Why biking to work in Texas might be a bad idea

DALLAS (KDAF) — While cycling has surged in popularity as a sustainable and health-conscious mode of transportation, significant barriers still prevent many Americans from choosing bikes for their daily commute. Infrastructure gaps, limited safety protections, and insufficient public investment create challenging environments for cyclists in many states.

The Velosurance study analyzed quantitative indicators like miles of bike lanes, traffic fatalities, and federal funding to explore which U.S. states foster the most supportive environments for bicycle commuters. By comparing states’ performance using four key metrics: Ridership Score (30 points), Infrastructure Score (30 points), Road Law & Safety Score (15 points), and FHWA Funding Score (25 points), the study ranks states from most to least favorable for bike commuters on a 100-point scale.

Texas claims the position of the second-worst state for biker-commuters with a bike-commuter-friendly score of 17.00/100. The Lone Star State has 26,283 bicycle commuters among its massive 14,801,534 total commuters, earning a 4.0/30 Ridership Score. Despite its size and economic strength, Texas shows limited dedication to cycling infrastructure, with $2.03 per capita in FHWA funding, scoring 4.70/25. The state scores poorly on infrastructure development at 1/30, though it demonstrates better commitment to cyclist safety with an 8/15 Road Law & Safety score.

Table of Extended Results:

10 U.S. States That Are Least Bike-Commuter-Friendly
State	Total Score out of 100	Our Ranking
South Carolina	16.45	1
Texas	17.00	2
Mississippi	19.71	3
Alabama	22.78	4
Rhode Island	25.20	5
New Jersey	25.59	6
Oklahoma	25.93	7
Missouri	26.16	8
North Carolina	26.43	9
Arkansas	27.42	10

Curious how your state ranks? Check out the detailed rankings.