The League of American Bicyclists (LAB) has recognized St. Louis, Missouri, as a Bicycle-Friendly Community since 2009. Throughout the city, cyclists can find a number of bicycle-only paths and shared-use roadways. However, not all of the city’s 79 communities are equally accessible by bicycle.

Knowing which neighborhoods in St. Louis are the most bike-friendly can help residents and visitors avoid bicycle accidents and injuries.

10 St. Louis Neighborhoods That Are Easily Accessible By Bicycle

The following neighborhoods may not all feature the same type of bicycle-friendly infrastructure. However, they do have one or more features that are attractive to bicyclists. 

These features include:

  • Wide streets that allow for space between motor vehicles and bicyclists
  • Dedicated bike paths that are not open to motor vehicles
  • Slower speed limits that reduce the chance of a collision
  • Stores, restaurants, and attractions located close by
  • Ability to access most parts of the neighborhood and travel to other neighborhoods by bike

Ten areas within St. Louis that bicyclists should consider exploring include:

1. Central West End

Located near the northeast corner of Forest Park, the Central West End (CWE) is home to numerous restaurants, small shops, and tree-lined streets. The area also features road signs and markings encouraging motorists to share the road with bicyclists. Forest Park, with its attractions and dedicated bike paths, is also nearby.

2. Forest Park Southeast

The community of Forest Park Southeast is south of the CWE and southeast of Forest Park. In addition to being accessible to Forest Park, this neighborhood features several bike paths along or adjacent to surface streets. Traveling between this community and other neighborhoods is also easy, thanks to major surface roads like Taylor Avenue and Tower Grove Avenue.

3. The Hill

Located south of Forest Park and east of Kingshighway Boulevard is the historic neighborhood known as The Hill. This community sits on one of the highest points in the city and was founded primarily by Italian immigrants in the 1800s. Today, signs and markings tell motorists to share the road with bicyclists who visit the neighborhood for shopping and dining.

4. Midtown

Home to St. Louis University’s main campus and the Grand Center Arts District, Midtown’s outer boundary is defined by the intersection of two major roads: Grand Avenue and Lindell Boulevard. This community is only about three miles away from the city’s waterfront and downtown. Lindell Boulevard and Chouteau Avenue both feature lanes usable by cyclists.

5. Tower Grove South

Tower Grove Park is the defining feature of the Tower Grove South Community. While this park features dedicated bike paths, there are other amenities that cyclists might find attractive. 

Tower Grove Avenue — the main north-south street leading into and out of the neighborhood, also features bike-friendly lanes — and Magnolia Avenue features signage promoting bike awareness to motorists.

6. Soulard

Soulard is one of St. Louis’s oldest neighborhoods and is also home to Anheuser-Busch headquarters. The neighborhood features historic row homes and is close to the waterfront. Broadway Street, one of the major surface streets in the area, has lanes that can be used by bicyclists.

7. Downtown

Notable for the Gateway Arch, Downtown also features sporting and other venues, restaurants, and the historic Old Courthouse. Chestnut Street, in particular, has bike-accessible lanes, and the community’s slow speed limits are also a plus for individuals who live, work, or unwind here. Traveling west allows access to Midtown and other bike-friendly communities.

8. Carondelet

Carondelet is another neighborhood in St. Louis that features a park with dedicated bike lanes. Another bike path runs along the eastern edge of the neighborhood, linking the park with other parts of the community. St. Louis County is located nearby to the south and west, although accessing the County by bicycle from Carondelet may be difficult.

9. Lafayette Square

Located in the southeast part of the city, Lafayette Square and Lafayette Park are popular locations for various concerts and other outdoor events. The area surrounding the park includes bicycle lanes, and surface streets also have signage and markings making motorists aware of cyclists’ presence on the streets. 

The area features historic homes, which provide bicyclists with plenty to observe while visiting the area.

10. Bevo Mill

Bevo Mill is just south of Tower Grove South. Although it does not have the parks that are found in other neighborhoods, its major streets, like Gravois and Morgan Ford Road, both have bike facilities. Other streets have markings or signs that alert motorists to bicyclists’ presence. The neighborhood also features unique shopping and dining.

Bicycle Infrastructure Improvements in St. Louis

In recently awarding the city a Silver rating, the LAB noted several areas that St. Louis could improve to be even more welcoming to bicyclists. Notably, the LAB found that the local bicycle laws and ordinances could better promote bicycle safety. Bicycle safety education in schools was also found lacking.

More high-speed roads with bicycle facilities like bike lanes or other infrastructure were also noted as potential improvements. While roads with higher-speed traffic can prove riskier for cyclists, these roads are often essential to commuting between various parts of a city efficiently. 

Without roads like this that have bicycle-friendly features, cyclists must either choose to risk a serious crash or use less efficient streets to reach their destinations.

Finally, the LAB’s report noted only one university in town that was considered bicycle-friendly. This is despite having at least two major universities, Washington University and St. Louis University, that are in close proximity to one another and to bike-friendly neighborhoods.

These and other improvements could be key to increasing the city’s bicycle ridership and reducing accidents and fatalities. The LAB noted in 2021 a crash rate of over 600 per 10,000 bicycle commuters, which was well above the LAB’s target of 287 for Gold communities.

Bicycling Safely in St. Louis, Missouri 

Numerous St. Louis communities can be accessed by bicycle, giving cyclists an opportunity to experience the city’s diversity firsthand. While paths and signs are key in promoting bicycle safety, it’s vital that cyclists always obey traffic laws and remain aware of their surroundings while traveling in the area.