Riding a bike is fun!

Bicycling is a great way to get around and to get 

your daily dose of physical activity. It's good for 

the environment, and it can save you money. No 

wonder many communities are encouraging 

people to ride their bikes more often! 

Can you get to where you 

want to go by bike?

Some communities are more bikeable than others: 

how does yours rate? Read over the questions in 

this checklist and then take a ride in your 

community, perhaps to the local shops, to visit a 

friend, or even to work. See if you can get where 

you want to go by bicycle, even if you are just 

riding around the neighborhood to get some 

exercise.

At the end of your ride, answer each question and, 

based on your opinion, circle an overall rating for 

each question. You can also note any problems you 

encountered by checking the appropriate box(es). 

Be sure to make a careful note of any specific 

locations that need improvement. 

Add up the numbers to see how you rated your 

ride. Then, turn to the pages that show you how 

to begin to improve those areas where you gave 

your community a low score. 

Before you ride, make sure your bike is in good 

working order, put on a helmet, and be sure you 

can manage the ride or route you've chosen. 

Enjoy the ride!

Bikeability Checklist

How bikeable is your community?

Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center

U.S. Department

of Transportation

National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration
1. Did you have a place to bicycle safely?

 a) On the road, sharing the road with motor

 vehicles?

 Yes Some problems (please note locations):

 No space for bicyclists to ride

 Bicycle lane or paved shoulder disappeared

 Heavy and/or fast-moving traffic

 Too many trucks or buses

 No space for bicyclists on bridges or in 

 tunnels

 Poorly lighted roadways

 Other problems: _______________________

_____________________________________

Location of bike ride (be specific): 

________________________________ 

123456

awful many

problems

some

problems

good excellent very good

Rating Scale:

Go for a ride and use this checklist

 to rate your neighborhood's bikeability. 

 b) On an off-road path or trail, where motor 

 vehicles were not allowed?

 Yes Some problems:

 Path ended abruptly

 Path didn't go where I wanted to go

 Path intersected with roads that were 

 difficult to cross

 Path was crowded

 Path was unsafe because of sharp turns or 

 dangerous downhills

 Path was uncomfortable because of too 

 many hills

 Path was poorly lighted

 Other problems: _______________________

_____________________________________

Overall "Safe Place To Ride" Rating: (circle one) 

 1 2 3 4 5 6 

2. How was the surface that you rode on?

 Good Some problems, the road or path had:

 Potholes

 Cracked or broken pavement

 Debris (e.g. broken glass, sand, gravel, etc.)

 Dangerous drain grates, utility covers, or 

 metal plates

 Uneven surface or gaps

 Slippery surfaces when wet (e.g. bridge 

 decks, construction plates, road markings)

 Bumpy or angled railroad tracks

 Rumble strips

 Other problems: _______________________

_____________________________________

Overall Surface Rating: (circle one) 

 1 2 3 4 5 6 

3. How were the intersections you rode 

 through?

 Good Some problems:

 Had to wait too long to cross intersection

 Couldn't see crossing traffic

 Signal didn't give me enough time to cross 

 the road

 Signal didn't change for a bicycle

 Unsure where or how to ride through 

 intersection

 Other problems: _______________________

_____________________________________

Overall Intersection Rating: (circle one) 

 1 2 3 4 5 6

Continue the checklist on the next page...

 How bikeable is 

 your community?

2
4. Did drivers behave well?

 Yes Some problems, drivers:

 Drove too fast

 Passed me too close

 Did not signal

 Harassed me

 Cut me off

 Ran red lights or stop sign

 Other problems: _______________________

_____________________________________

Overall Driver Rating: (circle one) 

 1 2 3 4 5 6 

5. Was it easy for you to use your bike?

 Yes Some problems:

 No maps, signs, or road markings to help

 me find my way

 No safe or secure place to leave my bicycle 

 at my destination

 No way to take my bicycle with me on the 

 bus or train

 Scary dogs

 Hard to find a direct route I liked

 Route was too hilly

 Other problems: _______________________

_____________________________________

Overall Ease of Use Rating: (circle one) 

 1 2 3 4 5 6 

6. What did you do to make your ride

 safer?

 Your behavior contributes to the bikeability of your 

 community. Check all that apply:

 Wore a bicycle helmet 

 Obeyed traffic signal and signs

 Rode in a straight line (didn't weave)

 Signaled my turns

 Rode with (not against) traffic

 Used lights, if riding at night

 Wore reflective and/or retroreflective 

 materials and bright clothing

 Was courteous to other travelers 

 (motorist, skaters, pedestrians, etc.)

7. Tell us a little about yourself.

 In good weather months, about how many days a month 

 do you ride your bike?

 Never 

 Occasionally (one or two)

 Frequently (5-10)

 Most (more than 15)

 Every day

 

 Which of these phrases best describes you?

 An advanced, confident rider who is 

 comfortable riding in most traffic situations

 An intermediate rider who is not really 

 comfortable riding in most traffic situations

 A beginner rider who prefers to stick to the 

 bike path or trail

How does your community rate? 

Add up your ratings and decide.

