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12 cool urban bicycles ready to replace your car

Bikes are tough to beat in terms of urban transportation: They're reliable, emissions-free, small, healthy, and cheap to operate. Check out our picks.
By Chris BaskindSat, Mar 20 2010 at 4:34 PM EST  19 Comments

Fuel-efficient vehicles are great. Driving less is even better.
 
We're big bicycle fans here. Bikes are tough to beat in terms of urban transportation: they're reliable, emissions-free, take up very little parking space, and cost almost nothing to operate. Depending on your commute or the length of your errand, it's possible that a bicycle will get you where you're going faster than an automobile. And they're great for your health.
 
For many people, a bicycle could replace a car (or a second vehicle). Even if putting your auto out to pasture isn't a realistic option, having a bicycle on hand can substantially lower your monthly transportation costs and environmental footprint.
 
What is an urban bike, anyway?
You can commute, get some fresh air, or fetch groceries on pretty much any bike that rolls. But urban bicycles are a developing class of bike which falls between skinny tired, racing-style bicycles and their burly offroad cousins, the mountain bike. They're known by a lot of trade names: city bikes, commuters, town bicycles and hybrids. Generally speaking, urban bikes are optimized for reliable city travel.
 
Features vary from bike to bike and manufacturer to manufacturer. Most urban bikes are built with a comfortable, upright riding position for better visibility in traffic. They may be equipped with one or more of the following: cargo racks; fenders and mudflaps; a light set; chain guard; wider, puncture-resistant tires; and a kickstand. Almost all urban bikes are multispeed, and many feature low-maintenance internal gearing.
 
About the bikes we've selected
We've chosen a dozen examples of purpose-built urban bicycles that would make worthy, full-time transportation. The cheapest retails for just over $500, and most are in the $1,000 class. Some cost more.
 
Why such expensive bicycles? Our philosophy in picking this bunch is that we're looking for automobile replacements. Even the most expensive of our choices is a bargain compared to a scooter, motorcycle or used car. You'll be getting quality components and a great frameset, which is the heart of a bicycle. Most models come with accessories which would cost more, if purchased separately. With reasonable care, any of these bikes could last a decade or longer — even under heavy use.
 
We've also stuck to bicycles from manufacturers with strong reputations. Most of these models should be available wherever you live, or can be purchased online. We'll list our choices alphabetically. Let's ride!
 
Breezer Uptown 8
Breezer Uptown 8 (U-frame)
 
Joe Breeze was an early pioneer in the development of what are now called mountain bikes. In the late 1990s, his attention turned to the idea of bicycles as urban transportation. Under the banner "transportation for a healthy planet," Breeze began designing bicycles specifically for the comfort and convenience of riders who would primarily use them for riding to work and running errands.
 
The Breezer Uptown 8 is an excellent example of a purpose-built urban bike. The unisex U-frame model, pictured here, can be ridden by anyone (a men's frameset is available). Here are all the classic city bike features: a built-in generator set and LED lights, a chainguard — the newest models are fully enclosed to keep cyclists clean — fenders, cargo rack and an internally geared 8-speed hub.
 
Breezer Uptown 8 from Breezer Bicycles. Approximate retail price $1,159.00.
 
Cannondale Street 1
Cannondale Street 1
 
Cannondale's aim with this model is clearly to put some style into urban commuting. The Street 1 is a great-looking package, with an aggressive-looking compact frame design and sexy paint. Strong points include disc brakes and a mild front suspension that can be locked out for maximum efficiency when roads are smooth. On the downside, the Street 1 is going to require considerable additions to make it ready for anything more than light commuting. Racks, fenders and lights will add to the Street 1's none-too-cheap purchase price.
 
2009 Street 1 from Cannondale Bicycles. Suggested retail price : $1,179.00.
 
Fuji Cambridge
Fuji Cambridge 
 
Here's a gorgeous bike clearly designed to evoke the glory days of Raleigh 3-speeds and vintage grocery bicycles. The Fuji Cambridge oozes retro styling, but with modern components and materials. The Cambridge's most obvious feature is its lugged steel frame. Steel has fallen out of fashion as a frame material, replaced with lighter (and easy to fabricate) aluminum. But while it's a bit heavier, steel can give a much more forgiving ride than its aluminum equivalent — particularly when carrying cargo.
 
There are some nice details on the Cambridge, such as the sprung Brooks look-alike saddle, fenders, and an unusual mustache handlebar set. The 700c wheels are heavy duty, and paired with wider 38c tires for durability. Gearing is internal, through a Shimano 8-speed rear hub. Add headlights, and the Cambridge should serve for many years as a bombproof commuter with timeless lines.
 
Fuji Cambridge by Fuji Bikes. Suggested retail price: $1,250.00.
 
