What Every Bicyclist Needs to Know about New Orleans

New Orleans is rather flat but offers incredible sights all throughout. This makes it a great choice for bicyclists as many of the neighborhoods offer high bike scores. There’s also a bike-share program and many of the streets have been repaired to welcome bicyclists to the area.

All throughout New Orleans, you will find several social rides and bike clubs to enjoy. The bike lanes have been expanded and there’s a big program for riding safety throughout the area. This has all been done to make New Orleans the 19th best city in the country for biking, according to Bicycling.com.

Best Biking Neighborhoods in New Orleans

The entire city is bike-friendly, but a few neighborhoods are at the top of the list. Bywater, Marigny, and Uptown are the best when it comes to biking and offer the best infrastructure for road-sharing. These are also three of the top neighborhoods for festivals, parades and things to do throughout the city.

The Ride-Share Program

Another part of what makes New Orleans such a bike-friendly city is the new bike-share program. It was launched in December 2017 with 70 locations and a total of 700 bikes. Riders can pick up a bike at one stop and drop it off at another. The program is called Blue Bikes and has plans for expansion.

You can use the rideshare program for $15 per month. This will allow up to one hour of riding each day. They even offer a program for low-income residents for $20 per year. If you go over the one hour per day, you will be charged $8 for each additional hour.

The Lafitte Greenway

Biking became much better with the Lafitte Greenway. It’s a 2.6-mile bicycle and pedestrian trail that connects the French Quarter with City Park. There are plans for expansion with this greenway, as well. Eventually, it will allow residents to bike all over the city without needing to use the roads.

There are several reasons why New Orleans has become a popular choice for bicyclists. If you’re relocating to the city or looking to buy a bike, you’ll be able to get around, enjoy the amazing views and save on gas if you live in the right neighborhood.