In order to compile a more accurate ranking we compared our original list of the safest U.S. cities for cyclists with a list of what, according to the folks at Walk Score, are considered the most “bike-friendly” U.S. cities. Both lists included many of the same cities, but they weren’t exactly the same.

For each city, we identified the percentage of people commuting to work by bike, the average number of bicycle fatalities reported annually (according to the Alliance for Biking & Walking's 2014 Benchmark Report) and the Bike Score (according to Walk Score). From there, we ranked the cities in separate lists according to each factor and created a scoring system with a total possible score of 30. 

Each factor was weighed equally—cities got more points for having a higher bike score and a higher percentage of bike commuters, but less points the higher their number of reported bicycle fatalities. (Cities whose scores were tied were ranked based on the percentage of people commuting to bike by work; the city with the larger percentage was promoted to the higher-ranked spot.)

Upon our final calculations, we found the following 10 cities to the be the safest for cyclists in the U.S.

Percent Commuting by Bike: 2
Avg. Annual Bicycle Fatalities Reported: 3.4
Bike Score: 63
Total Score: 5/30

Data courtesy of Alliance for Biking & Walking; Bike Score compiled by Walk Score

Percent Commuting by Bike: 2.3
Avg. Annual Bicycle Fatalities Reported: 2
Bike Score: 60.1
Total Score: 8/30

Data courtesy of Alliance for Biking & Walking; Bike Score compiled by Walk Score

Bike Score: 68.9
Best Neighborhoods for Biking: Midtown, Downtown, North Oak Park, Med Center

Percent Commuting by Bike: 2.5
Avg. Annual Bicycle Fatalities Reported: 1.3
Bike Score: 60.9
Total Score: 15/30

Data courtesy of Alliance for Biking & Walking; Bike Score compiled by Walk Score

Percent Commuting by Bike: 2.5
Avg. Annual Bicycle Fatalities Reported: 1.7
Bike Score: 67.9
Total Score: 16/30

Data courtesy of Alliance for Biking & Walking; Bike Score compiled by Walk Score

Percent Commuting by Bike: 2.2
Avg. Annual Bicycle Fatalities Reported: 1
Bike Score: 71.3
Total Score: 18/30

Data courtesy of Alliance for Biking & Walking; Bike Score compiled by Walk Score

Percent Commuting by Bike: 6.1
Avg. Annual Bicycle Fatalities Reported: 2
Bike Score: 72
Total Score: 21/30

Data courtesy of Alliance for Biking & Walking; Bike Score compiled by Walk Score

Percent Commuting by Bike: 2.9
Avg. Annual Bicycle Fatalities Reported: 1
Bike Score: 69.5
Total Score: 23/30

Data courtesy of Alliance for Biking & Walking; Bike Score compiled by Walk Score

Bike Score: 75.1
Best Neighborhoods for Biking: Civic Center, Mission District, Showplace Square, Mission Dolores, South of Market, Mission Bay

Percent Commuting by Bike: 3.6
Avg. Annual Bicycle Fatalities Reported: 1.7
Bike Score: 81.3
Total Score: 24/30

Data courtesy of Alliance for Biking & Walking; Bike Score compiled by Walk Score