America's Best Urban Bike Paths

"While bike lanes are nice (when they're not blocked by double-parked cars, that is), nothing quite puts cycling on par with driving like a dedicated bike path," says Lebetkin. "A great path can make city cycling a truly different experience: you can skip traffic, commune with nature and see the city from a new angle. In some cases, paths can even get you out of town as fast as you can pedal."

"Our selections, for the most part, are rail trails, which are former railway lines that have been paved over and converted for non-motorized use," he adds. "With one exception that was too good to leave out—San Francisco's Embarcadero, in case you're wondering—these paths are only occasionally broken by segments where cyclists have to share the road with cars. (All but one are multi-use, though, meaning they're open to pedestrians, inline skaters, and, in some cases, horses.)"