Asking whether cycling is safe in the US is like asking if the weather is nice in Russia.
The answer depends entirely on where you are and when you’re asking (and a European was asking this time!).
A discussion began over on Reddit, when a user, who recently moved from Eastern Europe to the U.S. expressed concerns about cycling safety, noting the country’s heavy reliance on cars.
They questioned whether riding on common roads felt like “delayed suicide” and mentioned being advised to transport their bike by car to parks for safer riding.
The original post highlights the user’s apprehension about cycling in the U.S., due to the dominance of motor vehicles and perceived lack of cycling infrastructure. They find it counterintuitive to drive a car to a park just to ride a bike safely.
The unfiltered responses paint a picture that’s about as varied as America’s pizza toppings preferences.
Some felt they couldn’t help:
then there were others who gave off an “it depends” vibe:
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The Good News: Some Places Really Shine
Some US cities are absolutely crushing it when it comes to bike safety.
Take Madison, Wisconsin, for example. As one cyclist puts it, it’s “spectacular!”
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…with bike lanes getting plowed before some roads do. That’s some serious bicycle love right there.
Other cycling havens include:
Northwest Arkansas (Bentonville/Fayetteville) with its “amazing cycling infrastructure that is growing exponentially”
and Minneapolis, boasting “separated bike paths” and “greenways”.
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Colorado can have nice quiet roads:
The Not-So-Good News: Infrastructure Challenges
Unfortunately, not every American cyclist gets to experience such two-wheeled bliss.
“You learn to live with the danger”
Many areas are still stuck in what feels like the stone age of cycling infrastructure.
Rural areas often lack “bike lanes (or even sidewalks or shoulders),” and some cities seem to think a stripe of green paint on the road counts as adequate protection.
The Driver Factor
Here’s where things get a bit tricky. American roads come with their own unique challenge: what cyclists describe as an “anti-bike culture.”
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We’re talking about:
- Distracted drivers (probably still trying to figure out if that last TikTok was worth liking)
- Massive vehicles with “too many blind spots”
- The occasional driver who seems to think the road is their personal kingdom
Making It Work: Smart Cycling Strategies
Despite these challenges, hundreds of thousands of Americans still cycle daily.
They’re not crazy (well, maybe a little), but they’re smart about it. Many use tools like:
- Strava heatmaps
- Google Maps’ bike mode
- Local cycling groups for route recommendations
The Bottom Line
Is cycling in the US safe? Well, it’s complicated.
“Basically asking if cycling in an area twice the size of the European Union is safe.”
As one rider wisely noted, asking about cycling safety in the US is “basically asking if cycling in an area twice the size of the European Union is safe.”
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The truth is, with proper planning, awareness, and route selection, cycling can be relatively safe in many parts of the US. But let’s be honest: we’ve got some serious catching up to do compared to our European friends.
Remember, as one cyclist philosophically noted, “Not cycling is more damaging” than the risks involved. Just make sure to choose your routes wisely, stay visible, and maybe avoid those roads where trucks seem to be practicing for NASCAR.
Stay safe out there, fellow cyclists!
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