The Boulder-based nonprofit People for Bikes (PFB) has released its 2025 City Ratings, illustrating a troubling trend for bicycle infrastructure in Chicago. In a marked improvement from previous years, the city’s rating climbed from a mere 9 points out of a possible 100 in 2024 to a total of 11 points this year, a 22 percent increase. Despite this optimistic statistic, Chicago has still landed in a disappointing 2,497th place out of 2,901 cities globally, placing it squarely in the bottom 14 percentile. Locally, the city ranked 2,137th in the United States, 512th in the Midwest, and a surprising 60th in Illinois, trailing behind 58 other municipalities that are deemed more bike-friendly.
This year’s PFB rankings have once again raised eyebrows, particularly when assessing Chicago’s standing among other major U.S. cities. The cities ranked highest for bikeability, including Brooklyn, Minneapolis, and Seattle, may have reasons for their high scores, but many wonder how locations like Cleveland, Omaha, and Jacksonville managed to surpass Chicago despite their lower bike infrastructure ratings. Jacksonville is especially perplexing; it had a bike mode share of less than half of Chicago’s 1.7 percent while also experiencing a bike fatality rate that was six times higher than that of Chicago.
A major contributor to these discrepancies is PFB’s methodology, which places significant emphasis on a city’s default speed limit. Chicago’s speed limit stands at 30 mph, while cities with a lower 25 mph limit consistently receive better scores, regardless of their bike lane infrastructure or transportation policies. This evaluation metric has sparked debate in the local cycling community, which argues that Chicago’s speed limit needs to be lowered to enhance safety for cyclists.
In February, an ordinance proposing to reduce the citywide speed limit to 25 mph was rejected by the City Council in a close vote of 28 to 21. Data from other cities that have implemented a 25 mph limit reveal that this decision could lead to more fatalities for Chicagoans in traffic incidents, a risk that critics are keen to spotlight. Highlighting the need for systemic change, cycling advocates have put forth a series of additional recommendations aimed at improving bike safety and accessibility within the city.
These suggestions include expanding the installation of concrete-protected bike lanes, which should become a standard for new infrastructure. Additionally, advocates stress the importance of implementing protected intersections to minimize the chance of turning motorists colliding with cyclists. Another suggestion involves removing the ‘aldermanic prerogative’ that currently allows local politicians to veto bike projects, a process many believe hampers progress in establishing a comprehensive bike-friendly network.
Ensuring that bike lanes are funded and installed in every district, rather than only in bike-friendly areas, is another priority. This would necessitate reevaluating the reliance on the discretionary “menu” money typically allocated by alders for such projects. Furthermore, there is a call for the city to prioritize the development of long, continuous low-stress bike routes that are not constrained by ward boundaries. Finally, increasing the number of Complete Streets planners and engineers at the Chicago Department of Transportation is essential for improving the overall cycling experience.
The reaction from the community has been mixed, with many expressing frustration over the city’s rating and the lack of effective bike infrastructure. In light of the newest PFB rating, comments from residents on social media have highlighted a desire for change. One follower suggested that the Mayor’s Office should be able to rally a majority of alders to enact the speed limit reduction to 25 mph. After all, reducing the speed limit is widely regarded as a necessary step to create a safer environment for all road users.
Other responses emphasized the importance of not only improving bike safety but also enhancing the overall walking experience in the city. Many residents agree that well-designed walking environments often lead to better cycling conditions.
The debate surrounding cycling in Chicago is certainly poised for continued discussion as advocates and city officials grapple with the state of bikeability in the city. With plans for improving cycling safety and infrastructure still pending, the community awaits further developments as they hope for a more bike-friendly future.
For a complete look at the People for Bikes 2025 City Ratings and to access the results for Chicago, readers can visit the official People for Bikes website.
image source from：chi
