Top E-Bike Friendly Cities in the US for 2025: Where to Ride and Why

The E-Bike Revolution in American Cities

The electric bike revolution is transforming urban mobility across America. As we move through 2025, cities nationwide are increasingly embracing e-bikes as a solution to traffic congestion, air pollution, and the need for more sustainable transportation options. This shift has led to significant investments in cycling infrastructure, changes in urban planning priorities, and new policies that make e-bikes a viable alternative to cars for millions of Americans.

With e-bike sales continuing to surge (an estimated 40 million e-bikes are expected to be sold globally in 2025), understanding which cities offer the best experience for e-bike riders has never been more important. Whether you're planning your next vacation, considering a move, or simply curious about how your city compares, this guide will help you navigate the landscape of e-bike-friendly destinations across the United States.

We've researched the latest developments in bike infrastructure, analyzed city policies, and considered rider experiences to bring you the most up-to-date overview of America's most e-bike friendly cities in 2025. From dedicated lanes to charging stations, incentive programs to community support, we'll explore what makes these cities stand out as havens for e-bike enthusiasts.

What Makes a City E-Bike Friendly?

Before diving into our list of top cities, it's important to understand the criteria that make a city truly e-bike friendly:

Essential Infrastructure

• Protected Bike Lanes: Dedicated, physically separated cycling paths that provide safety from vehicle traffic
• Comprehensive Network: Connected routes that allow riders to reach key destinations without dangerous gaps
• Charging Stations: Public e-bike charging infrastructure to extend riding range
• Secure Parking: Facilities that protect valuable e-bikes from theft and weather

Supportive Policies

• Clear Regulations: Well-defined rules for different classes of e-bikes
• Financial Incentives: Rebates and tax credits that make e-bike ownership more affordable
• Integration with Transit: Policies that allow e-bikes on public transportation or provide secure parking at transit hubs
• Lower Speed Limits: Reduced vehicle speeds on shared streets to improve safety for all users

Community Factors

• Active Cycling Community: Strong rider presence and advocacy groups
• Bike-Friendly Businesses: Shops, restaurants, and workplaces that accommodate cyclists
• Educational Programs: Resources to help new riders learn safe riding practices
• Cultural Acceptance: General public support for e-bikes as legitimate transportation

With these criteria in mind, let's explore the cities that are leading the way in creating e-bike-friendly environments.

Top E-Bike Friendly Cities in the US for 2025

1. Portland, Oregon

Portland has long been at the forefront of bicycle advocacy in the United States, and its commitment to e-bike infrastructure continues to strengthen in 2025. Portlanders love to cycle, with nearly 6% of residents opting for it as their preferred mode of transport; and an even higher percentage of them choosing to commute by bike.

What Makes Portland Stand Out:

• Extensive Infrastructure: Portland boasts an impressive 400 miles of cycling infrastructure, which includes both conventional bike lanes and routes specifically designed with e-bikes in mind.
• E-Bike Share Program: The Nike-sponsored Biketown program now offers thousands of e-bikes at subsidized rates, making it easy for residents and visitors to try electric cycling without committing to a purchase.
• Charging Network: The city has installed over 50 public e-bike charging stations, often powered by renewable energy sources.
• Economic Benefits: Portland's commitment to cycling has paid economic dividends, with businesses along bike corridors reporting increased customer traffic and higher revenue.

Portland's approach to e-bike infrastructure is particularly notable for its focus on equity. The East Portland in Motion Plan aims to enhance cycling infrastructure and build bike lanes in diverse neighborhoods, ensuring that cycling remains inclusive and accessible to all residents.

From the scenic waterfront along the Willamette River to the network of neighborhood greenways, Portland provides e-bike riders with diverse routing options that showcase the city's natural beauty and vibrant neighborhoods.

Learn more about Portland's cycling plans on their official website

2. Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis has emerged as a surprising leader in the e-bike revolution, defying its reputation for cold winters with a robust cycling culture and infrastructure that accommodates year-round riding.

