The Artsy California College Town That Invented Bike Lanes Brims With Walkable Charm

The official logo for Davis, California has a bicycle on it. The bike pictured is playful: a high-wheeler, or "pennyfarthing," the kind that Victorian gentlemen used to pedal around in the 1870s. Not many residents are mounting these antiquated machines, but it symbolizes a staggering fact: This small city, with a population of only 65,000, is considered one of the most bikeable towns in the U.S.

One reason is the level topography: The average elevation of Davis is only 60 feet above sea level, with little variance. It stands on the Putah Creek Plain, not quite 15 miles west of Sacramento, the capital of California. There's nothing a bike commuter loves more than flat roads, and the valley's 275 days of sunshine are a bright bonus. But there are lots of places in the Golden State that are ripe for cycling, cities that are a lot better known than an inland college town like Davis. Most people would overlook this dot on the map when planning their list of must-see West Coast road trip destinations, so how come it's so beloved among cyclists?

Incredibly, Davis has 102 miles of dedicated bike lanes, which connect every corner of the city. There are also 62 miles of car-free paths, which extend the network even farther. Nearly all roadways within city limits have strict speed limits of 25 to 35 miles per hour. This is an astonishing municipal feat, considering how car-dependent most of California is. It's perfectly reasonable for most people to visit — or live in — Davis and avoid using a car in most circumstances, and the presence of ebikes and adaptive cycles have extended its potential to folks with mobility issues as well.

Davis doesn't just have 102 miles of bike lanes: The town takes credit for creating the first dedicated bike lanes in the United States. Decades before other North American cities started to add stripes and barriers to protect cyclists from motor traffic, Davis City Council decided to give them a try in 1967. To be fair, this infrastructure already existed in parts of urban Europe, and this served as inspiration for the Davis network. But at the same time that the Interstate Highway System was being paved across the U.S., flooding the country with auto-traffic, Davis' local government decided to go in the opposite direction, investing in cycling as well. This was no doubt helped by the "bicycle madness" of the 1970s, when a combination of oil embargoes and counter-culture led to an explosion in bike sales.

The town's flagship institution is UC Davis, a sprawling college campus with nearly 40,000 enrolled students, most of which are undergraduates. With a land of area of not quite 10 square miles, no location in Davis is very far away, and it's sometimes as easy to pedal places as it is to drive (and park). With so many students attending a state school, the bicycle as an economical way to get around, and there are well used bike racks everywhere you look. The level of bicycle-friendliness may even rival this breathtaking canal city in Europe.

While a bicycle may grace Davis' official logo, the town takes pride in many other amenities as well. The town is home to several art galleries and museums, which open their doors to the public during the 2nd Friday ArtAbout. There's a nice selection of global restaurants, along with nearly a dozen breweries and taprooms. Davis had a good number of hotels as well, mostly in the $100-200-per-night range. For camping and RV options, you'll have to head over to Sacramento.

The closest major airport is San Francisco International, which is a reasonable 90-minute drive from Davis. Another option is to take the Amtrak train from Oakland, just across the bay from San Francisco. The Capitol Corridor connects the Bay Area to Sacramento, and Davis is one of the stops. This is a rare opportunity in California to avoid driving altogether — and even bring your bike on the train.

Most people will prefer to drive, of course, and Davis does make a great pit stop on your cruise through Northern Cali. While you're in the area, consider seeing the historic architecture and amazing food on the Old Sacramento Waterfront, just a short drive away from Davis. Most people prefer to visit in the summer, but you really could walk or ride around here in any season.