If you live here in FoCo, it probably won’t surprise you to hear Fort Collins is a bike-friendly city. In 2018, we even landed the top ranking in this nationwide list of bike-friendly cities scored by PeopleForBikes. And our motto has been bikes, beers and bands for years. Looking at data from Walk Score — a website that also calculates bike scores — 25 Fort Collins neighborhoods have Bike Scores between 90 and 100 and all but one have scores over 50. That gives our city an overall Bike Score of 80!

With the completion of the Pitkin Bikeway in 2017, the city’s bikeability and overall rider safety got even higher! The five-mile bikeway begins just west of Avery Park and continues east on Pitkin Street through the CSU Main Campus, past Bennett Elementary, Lesher Middle School, Edora Park and Poudre Valley Hospital until it reaches Riverside Ave. near Kingfisher Point Natural Area. You can see the whole corridor map here.

FoCo is also home to the Fort Collins Bike Share which provides more than 20 stations all across town. At each location, you’ll find cruiser bikes available to rent through the Zagster app for just $2 per hour. Each one comes with a lock and can be left at any other Bike Share station in town! Stops include Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, The Lincoln Center, New Belgium Brewing, Odell Brewing Company, Library Park and The Gardens at Spring Creek. Find more details and pricing info here.

Home to other resources like Bike Wrench Mobile Bike Repair, Lawson Cycles Ltd. and The Spoke at Colorado State University, this has just been the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Fort Collins’ bicycling community! Below, we’ve rounded up the top ten most bike-friendly neighborhoods and included the nearby resources, attractions and businesses that can make your ride easy and fun. Enjoy!

 

1. Downtown

Bike Score: 100 | Walk Score: 78

Downtown Fort Collins and Old Town are the most bike-friendly and pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods in the city. Home to some of our favorite local eateries, shops and annual events, there’s no need to hop in a car to traverse these streets — though there are plenty of free parking options as well!

There are six Fort Collins Bike Share stations within the neighborhood and six more within one mile, including stations at New Belgium Brewing and Odell Brewing Company. In the area, you’ll also find Bean Cycle Roasters, a hometown coffee shop and roaster who displays vintage bikes and information on the wall! It’s a great refueling stop.

The Gearage is a used outdoor gear and bike shop in Old Town offering the full lineup of services including tune-ups, safety checks, complete overhauls and a la carte fixes. You’ll also find The Wright Life, New World Sports, Topo Designs and the USA headquarters of Experience Plus! Bicycle Tours!

While you’re on your bike, consider exploring Civic Center Park and Library Park or catch the Poudre Trail which travels along the river all the way up to Lee Martinez Park and beyond.

 

2. University Park

Bike Score: 99 | Walk Score: 75

University Park is the neighborhood just south of Downtown Fort Collins and just east of the Colorado State University campus. From here, you have easy access to the restaurants and attractions in both Downtown and University North — which include The Colorado Room and Big City Burrito — as well as the suburban amenities closer to Springer Natural Area and Williams Natural Area.

The neighborhood is also home to Brave New Wheel, a bike service and repair shop that has been part of Fort Collins bicycle culture since 1983. In addition to general repairs, custom builds, rebuilds and suspension services, they serve craft beer on site!

Hop on your bike and head to Springer Natural Area, Williams Natural Area and Eastside Park on the east side of the neighborhood. Or, pedal over to the Colorado State University campus and Sonny Lubick Field on the west. In the heart of the neighborhood, you’ll also find Centennial High School.

And, if you need to borrow a bike, there is one Bike Share station just on the other side of College Ave. in University North!

 

3. University North

Bike Score: 99 | Walk Score: 68

Named for its proximity to CSU, University North is home to some of Fort Collins’ most beloved destinations, including The Mayor of Old Town, The Gold Leaf Collective and Alleycat Coffee House. Within walking and biking distance, you’ll find City Park, The Oval on the CSU campus and Old Town Square!

There is one Bike Share station in the neighborhood and another just north at The Lincoln Center.

Lee’s Cyclery is the local go-to for purchasing new bikes, servicing your current bike and even renting bikes. And they have been since 1963!

 

4. Historic Fort Collins High School

Bike Score: 98 | Walk Score: 65

This neighborhood, located just south of University Park, is centered around the stunning University Center for the Arts and CSU’s Annual Flower Trial Garden — and the Pitkin Bikeway goes right through the middle! It’s also very near Lesher Middle School and Centennial High School with local attractions like Wild Boar Cafe, Nick’s Italian and Music City Hot Chicken.