What Makes Minneapolis Stand Out:

• Top-Ranked Infrastructure: Minneapolis has taken top spot of the larger cycling-friendly US cities, weighing in at number 32 in the country. Not only did it lower its default speed limit from 30 to 20 miles per hour on residential streets and to 25 miles per hour on arterial streets, but it has steadily made improvements to bike infrastructure too.
• Winter Riding Support: Special consideration for winter e-biking, including priority snow clearing on bike paths and heated bike parking in some downtown locations.
• Extensive Trail System: Minneapolis was best known for its historic 51-mile trail riding route – the Grand Round Scenic Byway, but it now boasts over 120 miles of on-street bikeways, dedicated bike lanes and off-street trails to enjoy.
• Community Support: Strong advocacy organizations like Our Streets Minneapolis and the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota have been instrumental in pushing for safer, more traversable streets.

The city's commitment to reducing speed limits on residential streets has significantly improved safety for e-bike riders, making Minneapolis a model for how policy changes can enhance the cycling experience. With cyclists' safety front and center of the city's development and a strong and friendly cycling community, it's no wonder this friendly city enjoys the top spot among larger US cities for cycling.

3. San Francisco, California

Despite its notorious hills, San Francisco has become an e-bike paradise thanks to the power assist that makes climbing those steep gradients manageable for riders of all fitness levels.

What Makes San Francisco Stand Out:

• Comprehensive Network: San Francisco is one of the top cities for biking in America. The city by the bay has one of the most comprehensive cycling infrastructures in the country.
• E-Bike Charging Infrastructure: The state continues to put in more Ebike charging stations, making it easier than ever to get where you want to go.
• Protected Lanes: This eight-by-eight-mile city offers nearly 31 miles of protected and buffered bike lanes, creating safe spaces for riders in a dense urban environment.
• Climate Advantage: San Francisco's mild climate makes year-round e-biking practical and enjoyable, without the extreme temperature variations that challenge riders in other regions.

San Francisco's focus on creating a network of protected bike lanes has been particularly successful in encouraging more residents to choose e-bikes for their daily commutes. The city's compact size makes it ideal for e-bike transportation, with most destinations reachable within a comfortable riding distance.

4. Seattle, Washington

Seattle has made remarkable progress in developing its e-bike infrastructure, particularly in recent years. Despite its hilly terrain and rainy reputation, the city has created an environment where e-bikes are a practical and popular transportation choice.

What Makes Seattle Stand Out:

• Speed Reduction Initiatives: Another US city prioritizing cyclists' safety by cutting traffic speed is Seattle. Slashing speeds to 20mph on non-arterial highways and roads connecting has allowed Seattle to come second in the list of larger bike-friendly US cities.
• Diverse Infrastructure: Seattle offers a blend of in-street painted bike lanes, fully separated Protected Bike Lanes, and Multi-Use Trails that accommodate various riding preferences.
• E-Bike-Specific Planning: The city's transportation department has incorporated e-bike considerations into its infrastructure designs, accounting for the higher speeds and different handling characteristics of electric bikes.
• Hill-Friendly Routes: Strategic planning of bike routes to minimize steep climbs, complemented by the power assistance of e-bikes that makes Seattle's hills manageable.

The city ranks 56th overall in the US for bikeability, which represents significant progress for a city once considered challenging for cyclists due to its topography and weather. E-bikes have been game-changers for Seattle, making cycling accessible to a broader population regardless of physical fitness or age.

5. Denver, Colorado

Denver's commitment to cycling infrastructure has accelerated in recent years, with a particular focus on accommodating e-bikes as part of its sustainability and transportation goals.

What Makes Denver Stand Out:

• Investment in Protected Infrastructure: In Denver, approximately 5 miles of protected lanes and 18 miles of regular bike lanes were constructed in 2016, compared with 16 miles of protected lanes and 19 miles of regular lanes in 2021.
• Pioneering Incentive Program: Denver, Colorado's wildly popular e-bike incentive program are showing that policy can be a powerful lever to accelerate e-bike adoption. Denver residents routinely claim vouchers within minutes of them becoming available.
• Focus on Connectivity: An advocate interviewed in Denver explained that "there has been a shift toward a connected network, from a series of disconnected street segments," which they said had been the "previous approach."
• Economic Impact: The city has seen economic benefits along corridors with improved cycling infrastructure, including increased business activity and higher property values.

Denver's voucher program for e-bike purchases has been particularly successful, becoming a model for other cities nationwide. In 2022 alone, the program put more than 4,700 e-bikes on the streets, with over 65 percent of the funding going toward low-income residents. And the purchasers of these e-bikes biked an average of 26 miles per week.

