If I had to predict which cities could be the big cycling success stories by 2030, my list would look rather different.
🚲 London
This is my biggest wildcard.
If London continues expanding its network and manages to connect the existing fragments, it could become dramatically more cycle-friendly by 2030.
The ingredients are already there: huge population, growing cycling numbers, Cycleways, e-bikes and a large public transport network.
The challenge is consistency.
🚲 Paris
Paris has already done the hard bit: changing people’s perception of what a major capital city can look like.
If that momentum continues, it could become Europe’s most influential large-scale cycling city.
🚲 Lyon
Lyon has the potential to follow Paris’s trajectory on a smaller scale.
More protected routes + more cycling + political commitment = a very promising combination.
🚲 Helsinki
Helsinki is investing heavily while simultaneously solving one of cycling’s biggest problems: winter.
If cycling participation starts responding to the infrastructure investment, it could climb considerably higher.
🚲 Montreal
Montreal is already one of North America’s strongest candidates.
Its REV network and year-round approach give it a foundation that many North American cities simply don’t have.
🚲 Bogotá
Bogotá has the population, the cycling culture and the infrastructure ambition.
If it can tackle safety, theft and gender inequality, it could become one of the world’s most important cycling cities rather than simply Latin America’s cycling leader.
🚲 Melbourne
Melbourne isn’t in my 2026 top 20, but I’d watch it closely.
Australia’s major cities are increasingly experimenting with protected cycling infrastructure and e-bikes, and Melbourne’s relatively flat geography makes it particularly well suited to cycling.
🚲 Seoul
Seoul is another fascinating wildcard.
The city already has a major public-bike system and an official policy of creating a citywide network of bicycle lanes and paths. (Official Website of the)
If that infrastructure becomes more connected and cycling becomes more deeply integrated into everyday journeys, Seoul could look very different by 2030.
The 2030 cycling city might not look like Amsterdam
Perhaps the biggest change we will see over the next four years is that there won’t be one single model of a cycle-friendly city.
Amsterdam’s model works brilliantly for Amsterdam.
But the future could include:
London’s e-bikes + Paris’s road-space transformation + Helsinki’s winter maintenance + Bogotá’s mass cycling culture + Copenhagen’s infrastructure + Taipei’s bike-share system.
Put all of those things together and you get something much more interesting.
A city where cycling isn’t just for the lycra-wearing commuter.
It’s for the school run.
The supermarket.
The commute.
The train station.
The coffee shop.
The person who hasn’t ridden a bike since they were 14.
And that, ultimately, is the real test.
Conclusion: What makes a great cycling city?
The world’s best cycling cities aren’t necessarily the ones with the most bicycles.
They’re the ones where you don’t have to think very hard about cycling.
You don’t need to plan a special route.
You don’t need to be exceptionally confident in traffic.
You don’t need to wear specialist clothing.
You don’t need to be particularly fit.
You simply get on your bike and go.
That’s why I think the next few years will be fascinating.
The traditional cycling capitals aren’t disappearing — Utrecht, Copenhagen and Amsterdam remain incredibly difficult to beat. But cities such as Paris, London, Helsinki, Montreal and Bogotá are demonstrating that cycling cultures can change remarkably quickly when infrastructure, technology and political will come together.
And personally, I think that’s much more exciting than simply having a list of the world’s “best cycling cities”.
Because if 2026 has taught us anything, it’s that a city can change its relationship with the bicycle surprisingly quickly.
So perhaps the most interesting question isn’t “Which city is the best for cycling today?”
It’s:
“Which city will surprise us next?”
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🚲 What are the most cycle-friendly cities in the world in 2026?
It’s not quite the list you might expect.
Utrecht, Copenhagen and Amsterdam are still right at the top — but Paris has transformed its streets, Helsinki is proving that snow doesn’t have to stop cycling, Montreal is building an impressive year-round network and Bogotá has one of the biggest urban cycling cultures anywhere in the world.
And then there’s London.
It still has a long way to go, but cycling numbers, e-bikes and new infrastructure are changing the city surprisingly quickly.
We’ve rounded up our 20 most cycle-friendly cities in 2026, looking at infrastructure, politics, geography, weather, cycling culture and how easy it actually feels to get around by bike.
And we’ve also made some predictions for the cities that could dominate cycling by 2030. 👀
Which city would you add to the list?
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