(Questions 6 and 7 do not contribute to your community's score)

 1. _____

 

 2. _____

 

 3. _____

 

 4. _____

 

 5. _____

Total _____

26-30 Celebrate! You live in a bicycle- 

 friendly community.

21-25 Your community is pretty good, 

 but there's always room for 

 improvement.

16-20 Conditions for riding are okay, but 

 not ideal. Plenty of opportunity for

 improvements.

11-15 Conditions are poor and you 

 deserve better than this! Call the 

 mayor and the newspaper right 

 away. 

5-10 Oh dear. Consider wearing body 

 armor and Christmas tree lights 

 before venturing out again.

Did you find something that needs to 

be changed?

 On the next page, you'll find suggestions for improving 

the bikeability of your community based on the problems 

you identified. Take a look at both the short- and long-term 

solutions and commit to seeing at least one of each through 

to the end. If you don't, then who will?

 During your bike ride, how did you feel physically? 

Could you go as far or as fast as you wanted to? Were you 

short of breath, tired, or were your muscles sore? The next 

page also has some suggestions to improve the enjoyment of 

your ride.

 Bicycling, whether for transportation or recreation, is a 

great way to get 30 minutes of physical activity into your day. 

Riding, just like any other activity, should be something you 

enjoy doing. The more you enjoy it, the more likely you'll 

stick with it. Choose routes that match your skill level and 

physical activities. If a route is too long or hilly, find a new 

one. Start slowly and work up to your potential.

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• pick another route for now

• tell local transportation engineers 

 or public works department about 

 specific problems; provide a copy 

 of your checklist

• find a class to boost your 

 confidence about riding in traffic

• participate in local planning meetings

• encourage your community to adopt a 

 plan to improve conditions, including

 a network of bike lanes on major roads

• ask your public works department to 

 consider "Share the Road" signs at 

 specific locations 

• ask your state department of 

 transportation to include paved 

 shoulders on all their rural highways

• establish or join a local bicycle 

 advocacy group

 2. How was the surface you rode on?

 Potholes

 Cracked or broken pavement

 Debris (e.g. broken glass, sand, gravel, etc.)

 Dangerous drain grates, utility covers, or metal plates

 Uneven surface or gaps

 Slippery surfaces when wet (e.g. bridge decks, 

 construction plates, road markings)

 Bumpy or angled railroad tracks

 Rumble strips

• report problems immediately to 

 public works department or 

 appropriate agency

• keep your eye on the road/path

• pick another route until the 

 problem is fixed (and check to see 

 that the problems are fixed) 

• organize a community effort to 

 clean up the path

• work with your public works and parks 

 department to develop a pothole or 

 hazard report card or online link to 

 warn the agency of potential hazards

• ask your public works department to 

 gradually replace all dangerous

 drainage grates with more bicycle- 

 friendly designs, and improve railroad

 crossings so cyclists can cross them at

 90 degrees

• petition your state DOT to adopt a 

 bicycle-friendly rumble-strip policy

• pick another route for now

• tell local transportation engineers 

 or public works department about

 specific problems

• take a class to improve your riding

 confidence and skills

• ask the public works department to look 

 at the timing of the specific traffic signals

• ask the public works department to 

 install loop-detectors that detect bicyclists

• suggest improvements to sightlines that 

 include cutting back vegetation; building 

 out the path crossing; and moving 

 parked cars that obstruct your view

• organize community-wide, on-bike 

 training on how to safely ride through

 intersections

What you can do 

immediately

What you and your community 

can do with more time

 Improving your 

 community's

 score...

Now that you know the problems,

 you can find the answers.

 1. Did you have a place to 

 bicycle safely?

 a) On the road?

 No space for bicyclists to ride (e.g. no bike lane or

 shoulder; narrow lanes)

 Bicycle lane or paved shoulder disappeared

 Heavy and/or fast-moving traffic

 Too many trucks or buses

 No space for bicyclists on bridges or in tunnels

 Poorly lighted roadways

b) On an off-road path or trail?

 Path ended abruptly

 Path didn't go where I wanted to go

 Path intersected with roads that were difficult to cross

 Path was crowded

 Path was unsafe because of sharp turns or 

 dangerous downhills

 Path was uncomfortable because of too many hills

 Path was poorly lighted

• slow down and take care when 

 using the path

• find an on-street route

• use the path at less crowded times

• tell the trail manager or agency 

 about specific problems

• ask the trail manager or agency to 

 improve directional and warning signs

• petition your local transportation

 agency to improve path/roadway

 crossings

• ask for more trails in your

 community

• establish or join a "Friends of the Trail" 

 advocacy group

 3. How were the intersections you 

 rode through?

 Had to wait too long to cross intersection

 Couldn't see crossing traffic

 Signal didn't give me enough time to cross the road

 The signal didn't change for a bicycle

 Unsure where or how to ride through intersection

4
 5. Was it easy for you to use

 your bike? 

