While high scores might get the biggest headlines, some of the most inspiring stories from PeopleForBikes’ 2026 City Ratings belong to the cities putting in the work to climb the ranks and improve their scores year after year. We identified eight communities that aren’t at the top of the rankings yet, but are investing in the infrastructure, partnerships, and policies that move the needle for making biking safer and more accessible.
2026 Cities to Watch
Mill Valley, California
Nestled at the foot of Mount Tamalpais — one of the birthplaces of mountain biking — Mill Valley is balancing its off-road cycling heritage with a serious push to make biking an easy and accessible choice for everyday transportation. The city’s Transportation Mobility Advisory Committee is applying PeopleForBikes’ SPRINT principles to prioritize protected lanes, lower speeds, and improved connectivity, with Miller Avenue serving as a flagship project for the city. A recently updated bike and pedestrian plan and participation in PeopleForBikes’ OpenStreetMap mapathon are helping the city track progress and build toward a City Ratings score that truly reflects the community’s ambitions. Learn more about how Mill Valley is building a culture of biking.