The latest Copenhagenize Index study that ranks global cities on several parameters has announced the list of the most cycling-friendly cities. Utrecht claimed the number one spot as it pedaled past Copenhagen and emerged as the best cycling city in the world.
Utrecht claims the top spot in this year’s Copenhagenize Index and stands at the heart of Dutch cycling excellence, as a compact, human- size city which has proven that a huge impact can be traced to smart urban strategies. With nearly one-third of all trips made by bicycle, Utrecht demonstrates what can happen when cycling is fully integrated into urban planning: a city built on flow, precision, and purpose with cycling at its core.
When I reached out to Herbert Tiemens, Senior Policy Officer Traffic and Transport at the Municipality of Utrecht, he replied “We are proud we were announced the best cycling city in the world, finally beating Copenhagen. It shows sincere dedication and a long term vision pays off. As the jury report stated, it is not only cycling infrastructure and the number of cyclists, but also the eco-system around cycling. Three main sports events, cycling lessons and refurbished bikes for people in need are a few initiatives our city has taken. Most proud, I am about reshaping roads to become more safe with less space for car traffic.
Long regarded as the benchmark of cycling cities, Copenhagen has led the global movement for decades and takes the 2nd spot in the global ranking. What distinguishes Copenhagen today is its ability to keep improving a model the world already looks to. The city’s largest-ever cycling budget, approved for 2026, signals renewed ambition of a new wave of innovation, hinting that the best may be yet to come.
“The Copenhagenize Index 2025 – EIT Urban Mobility Edition shows that cycling policy has reached a new level of global maturity. Around the world, cycling is now understood not as a marginal transport choice, but as a strategic tool for climate action, public health, and improving quality of life.” – Clotilde Imbert, CEO at Copenhagenize.
List of top 30 best cycling-cities in the world:
- Utrecht, Netherlands
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Ghent, Belgium
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Paris, France
- Helsinki, Finland
- Munster, Germany
- Antwerp, Belgium
- Bordeaux, France
- Nantes, France
- Bonn, Germany
- The Hague, Netherlands
- Strasbourg, France
- Lyon, France
- Montreal, Canada
- Malmo, Sweden
- Munich, Norway
- Oslo, Norway
- Vienna, Austria
- Bern, Switzerland
- Graz, Austria
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Bologna, Italy
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
- Wroclaw, Poland
- Quebec, Canada
- Vancouver, Canada
Marc Rozendal, CEO EIT Urban Mobility say’s “Supporting initiatives like this is part of EIT Urban Mobility’s broader mission to connect stakeholders, foster innovation, close knowledge gaps, and scale transformative solutions that improve people’s everyday lives. Ultimately, our ambitions go beyond data – to build cities that enhance quality of life, contribute to climate resilience and make cycling not just a mode of transport – but a symbol of better urban living.”
Visit the website for more details: https://copenhagenizeindex.eu
About Copenhagenize:
Copenhagenize is an industry-leading company and an international reference for all subjects relating to bicycle mobility, working for cities and regions to provide a wide-range of professional support. We use the bicycle as a powerful tool for reshaping spaces and transforming communities, actively fighting contemporary challenges.
Source and credit, Copenhagenize
Cover image credit, Dutch Cycling Embassy
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Author: Vijay Malhotra, Mumbai.
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