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Best West Coast Cities to Commute by E-Bike
Written by: Rémy Rossi | May 30, 2025 | Time to read 5 min
Perfect weather, progressive cities, and a passion for two wheels. These West Coast e-Bike dreamscapes are as practical as they are picturesque!
More about the Author: Remy Rossi
Rémy Rossi is a bike writer, mechanic, and educator who got his start in community-based bike shops and co-ops. With a decade in the industry, he still wrenches on bikes when he can and plays bike polo on a fixie.
As a native Californian, I have a soft spot for the West Coast. But I probably don’t have to work too hard to convince you that it’s an idyllic place to ride a bicycle or e-Bike— good weather, gorgeous landscapes, and comfortable cycling infrastructure can speak for themselves.
Drawing from personal experience, cycling data, bike-friendliness ratings, and infrastructure plans, I’ve curated a list of the best West Coast cities to commute by electric bike. Of course, it’s subject to debate, but these cities have especially good bike networks and strong cycling communities that encourage daily bike trips.
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco has been a cycling mecca for a long time, its beautiful scenery and enthusiasm for bikes successfully outweighing the wildly steep inclines throughout the city. Heck, even the fixed gear craze started in San Francisco— how messengers got up and down those devilish slopes is beyond me. Modern electric bikes, however, make easy work of the area’s hills so you can explore, commute, and cruise with less effort.
San Francisco has an extensive network of cycle lanes and bike paths that crisscross the streets and venture far into the city’s large parks and natural areas. San Fran is also one of the US cities with the fastest-growing e-Bike ridership. Daily bike trips per 1,000 people rose from 42 in 2019 to 65 in 2022. And the city’s bike-share program, Bay Wheels, saw a 53% annual increase, with electric models accounting for about 75% of rides, which makes sense given the steep hills. Between bay views, expansive parks, scenic lookouts, and bike lanes, commuting by e-Bike in SF is a no-brainer.
Portland, OR
Long known as the hipster capital of the world, Portland, Oregon, is a cyclist’s paradise and a great place to commute by electric bike. There are bike lanes, bike shops, and bike riders everywhere you look, so it’s only a matter of time before you start riding to work, school, or anywhere else on two wheels.
There are over 400 miles of bike lanes, greenways, and trails in Portland, and this density of bike-friendly infrastructure makes it comfortable to use a city e-Bike to get around town. The city also has a strong bike community with events like Pedalpalooza, BIKETOWN bike-share, mild weather, and moderate terrain, too.
There are also plans in the works for Portland to launch an e-Bike rebate program this summer, helping income-qualified residents afford a new electric bike. The incentive is part of the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund Climate Investment Plan, which has been approved, but more details about the rebate are still to come.
There are over 400 miles of bike lanes, greenways, and trails in Portland, and this density of bike-friendly infrastructure makes it comfortable to use a city e-Bike to get around town. The city also has a strong bike community with events like Pedalpalooza, BIKETOWN bike-share, mild weather, and moderate terrain, too.
There are also plans in the works for Portland to launch an e-Bike rebate program this summer, helping income-qualified residents afford a new electric bike. The incentive is part of the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund Climate Investment Plan, which has been approved, but more details about the rebate are still to come.
Davis, CA
Davis’ status as a bike wonderland has been confirmed to me by friends who attend the University of California Davis, located outside of Sacramento. These friends know I’m bike-obsessed and were trying to convince me to move there, knowing I would enjoy the bike-friendly vibes. It’s a common theme that college towns are often hotspots for bike ridership, but Davis takes it to the next level— some estimates state that over 20% of commuters in Davis bike to work!
Another highlight is that Davis was the first US city to build bike lanes. While there already existed bike paths in parks and natural areas, Davis was the first to create bike lanes on the street, back in 1967. I mean, the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame museum is even in Davis! There are over 100 miles of bike paths and lanes, bike roundabouts, bike-specific signals, and other designated connections between neighborhoods and the UC Davis campus that make riding a bike a breeze.
Another highlight is that Davis was the first US city to build bike lanes. While there already existed bike paths in parks and natural areas, Davis was the first to create bike lanes on the street, back in 1967. I mean, the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame museum is even in Davis! There are over 100 miles of bike paths and lanes, bike roundabouts, bike-specific signals, and other designated connections between neighborhoods and the UC Davis campus that make riding a bike a breeze.
Berkeley, CA
Continuing the college town trend, Berkeley, California, is another great place to commute by bike or e-Bike. Thousands of students, faculty, and staff rely on bikes every day for getting around, as well as other residents in the Bay Area city. The city has invested heavily in good-quality bike infrastructure, and there’s a network of bike boulevards, protected bike lanes, and bike parking.
Berkeley has wonderful weather year-round, though parts of the city can be quite hilly— that’s where an electric bike comes in handy. There are amazing farmers’ markets, food co-ops, and natural stores to load up your electric cargo bike when running errands and getting groceries. Berkeley residents are known for their dedication to sustainability, and the cycling community is strong here.
Berkeley has wonderful weather year-round, though parts of the city can be quite hilly— that’s where an electric bike comes in handy. There are amazing farmers’ markets, food co-ops, and natural stores to load up your electric cargo bike when running errands and getting groceries. Berkeley residents are known for their dedication to sustainability, and the cycling community is strong here.
Seattle, WA
Seattle has been climbing up the bike-friendly rankings as the city has boomed in population and development, largely from the presence of Amazon and other tech companies. It’s actually a very hilly city, which doesn’t facilitate casual riding as much as flatter coastal towns, but electric bikes help take the sting out of steeper climbs. The city has also been expanding a growing network of protected bike lanes and greenways— Lime bike-share has good availability in Seattle as well
You’re probably already thinking about Seattle’s claim to fame: the rain. That definitely throws a wrench into daily biking and any hopes of a completely dry commute, but solid bike infrastructure can move the needle. Commuter e-Bikes from the likes of Gazelle and Aventon all have fenders, so you can keep the wheel spray away. While Seattle’s hills and rain used to be bigger obstacles, the growth of e-Bikes, improved bike lanes, and a strong biking culture now make it one of the best US cities for both cycling and e-Biking.
You’re probably already thinking about Seattle’s claim to fame: the rain. That definitely throws a wrench into daily biking and any hopes of a completely dry commute, but solid bike infrastructure can move the needle. Commuter e-Bikes from the likes of Gazelle and Aventon all have fenders, so you can keep the wheel spray away. While Seattle’s hills and rain used to be bigger obstacles, the growth of e-Bikes, improved bike lanes, and a strong biking culture now make it one of the best US cities for both cycling and e-Biking.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the warranty on Upway bikes?
Should I charge my e-Bike after every ride?
Yes— keeping the battery fully or nearly fully charged ensures you have enough range for your next range and maintains optimal battery charge levels. Modern batteries are much better equipped to avoid problems from overcharging.
Key Takeaways
- E-Bikes are transforming hilly and rainy cities like San Francisco and Seattle into commuter-friendly hubs.
- College towns like Davis and Berkeley lead the way with historic bike infrastructure and strong cycling cultures.
- Cities like Portland are combining dense bike networks with incentives like e-Bike rebates to promote sustainable commuting.