 No maps, signs, or road markings to help me find

 my way

 No safe or secure place to leave my bicycle at my 

 destination

 No way to take my bicycle with me on the bus or train

 Scary dogs

 Hard to find a direct route I liked

 Route was too hilly

What you can do 

immediately

What you and your community 

can do with more time

 4. Did drivers behave well?

 Drivers:

 Drove too fast

 Passed me too close

 Did not signal

 Harassed me

 Cut me off

 Ran red lights or stop signs

• report unsafe drivers to the police

• set an example by riding

 responsibly; obey traffic laws; don't 

 antagonize drivers

• always expect the unexpected

• work with your community to raise 

 awareness to share the road 

• ask the police department to enforce 

 speed limits and safe driving 

• encourage your department of motor 

 vehicles to include "Share the Road"

 messages in driver tests and 

 correspondence with drivers

• ask city planners and traffic engineers

 for traffic calming ideas

• encourage your community to use 

 cameras to catch speeders and red 

 light runners

• plan your route ahead of time

• find somewhere close by to lock your 

 bike; never leave it unlocked

• report scary dogs to the animal 

 control department

• learn to use all of your gears!

• ask your community to publish a local

 bike map

• ask your public works department to 

 install bike parking racks at key 

 destinations; work with them to 

 identify locations

• petition your transit agency to install 

 bike racks on all their buses

• plan your local route network to

 minimize the impact of steep hills

• establish or join a bicycle user group

 (BUG) at your workplace

Improving your community's score...

(continued)

 6. What did you do to make your

 ride safer? 

 Wore a bicycle helmet

 Obeyed traffic signals and signs

 Rode in a straight line (didn't weave) 

 Signaled my turns

 Rode with (not against) traffic

 Used lights, if riding at night

 Wore reflective materials and bright clothing

 Was courteous to other travelers (motorists, skaters,

 pedestrians, etc.)

• go to your local bike shop and buy a 

 helmet; get lights and reflectors if you

 are expecting to ride at night

• always follow the rules of the road 

 and set a good example

• take a class to improve your riding

 skills and knowledge

• ask the police to enforce bicycle laws

• encourage your school or youth 

 agencies to teach bicycle safety 

 (on-bike)

• start or join a local bicycle club

• become a bicycle safety instructor

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Great Resources

National Park Service

Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program

1849 C Street, NW, MS-3622

Washington, DC 20240

www.ncrc.nps.gov/rtca/rtca-ofh.htm

HEALTH

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity

4770 Buford Highway, NE

Atlanta, GA 30341-3724

www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa

Tel: (770) 488-5692

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control

Childhood Injury Prevention

4770 Buford Highway, NE

Atlanta, GA 30341

www.cdc.gov/ncipc

ADVOCACY AND USER GROUPS

Thunderhead Alliance

P.O. Box 3309

Prescott, AZ 86302

Tel: (928) 541-9841

www.thunderheadalliance.org

League of American Bicyclists

1612 K Street, NW, Suite 401

Washington, DC 20006

Tel: (202) 822-1333

www.bikeleague.org

National Center for Bicycling and Walking

1506 21st Street, NW, Suite 200

Washington, DC 20036

Tel: (202) 463-6622

www.bikewalk.org

Surface Transportation Policy Project

1100 17th Street, NW, 10th Floor

Washington, DC 20036

Tel: (202) 466-2636

www.transact.org

OTHER USEFUL RESOURCES

Bikes and transit: www.bikemap.com

Bicycle information: www.bicyclinginfo.org

Bicycle-related research:

www.tfhrc.gov/safety/pedbike/pedbike.htm

Bicycling Magazine: www.bicycling.com/

Bicycle touring: 

Adventure Cycling Association

P.O. Box 8308

Missoula, MT 59807

(800) 755-2453

(406) 721-8754

www.adv-cycling.org

STREET DESIGN AND BICYCLE FACILITIES

American Association of State Highway and Transportation 

Officials

444 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 249

Washington, DC 20001

Tel: (202) 624-5800

www.aashto.org

Institute of Transportation Engineers

1099 14th Street, NW, Suite 300 West

Washington, DC 20005-3438 

Tel: (202) 289-0222

www.ite.org

Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP)

P.O. Box 23576

Washington, DC 20026

Tel: (202) 366-4071

www.apbp.org

Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC)

UNC Highway Safety Research Center

730 Airport Road, Suite 300

Campus Box 3430

Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3430

Tel: (919) 962-2202

www.pedbikeinfo.org

www.bicyclinginfo.org

Federal Highway Adminisrtation

400 Seventh Street, SW 

Washington, DC 20590

www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bikeped/index.htm

EDUCATION AND SAFETY

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

400 Seventh Street, SW

Washington, D.C. 20590

Tel: (202) 366-1739 

www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/bike/

League of American Bicyclists

1612 K Street NW, Suite 401

Washington, DC 20006

Tel: (202) 822-1333

www.bikeleague.org

National Bicycle Safety Network

www.cdc.gov/ncipc/bike/default.htm

National Safe Kids Campaign

1301 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 1000

Washington, DC 20004

Tel: (202) 662-0600

www.safekids.org

PATHS AND TRAILS

Rails to Trails Conservancy

1100 17th Street SW, 10th Floor

Washington, DC 20036

Tel: (202) 331-9696

www.railtrails.org

Need some guidance? 

 These resources might help...

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