E-Bike Hotspots: US Cities With Fastest-Growing Ridership
Written by: Rémy Rossi | April 11, 2025 | Time to read 6 min
Electric bike ridership is on the rise, but what do the actual numbers say? Take a look at the US cities where people are catching the e-Bike bug the hardest.
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.
Things seem to get better every year for cyclists, including better bikes, safer streets, and an ever-growing community of riders. There’s still a long way to go when it comes to creating US cities that are truly “bike-friendly”, but things are looking good.
One of the most positive indicators is the increasing ridership of electric bikes. We all know about the bike boom that happened during the pandemic, but cyclists have stuck around to continue fueling the two-wheeled revolution across the US. But I’m curious about the actual numbers and locations where e-Bikes are on the rise. In this article, I’ll reveal which US cities are witnessing the biggest boosts to e-Bike use.
Americans are riding bikes more than ever before
As a nation, Americans are currently hopping on their bikes at record levels. A recent study from PeopleForBikes shows that, in 2024, 112 million Americans— 35% of people aged three and older— rode a bike at least once. More than a third of Americans rode a bike last year, and that’s the highest level recorded since the study started back in 2014. Youth cycling rates are also up from 49% to 56%.
But that’s just a big picture statistic. I’m especially interested in where in the US bicycle and e-Bike use is hottest and growing fast. After some deep dives and gritty research, I’ve discovered the US cities where e-Bike ridership is increasing at higher rates.
It’s worth noting that some of these stats come from bike-share companies like Lyft Urban Solutions (Citi Bike, Divvy, Bay Wheels) or Lime— these companies have much more readily available data because of their tech-savvy bike fleets, but they don’t represent the other cyclists out there using their personal e-Bikes. These numbers, however, can help us discover important trends in growing e-Bike adoption.
But that’s just a big picture statistic. I’m especially interested in where in the US bicycle and e-Bike use is hottest and growing fast. After some deep dives and gritty research, I’ve discovered the US cities where e-Bike ridership is increasing at higher rates.
It’s worth noting that some of these stats come from bike-share companies like Lyft Urban Solutions (Citi Bike, Divvy, Bay Wheels) or Lime— these companies have much more readily available data because of their tech-savvy bike fleets, but they don’t represent the other cyclists out there using their personal e-Bikes. These numbers, however, can help us discover important trends in growing e-Bike adoption.
New York City
New York City is the city that never sleeps, and e-Bikes haven’t been taking a break either. The e-Bike revolution is more awake than ever, continuing the positive years-long trend. Back in 2022, the city reported a 43% increase in bike trips compared to back in 2019. This significant increase is, in part, attributed to the rise of “deliveristas,” or delivery workers for the likes of Grubhub and Uber Eats who use e-Bikes as their vehicle of choice.
The city has also heavily invested in more bike lanes and cycling infrastructure all across the boroughs. There have been initiatives for safer e-Bike battery charging and the introduction of congestion pricing to cut down on car traffic and boost public transit and cycling in the city. Citi Bike— NYC’s bike share program— experienced a 65% increase in e-Bike ridership in 2024 compared to 2023. More and more New Yorkers are choosing to hop on Citi Bikes, especially the pedal-assist models.
Upway has seen this boost in e-Bike ridership first-hand from our UpCenter in Brooklyn. Between our local Garage Sale, events, fulfilling orders, and reconditioning e-Bikes, we feel the excitement for bicycles and e-Bikes in New York every day.
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Chicago
Cycling in Chicago is near and dear to my heart, having spent a summer there working for a community bike shop and non-profit on the South Side. I’ve traversed the entire city more times than I can count and am glad the Windy City continues to improve its infrastructure for cyclists, and the data backs this up.
A recent report from the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Replica showed that cycling in Chicago increased 119% in the last four years— that equates to the biggest increase among the ten largest cities in the US. And people are cycling for more reasons than ever— for example, biking to a restaurant rose by 93%, and pedaling to stores increased by 117%.
