Home to nearly 90 miles of trails and more than 260 miles of bikeways, Minneapolis has built one of the country's most connected bike networks, making it easy for residents to reach everyday destinations without getting behind the wheel.

For those of us who call the Heartland home, the PeopleForBikes’ 2026 City Ratings tell a familiar story.

Our communities might not have the largest populations, the biggest transportation budgets, or the highest density. But year after year, cities across the middle of the country keep proving that great places for biking can be built anywhere.

This year's results are especially meaningful because PeopleForBikes introduced a more rigorous methodology — one that places a greater emphasis on network quality, connectivity, and access to destinations. For the Heartland, the results are encouraging.

The Heartland includes Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Connectivity Is Becoming the Heartland's Strength

The highest-performing cities aren't simply building more trails or adding more bike lanes. They're creating networks that link neighborhoods to schools, downtowns to business districts, and homes to everyday destinations — making it safer and easier for people to choose a bike for short trips, daily errands, and commuting.

What a Score of 50 Means

A City Ratings score of 50 represents an important milestone. Communities that reach this threshold have built networks that allow a meaningful share of residents to comfortably access daily destinations by bike — not through standout projects, but through a connected system that works together.

This year's methodology updates make that benchmark even more significant. Top-scoring communities are earning it under a framework that more accurately reflects the quality and usefulness of their networks.

Top Five Large Heartland Cities

• Minneapolis, Minnesota: 68
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin: 57
• St. Paul, Minnesota: 56
• Detroit, Michigan: 55
• Omaha, Nebraska: 43

Top Five Midsize Heartland Cities

• Rochester Hills, Michigan: 80
• Ames, Iowa: 68
• Grand Forks, North Dakota: 67
• Fargo, North Dakota: 67
• Ankeny, Iowa: 66

Top Five Small Heartland Cities

• Mackinac Island, Michigan: 100
• Washburn, Wisconsin: 98
• Berkley, Michigan: 93
• Spring Lake, Michigan: 87
• Shorewood, Wisconsin: 86

Top Five Arkansas Cities

• Bentonville, Arkansas: 50
• Fayetteville, Arkansas: 49
• Bella Vista, Arkansas: 49
• Rogers, Arkansas: 42
• Springdale, Arkansas: 38

Bentonville Reaches a Milestone

One of this year's most exciting stories comes from Northwest Arkansas. Bentonville reached a City Ratings score of 50 for the first time, reflecting years of investment in connecting neighborhoods, schools, and business districts. Fayetteville followed closely at 49, and Bella Vista climbed the charts as well moving up from 44 in 2025 to 49 in 2026.

Together, these communities illustrate a broader regional trend: cities are moving beyond recreation and focusing on how biking can support everyday life — giving residents more transportation choices, greater access to opportunity, and stronger ties to their communities.

The Heartland Is Setting the Pace

From North Dakota to Louisiana, communities throughout the Heartland are proving that connected transportation networks are built through dedicated local leadership, long-term vision, and a commitment to making communities safer for the people who live there. Those investments strengthen local economies, support healthier lifestyles, and make communities more desirable to live, work, visit, and play.

The Heartland has always excelled at coming together and building the kind of places we want for our families. Increasingly, that includes connected communities where more people can safely and easily choose to get around by bike.