Last year was another banner year for the creation of great places to ride a bike across the U.S. New bike infrastructure was fueled by funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which made billions in federal dollars available for bike projects, alongside billions of additional state and local funding measures supported by PeopleForBikes. 

As a result, Americans enjoyed hundreds of new places to ride in 2024. We collected some of the best bike projects built in the last year to celebrate how all kinds of communities are benefiting from safe, fun, and connected places to bike.

Penn Circle Conversion | Pittsburgh, PA

PHOTO CREDIT: Bike Pittsburgh

This project converted a one-way, high-speed arterial into a two-way street with protected bike lanes, including protected intersections. Reversing design decisions made in the 1960s urban renewal era, the project also eliminated highway-like slip lanes and improved pedestrian crossings. What was once a highway now feels like the neighborhood street that it is. It also closes key gaps in the city’s growing network of protected bikeways, linking to existing facilities on Negley Avenue, Centre Avenue, Broad Street, and East Liberty Boulevard. 

Clark Street Protected Bike Lane | Chicago IL

PHOTO CREDIT: John Greenfield/Streetsblog Chicago
Clark Street is the southbound twin to the northbound bikeway on adjacent Dearborn Street, connecting Oak Street to Grand Avenue in central Chicago just north of the Loop. It’s already one of the city’s most popular bikeways. Beyond Clark Street, Chicago installed a total of 47 miles of new bike facilities across the city, including 31 miles of low-stress, protected bike lanes and neighborhood greenways. 

The Pershing Bikeway | San Diego, CA

PHOTO CREDIT: San Diego County Bicycle Coalition

San Diego’s new Pershing Bikeway connects the diverse North Park neighborhood to bike lanes near downtown through Balboa Park. The 2.3-mile project combines a two-way protected bike lane, a separate bike path, and one-way protected bike lanes to provide safe and comfortable bike routes for people of all ages and abilities. Key elements include a 75-foot bridge over Florida Canyon Creek, a new roundabout at a formerly dangerous intersection, and five new pedestrian intersections equipped with 70 path lights to improve visibility. 

Joe Louis Greenway | Detroit, MI

PHOTO CREDIT: City of Detroit

Named in honor of boxing legend Joe Louis, the Joe Louis Greenway is a planned 28-mile loop around central Detroit. Hailed for the revitalization and economic development it will bring, the trail connects 23 neighborhoods within Detroit as well as the cities of Dearborn, Hamtramck, and Highland Park. In 2024, residents celebrated the opening of the section between W. Warren Avenue and Joy Road. Just a short mile, this segment includes the Warren Gateway Trailhead and several spurs into surrounding neighborhoods, carrying on the trail’s critical role in connecting the local community.

Napa Valley Vine Trail | Calistoga-St. Helena, CA

PHOTO CREDIT: Rails to Trails Conservancy

Officials cut the ribbon on a new 9-mile section of the Napa Valley Vine Trail in August. Residents and visitors can now travel between the small towns of Calistoga and St. Helena in the Napa Valley on a gorgeous new bike path alongside vineyards. Twenty nine of the 47 miles are now complete, and the other sections are in the final design stage. 

Neighborhood Bikeways | Bloomington, IN

PHOTO CREDIT: City of Bloomington

Many cities are seeing the value of integrating low-volume, low-speed neighborhood streets into their bikeway networks. In Bloomington, Indiana, city planners are emphasizing the community benefits of slow streets by converting streets into “neighborhood greenways.” Every year, the city funds the conversion of at least three streets into greenways and works with residents to determine design details. 

As more people see the success of Bloomington and other cities creating neighborhood greenways that serve as a bikeway network, they will want to copy that success in their own communities. In 2024, PeopleForBikes awarded two grants to develop a model for greenway advocacy and a guide to encourage and support city leaders and advocates to develop them. 

Leeward Bikeway | Honolulu, HI

PHOTO CREDIT: Hawaii Bicycling League

This dedicated bikeway uses a former railroad right-of-way to connect Philippine Sea Road in ‘Ewa to Waipahu Depot Street. After the construction of retaining walls, utility relocation, and the reconstruction of bridges at Waikele Stream and Kapakahi Stream, the Leeward Bikeway extends the Pearl Harbor Historic Trail, creating an 11-mile route from ʻAiea Bay State Recreation Area to the Hawaiian Railway Society in ‘Ewa Beach. After just a few more gap closures, people will be able to ride on a 24-mile car-free bikeway from the eastern suburbs of Honolulu all the way to Diamond Head, connecting with the airport, downtown, Waikiki, and more.

The Moosup Valley State Park Trail | Connecticut

PHOTO CREDIT: Connecticut State Parks

The Moosup Valley State Park Trail opened six miles of trail from the town of Moosup to Rhode Island. The trail spans 62 acres of wetlands, rivers, ponds and natural beauty, hugging the Moosup River until it connects with the Trestle Trail in Rhode Island. Each segment is a part of the East Coast Greenway, a safe biking and walking route connecting 15 states and 450 cities and towns for 3,000 miles from Maine to Florida. 

Know of a great bike project planned for 2025 that should be on our radar for next year’s list? Make sure it’s included in our National Bike Project Tracker! To learn how to add planned projects to the list, check out our FAQ page.