Divvy— the bike share company in Chicago— reported that bike and scooter trips are up by 108%, a major win for personal urban mobility. There were 6.7 million rides on Divvy bike-share bikes in 2024, nearly half on e-Bikes, and ⅔ of those rides from lower-income residents on e-Bikes. In 2022, CDOT introduced a free bike distribution program called Bike Chicago to give away 5,000 bicycles over four years to low-income residents. Big things are happening on two wheels in Chicago, including a rise in e-Bike and bicycle ridership and transportation equity progress around the city.
A recent report from the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Replica showed that cycling in Chicago increased 119% in the last four years— that equates to the biggest increase among the ten largest cities in the US. And people are cycling for more reasons than ever— for example, biking to a restaurant rose by 93%, and pedaling to stores increased by 117%.
Divvy— the bike share company in Chicago— reported that bike and scooter trips are up by 108%, a major win for personal urban mobility. There were 6.7 million rides on Divvy bike-share bikes in 2024, nearly half on e-Bikes, and ⅔ of those rides from lower-income residents on e-Bikes. In 2022, CDOT introduced a free bike distribution program called Bike Chicago to give away 5,000 bicycles over four years to low-income residents. Big things are happening on two wheels in Chicago, including a rise in e-Bike and bicycle ridership and transportation equity progress around the city.
Twin Cities, MN
I also have a personal connection to the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul), where my mom lives and where I’ve spent a lot of time, working at bike shops and playing bike polo. The Twin Cities consistently rank very highly on PeopleForBikes’ list of the US's most bike-friendly cities, and this year Minneapolis led large U.S. cities for the second year in a row.
St. Paul (the oft forgotten twin) also saw a substantial increase in its ranking, surely benefiting from exciting infrastructure plans like the Jackson Street Reconstruction Project— I rode that route nearly every day! There aren’t a ton of recent stats available for the Twin Cities, but the high rankings are confirmation that the area’s expansive network of trails, bike lanes, and parks is encouraging people to stay and motivating them to continue pedaling.
San Francisco
San Francisco has had a thriving bike culture (and counterculture) scene for decades, and ridership has been on the rise recently. Average daily bike trips per 1,000 people in the San Francisco area increased from 42 in 2019 to 65 in 2022. And similar to the growth of bike-share use in other cities, San Francisco’s Bay Wheels e-Bikes saw a 53% year-over-year increase. And in Bay Wheels’ fleet, around ¾ of the rides are on electric bikes, which makes sense given the hilliness of the city.
Upway affordable e-Bikes
As e-Bike ridership is blossoming in these US cities and beyond, Upway is growing too. Now with UpCenters in New York City and Los Angeles, Upway has doubled down on our great reconditioned electric bikes. The aforementioned bike-share programs can be a smart addition to a city’s urban planning and an affordable way to get around the city, but Upway’s huge e-Bike deals make owning your very own e-Bike even more accessible.
Upway is partnering with state e-Bike incentives across the US, including California and Minnesota, for unbeatable discounts on electric bikes, from electric mountain bike models to electric cargo bike haulers!
Upway is partnering with state e-Bike incentives across the US, including California and Minnesota, for unbeatable discounts on electric bikes, from electric mountain bike models to electric cargo bike haulers!
Key Takeaways
- E-Bike Ridership Is Booming: In 2024, 112 million Americans rode a bike—35% of the population—marking the highest rate in a decade. E-Bikes are fueling this growth, especially in urban areas.
- Cities Leading the Charge: NYC Citi Bike e-Bike use jumped 65% in 2024. Chicago cycling is up 119% over four years; nearly half of Divvy rides are on e-Bikes. Minneapolis topped bike-friendly city rankings, and SF’s Bay Wheels e-Bike use rose 53%.
- Equity and Access Are Key Drivers: Initiatives like Chicago’s Bike Chicago and Upway’s state partnerships are making e-Bikes more affordable and accessible to more communities.
