New bike rankings favor Washington

— -- Attention cyclists: If you're scouting for the best cycling environment in the nation, you might want to point your handlebars in the direction of Washington state — and steer clear of West Virginia.

The League of American Bicyclists' first rankings of bike-friendly states, announced today, is based on six broad criteria ranging from the extent of infrastructure, such as bike lanes and routes, to effective signage and maps, to how vigorously cycling-related laws are enforced.

A high ranking "means the state, through a variety of ways, encourages people to get on a bike and ride and enjoy the experience," says the organization's president, Andy Clarke.

All 50 states were scored on 75 individual points in the six categories. Rounding out the top five after Washington are Wisconsin, Arizona, Oregon and Minnesota. West Virginia ranks dead last. (In an oddly timed footnote, the state's first lady, Gayle Manchin, reportedly received minor injuries after being struck by a car Sunday while biking in the capital, Charleston.) Rounding out the bottom five are Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and North Dakota.

Washington's No. 1 ranking stems from a long-standing effort to provide technical assistance to communities, backed by public funding to assist cyclists, Clarke says. Wisconsin has done a "great job" in designating trails, signage and itineraries, including creating a statewide cycling map that features farm-to-market routes. Arizona gets high marks for being among the first to enact laws protecting cyclists and backing them up with stiff penalties, a move that has encouraged other states to follow suit. Oregon has the highest number of bicycle-friendly communities, with 1% of state highway funds invested in accommodating cyclists. And Minnesota has for years encouraged cycling through educational and promotional campaigns, Clarke notes.

The results were announced at the 15th annual Pro-Walk/Pro-Bike conference, which is meeting this week in Seattle. The non-profit League of American Bicyclists promotes cycling and seeks to protect the interests of mainstream cyclists.