6. New York City, New York

Despite its density and traffic challenges, New York City has made significant strides in creating a more e-bike friendly environment, particularly with its extensive network of protected bike lanes.

What Makes New York City Stand Out:

• Extensive Protected Network: From 2009 to 2014, bicycle commuting doubled in New York City and Washington, DC, both of which had built relatively large networks of protected bike lanes.
• Safety Improvements: New York City's injury rates for all road users, including drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists, typically decreased by 40 to 50 percent in areas where the city implemented protected bike lanes.
• Integration with Public Transit: Facilities for secure e-bike parking at subway and bus stations, creating a seamless multi-modal transportation experience.
• E-Bike Delivery Regulations: Clear frameworks for commercial e-bike use, recognizing the important role these vehicles play in the city's delivery economy.

The city offers diverse riding environments, from the car-free paths of Central Park to the protected bike lanes along major avenues. E-bikes have become particularly popular for longer cross-borough commutes that might be challenging on conventional bicycles.

7. Austin, Texas

Austin continues to expand its reputation as one of the South's most bike-friendly cities, with a strong focus on creating infrastructure that accommodates the growing popularity of e-bikes.

What Makes Austin Stand Out:

• Protected Infrastructure Priority: Austin, New Orleans, Portland, and Seattle focused about 90 percent or more of their new cycling investments—excluding bicycle boulevards—on secure projects, like off-street trails.
• Climate Considerations: Accommodations for riding in hot weather, including shaded routes and businesses that welcome cyclists needing to cool down.
• Trail Network: Extensive off-street paths that provide scenic recreational riding opportunities while connecting key parts of the city.
• Tech Integration: Smart city features like traffic signals that detect e-bikes and adjust timing accordingly.

Austin's approach to e-bike infrastructure has been particularly notable for its focus on creating fully protected routes rather than simple painted bike lanes, recognizing the safety benefits of physical separation between cyclists and motor vehicles.

Economic Benefits of E-Bike Friendly Cities

The investments these cities have made in e-bike infrastructure aren't just good for riders—they're delivering significant economic returns as well:

Property Value Increases

Research consistently shows that proximity to high-quality bike infrastructure increases property values. A study of home values near the Monon Trail in Indianapolis, Ind. measured the impact of the trail on property values. Given two identical houses, with the same number of square feet, bathrooms, bedrooms, and comparable garages and porches – one within a half mile of the Monon Trail and another further away – the home closer to the Monon Trail would sell for an average of 11 percent more.

Similar patterns have been observed in cities across our list, creating a "bike premium" for properties located near protected bike lanes and trails. This increased property value translates to a stronger tax base for municipalities, helping fund further improvements.

Retail Business Boosts

Businesses located along bike routes often see significant benefits. In 2013, for example, Salt Lake City converted nine blocks of parking to a protected bike lane. Sales rose 8.8 percent for stores located along the bike lane—compared with a 7.0 percent increase citywide.

The data consistently shows that while cyclists may spend less per visit than motorists, they tend to visit more frequently, resulting in higher overall spending. Additionally, the space efficiency of bike parking means that a single car parking space can be converted to accommodate multiple bikes, increasing potential customer capacity.

Job Creation

Cycling infrastructure investments generate more employment opportunities than traditional road projects. In their 2011 study, the Political Economy Research Institute found that bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects created more jobs than road-only infrastructure projects. Bicycle-only projects created the most jobs at 11.41 jobs per $1 million invested, compared to 7.75 jobs per $1 million invested for road-only projects, which had the lowest level of job creation.

These jobs span multiple sectors, from construction and maintenance to retail, tourism, and services catering to cyclists.

Tourism Revenue

Bike tourism has become a significant economic driver in many e-bike-friendly cities. The 2018 Benchmarking Report from the League of American Bicyclists provides numerous examples of how bicycle tourism can spur economic development and job creation in communities. For example, the economic impact of bicycle tourism in the North Carolina Outer Banks is estimated to be $60 million annually.

E-bikes extend the reach of cycle tourism, allowing visitors to cover more ground and explore more attractions than would be possible on conventional bikes, particularly in cities with varied terrain or spread-out points of interest.

