Silicon Valley-based company celebrates May “National Bike Month” by announcing best U.S. cities to commute via electric bicycle

The cities – ranked according to traffic, terrain and trails – represent 10 locations where zero-emissions e-Bikes make it easier to get around town without a car

From coast-to-coast, commuters in cities across the U.S. are increasingly choosing bicycles, e-Bikes and other two-wheeled electric vehicles as their preferred means of local transportation.

To celebrate “National Bike Month” in May, Silicon Valley, Calif.-based GenZe compiled a list of the top ten U.S. cities where e-Bikes offer the perfect local transportation option for commuters.

“U.S. cities are increasingly bicycle-friendly, adding shared lanes and bike paths designed for two-wheel commuters,” said GenZe chief marketing officer Tom Valasek. “But the added power of an electric bike makes cycle commuting possible in unexpected cities, where hills and terrain present a challenge for conventional bicycles.”

The cities listed in GenZe’s study were selected according to the company’s “Three T’s” criteria: Terrain (the grade of streets, number of hills and geographic size of city area); Traffic (average hours spent in traffic per city, and population density); and Trails (total miles of bikeways, including dedicated bike lanes, bike paths or shared streets).

In most U.S. cities, e-Bikes can travel anywhere conventional bicycles are allowed, but electric bikes offer expanded capabilities for many commuters since they are able to travel farther distances, and climb steeper inclines than traditional bikes.

“There have been many published studies that rank the top bicycle cities in the country, but none of these studies are e-Bike-specific” added Valasek. “We aimed to identify the cities where e-Bikes can make a substantial difference in daily commuting.”

The “Top 10 e-Bike Cities” in the United States, according to GenZe are:

  1. San Francisco – While it’s famous for being one of the world’s hilliest locations, the “Golden Gate City” has the second highest population density in the United States and suffers from some of the worst traffic congestion in the nation. San Francisco is also one of the most e-Bike-friendly cities in the U.S., boasting over 430 miles of dedicated bikeways and e-Bikeshare programs such as the new Ford GoBike system, which make it easy for residents to cycle over San Francisco’s famous hills.
  2. Seattle – While its residents are already avid cyclists, Seattle is ranked as the second “hilliest city in America,” according to online research, and ranked fourth in traffic congestion. Since Seattle features over 172 miles of bikeways, electric bikes help more residents get outdoors and commute to any part of the city.
  3. New York City – It’s no surprise that the most densely-populated city in the U.S. ranks high in traffic, but it’s surprisingly easy to get around the “Big Apple” on two wheels, thanks to the city’s 1,000+ miles of bikeways and shared streets. Recently, NYC announced new legislation that would finally allow electric- pedal-assist bicycles on its city streets, making it the newest “e-Bike friendly” city in the country.
  4. San Diego – With its great weather and 510 miles of dedicated bikeways and shared-streets, San Diego is ideal for bicyclists. Except it’s also the fifth hilliest city in the United States, so the added power and torque of e-Bikes make it easier to get around town.
  5. Los Angeles – In a city famous for its love affair with the automobile, it’s no surprise that L.A. has the worst traffic congestion in the country. The city is also home to four of the 10 steepest grade streets in the United States. L.A.’s dense population, coupled with its hilly terrain and 1,190 miles of bikeways make it one of the top U.S. cities to commute via electric bicycle.
  6. Portland, Ore. – The “City of Roses” is well-known for its bicycle-friendly infrastructure. In fact, Portland’s Tilikum Crossing was one of the nation’s first car-free travel bridges when it opened in 2015. However, Portland also suffers from considerable traffic congestion, so e-Bikes are a practical option that make commuting long distances easy, using the city’s impressive network of bikeways.
  7. Pittsburgh – Famous for its bridges and tunnels, Pittsburgh holds the distinction of being the hilliest city in the United States, boasting two of the 10 steepest grade streets in the nation. Pittsburgh also features a robust bicycling network, making e-Bikes a practical cycling option across the city’s daunting inclines.
  8. Boston – While Boston is well-known as a “walking town” due to its relatively small geographic size and large population, it’s also one of the easiest cities to get around on two-wheels, with nearly 200 miles of bikeways. Bostonians could avoid the city’s considerable traffic congestion by adopting e-Bikes for daily local transportation.
  9. Washington, D.C. – The nation’s capital is consistently ranked among the highest cities for traffic congestion and population density. With over 230 miles of bicycle-friendly roads and trails, Washington D.C. is also a great place for commuters to skip the hassle of traffic by exploring the city on an e-Bike.
  10. Minneapolis / St. Paul, Minn. – According to a study by the League of American Bicyclists, 3.7-percent of Minneapolis residents commute by bicycle. In fact, the city was ranked among the top two bicycle commuting cities by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2014, and has since expanded its 226 miles of dedicated path trails, shared lanes and other cycling infrastructure. Given the large geographical area of Minneapolis (including its hillier twin city, St. Paul) and its expansive network of bikeways, long commutes are no problem on an electric bike.

For more information on GenZe, visit www.genze.com or on social media at Facebook.com/RideGenZe, @RideGenZe on Twitter, and @RideGenZe on Instagram.

For high-resolution artwork, download GenZe’s Electronic Press Kit.

About GenZe

GenZe has a simple motto: “Two Wheels. One Planet. Zero Emissions.” We are committed to providing easily-accessible personal transportation through e-Bikes and e-Scooters loaded with smart, connected technology and powered by sustainable, zero-emissions electric energy.

GenZe manufactures and assembles in Ann Arbor, Michigan with corporate headquarters in Silicon Valley. GenZe is a division of the globally-expanding $19 billion Mahindra Group, which focuses on enabling people to rise through new and better solutions to tomorrow’s challenges. The Mahindra Group is a worldwide leader in aerospace, automotive, utility vehicles, tractors, motorcycles, clean energy, and more.

Amusement Park PRCollin Whitley, 714-881-2412cwhitley@amusementparkinc.com