Nearby bicycling destinations include Mallard’s Nest Natural Area and the Spring Creek Trail both of which can be found within one mile of the neighborhood!

 

5. Old Prospect

Bike Score: 98 | Walk Score: 64

Surrounded on all sides by parks and green spaces, Old Prospect is within walking or biking distance to the Gardens on Spring Creek, Whole Foods, King Soopers, O’Dea Elementary School and Lesher Middle School. Within the neighborhood limits, you’ll find primarily residential properties, but just across College Ave. or just south of Spring Creek, you’ll find businesses like Snack Attack Specialty Sandwiches & Brews, The Human Bean and Totally 80’s Pizza & Museum.

Lawson Cycles Ltd. is located just on the other side of College Ave. from Old Prospect. This full-service bike shop specializes in BMX, pro scooters, motorized and electric bicycle conversions — and it’s completely family and rider owned!

In the southeast corner of the neighborhood, you can catch the Spring Creek Trail all the way over to Edora Park where there is a Bike Share station or to Cattail Chorus Natural Area where it meets the Poudre Trail. Along the way, you’ll also pass the headquarters of Niner Bikes!

 

6. South College Heights

Bike Score: 97 | Walk Score: 62

South College Heights is nestled just below Old Prospect and Spring Park. The neighborhood is home to O’Dea Elementary School and is located just across College Ave. from King Soopers, PetCo and Whole Foods. In the same shopping center, you’ll also the chain stores Big 5 Sporting Goods and Performance Bicycle for all your biking needs!

When your bike is ready to go, Williams Lake is within one mile of the neighborhood and Nelson Reservoir is just past that. And once again, you can catch the Spring Creek Trail just north in Spring Park!

Within one mile of the neighborhood, you can reach two Bike Share stations both located near The Shops at Foothills.

 

7. Old Town West

Bike Score: 97 | Walk Score: 60

Centrally located, this residential neighborhood is tucked between Downtown, Civic Center Park and City Park. That means you can reach some of the city’s best annual events or take a dip in the City Park pool without ever starting your car!

Home to The Lincoln Center, Lucile’s Creole Cafe, Mulberry Pool, Sunspot Urban Farm and Dunn Elementary, you can get all your local eating, recreation, learning and grocery shopping done right here. And, after scheduling an appointment, you can stop by Bike Recyclery, a seller of used bike parts specializing in high end, vintage pieces.

Near The Lincoln Center, you’ll find one Bike Share station.

 

8. City Park Heights

Bike Score: 96 | Walk Score: 59

Just north of North Campus West, living in City Park Heights puts you within walking and biking distance of Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, Krazy Karl’s Pizza, Butters AM Eatery and more. Moby Arena is southeast of the neighborhood and City Park is just north.

Living here also puts you within walking and biking distance of Road 34, a craft beer bar serving up outstanding pub fare and full-service tune-ups and repairs in the bike shop!

The Spoke at Colorado State University, Recycled Cycles, and the Lagoon on campus are all nearby too!

 

9. University Acres

Bike Score: 96 | Walk Score: 56

Just east of Historic Fort Collins High School, University Acres provides all the amenities and attractions offered in that neighborhood as well as closer proximity to Poudre Valley Hospital, Lesher Middle School, Edora Park and the Spring Creek Trail! Because the Pitkin Bikeway goes right through the neighborhood, you’ll find it easy and safe to hop on your bike and reach destinations all the way across town!

Though this community is primarily residential, nearby businesses include Dungeons & Drafts, Wild Boar Cafe, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers and Black Bottle Brewery which has one of our favorite patios in FoCo!

 

10. Martinez Park

Bike Score: 95 | Walk Score: 57

Nestled between Lee Martinez Park and Downtown Fort Collins, this is a great neighborhood to find yourself in — especially when you’re on a bike!

The neighborhood is within biking and walking distance of five Bike Share stations as well as Civic Center Park, Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, Bike Recyclery and all the attractions of Downtown Fort Collins. Consider taking the whole family to The Farm at Lee Martinez Park next time you’re traveling by bike and you’ll soon fall in love with this neighborhood too!

 

Want more Fort Collins neighborhood info?  

We also rounded up the top five neighborhood walk scores in Fort Collins! Check out The Neighborhoods in Fort Collins With The Best Walk Scores to learn more about the local neighborhoods, businesses and attractions in our amazing city.