How Cities Are Supporting E-Bike Adoption in 2025

Beyond infrastructure, cities are implementing various programs to encourage e-bike use:

Financial Incentives

Many cities and states are offering significant rebates to make e-bike purchases more affordable. Denver reopened its rebate program in 2024, providing $1,200 for e-bikes and $1,700 for cargo models. Similar programs have spread across the country, with varying levels of support based on income, intended use, and e-bike type.

These incentives recognize the environmental and infrastructure benefits of shifting trips from cars to e-bikes, making it a worthwhile investment of public funds.

Regulatory Clarity

The electric bike revolution is transforming how Americans travel, commute, and recreate. With e-bike sales continuing to surge in 2025, understanding the complex web of regulations governing their use has never been more important.

Cities are working to clarify where different classes of e-bikes can operate, creating frameworks that balance access with safety concerns. The three-class system for e-bikes (Class 1: pedal-assist up to 20 mph; Class 2: throttle-assist up to 20 mph; Class 3: pedal-assist up to 28 mph) has been widely adopted, with specific regulations about where each class can ride.

E-Bike Share Programs

Many cities on our list have incorporated e-bikes into their bike share systems, allowing residents and visitors to experience electric assistance without purchasing their own bikes. These programs have proven extremely popular, often seeing higher utilization rates than conventional bike share options.

Educational Initiatives

Recognizing that e-bikes operate differently than conventional bicycles, cities are investing in educational programs that help riders understand safe operation, battery management, and appropriate use of various infrastructure types.

Planning Your E-Bike Adventure or Relocation

Whether you're planning a visit to explore these e-bike-friendly cities or considering a move to a location that better supports your cycling lifestyle, here are some tips:

For Visitors:

• Research bike share options before your trip—many cities offer daily or weekly passes that include e-bike access
• Look for hotels that offer secure e-bike parking or charging facilities
• Consider guided e-bike tours to get oriented to the city's cycling infrastructure
• Check local regulations about helmet requirements and where different classes of e-bikes can operate

For Potential Residents:

• Investigate neighborhood-level bike infrastructure, as some areas within generally bike-friendly cities may have better connections than others
• Research local e-bike incentive programs that could make purchasing more affordable
• Connect with local cycling advocacy groups to get insider perspectives on the riding experience
• Consider commute routes between potential homes and workplaces, looking for protected infrastructure

The Future of E-Bike Friendly Cities

Looking ahead, several trends are likely to shape the evolution of e-bike-friendly cities:

Increased Integration with Public Transit

Cities are working to create seamless connections between e-bikes and public transportation, with secure parking at transit hubs, accommodations for bringing bikes on buses and trains, and coordinated planning that views these modes as complementary rather than competitive.

Expansion of Charging Networks

As e-bike adoption grows, public charging infrastructure will become more widespread, potentially including solar-powered stations that offer riders free, renewable energy to extend their range.

Focus on Equity and Access

The Electric-Assisted Bicycle Rebate helps Minnesota residents save money when purchasing a new e-bike from eligible retailers. The rebate covers 50-75% of the eligible cost, up to a maximum of $1,500. Programs like this that specifically target underserved communities are becoming more common as cities recognize the potential for e-bikes to address transportation equity issues.

Climate Resilience Planning

As cities confront the challenges of climate change, e-bike infrastructure is increasingly viewed as part of climate resilience planning, offering a transportation option that remains viable during energy disruptions and reducing dependency on fossil fuels.

Conclusion: Joining the E-Bike Revolution

The cities featured in this guide represent the vanguard of a growing movement to make American urban areas more accommodating to e-bikes and their riders. Through thoughtful infrastructure investments, supportive policies, and community engagement, these cities are demonstrating that e-bikes can play a crucial role in creating more sustainable, equitable, and enjoyable urban environments.

Whether you're an experienced e-bike enthusiast or considering your first electric ride, these cities offer environments where you can safely and conveniently experience the many benefits of electric cycling. From the practical advantages of easier commuting to the simple joy of exploring new places with a bit of electric assistance, e-bikes are opening up new possibilities for urban mobility.

As more cities recognize the economic, environmental, and social benefits of supporting e-bike adoption, we can expect to see these trends continue and accelerate. The e-bike revolution is just beginning, and the cities leading the way are already reaping the rewards of their forward-thinking approaches to transportation.

Explore Tamobyke's selection of e-bikes designed for urban riding