Philly Named Best Large City for Biking

Website ranks Philadelphia as the most bikeable city with a population more than one million.

Philadelphia ranks as the ninth most bikeable city in the United States and the best city for biking with a population more than one million, according to the website www.walkscore.com.

The rankings are based on bike lanes, hills, destinations and road connectivity and bike commuting road share.

Census studies show more than two percent of Philadelphians bike to work. That's a full percentage point higher than the next closest large city, which is Chicago.

The Census Bureau also ranks Center City Philadelphia and South Philadelphia among the top twenty-five biking neighborhoods in the country.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter says he is pleased to see the city recognized.

According to the Mayor's Office, over the past five years efforts have significantly expanded bike infrastructure in high demand and key employment areas including Center City, University City and around Temple University.

City transportation officials say bike commuting is up 150 percent since the year 2000 and the number of accidents involving cyclists is down 50 percent.

Along with www.walkscore.com, researchers at Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia contributed to the rankings.

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