Gary Fisher Simple City 8
Gary Fisher Simple City 8
 
Technically, this is the Simple City 8W (women's frame). The men's version is the Simple City 8M, and comes in any color you like — so long as it's Gloss Sand.
 
Gary Fisher is actually a Trek company these days, but the parent company has shown enough common sense to let Fisher express its own design sense. That’s the case with the Simple City 8, a satisfyingly complete urban bike for under $1,000.
 
Both the men's and women's version of the Simple City 8 feature a distinctive front basket. In our experience, most bike errands are small runs with loads of 20 pounds or less. A lot of people find carrying cargo up front to be comforting. Your stuff is where you can see it — just throw a few bags in the basket and go. This particular basket, which is painted to match the bike, has a 5-point mount and a spring system to keep in in place while loading. Add a Shimano Nexus 8-speed rear hub, and the Simple City is a well-balanced, convenient city cruiser at a reasonable price point.
 
Simple City 8 from Gary Fisher Bicycles. Suggested retail price: $969.99.
 
Giant Transend EX
Giant Transend EX
 
Giant started life stamping out bikes for other brands. These days, they've found their own voice, and are making some well-priced offerings in the commuter market.
 
The Transend EX is another remarkably complete city bicycle in the $1,000 class. Highlights include powerful disk brakes, a semi-enclosed chain, full fenders and a rear rack that comes with built-in straps (no fumbling with bungee cords!). Add lights, and you won't need a car for much.
 
Transend EX from Giant Bicycles. Suggested retail price: $920.00.
 
Novara Fusion
Novara Fusion
 
The Fusion is a great-looking urban bike that comes equipped with virtually everything: a headlight with built-in generator, disk brakes, cargo rack and full fenders. Best of all, it retails for $900.
 
There are downsides to the Fusion. It's only available through REI, the online outdoor merchant, so you probably won't be riding one before purchase. There only three frame sizes. But neither of these things are disqualifying, and the Fusion is an excellent, all-inclusive deal.
 
Novara Fusion by REI. Suggested retail price: $899.00.
 
 
Roll on to bikes 7-12 >
 
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    • Comments

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    prof@post.harvard.edu

    Posted By Graeme Harrison - Sun, Aug 29 2010 at 7:59 AM EST

    I live in Sydney Australia and have used an e-bike in place of a second family car for the past six months. The cost to purchase an e-bike is reasonable, and conversion kits are under US$1000 excluding batteries. The hub motors are small, the range is 20km (or 40km with second battery) on the flat without peddling and the running cost is super-low one US cent per 10km.

    Having used a mountain bike for years for shorter trips, the noticeable difference is that one can go up to 20km on.... More

    WTF

    Posted By Steve Chicago - Sat, Aug 28 2010 at 10:56 PM EST

    It shouldn't cost a grand to look cool and be green......

    Let's save the earth!

    Posted By Master - Tue, Aug 03 2010 at 4:58 AM EST

    I like bicycles. They've become very topical recently. Not only because they are convenient and you do not have to stand in a traffic jam and are useful for our health but also because they are emission free. Nowadays it is more and more important. Well, the governments of any country do nothing about about the growth of carbon emission. Many years have passed but they haven't taken any real decision. And it is clear why. Because it will influence business. Well, but it is we who will live on.... More

    ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION, BICYCLES

    Posted By automation - Fri, Jun 11 2010 at 10:16 AM EST

    Climate change is a global problem, and yet each one of us has the power to make a difference. Even small changes in our daily behaviour can help prevent greenhouse gas emissions without affecting our quality of life. In fact, they can help save us money!

    BIcycle can really helps a lot in going Green

    Posted By Denise - Thu, May 13 2010 at 12:01 PM EST

    By using bicycles in order to continually support living green is a good choice and a good recommendation. However, our real means of transportation nowadays are really automobiles. In order to continuously promote living green even if using cars to travel one can install window tints to lessen fuel consumptions and the likes. Window tint could really give a lot of benefits for you and your car. Having your windows tinted, makes the temperature inside your car cooler requiring less from your.... More

    REI Has Stores

    Posted By blackfish - Sun, May 02 2010 at 12:56 PM EST

    The Co-Op REI has stores in about half of the states in the US, so for many test riding their bikes is not an issue at all. Also, with your preference to steel (and rightly so), you forgot to mention the fully decked out Novara Transfer, which is steel (unlike the Fusion) and comes in over $200 less than the Fusion.

    Urban Commuters

    Posted By stanczyk - Thu, Apr 22 2010 at 11:49 AM EST

    You shouldn/t forget about urban Commuters like Giant city speed, Trek soho, viva bellisima or Scott sub 10 ..
    simple and stylish, gears in hub , single crank upfront, fenders without rack - that kind of bike is used in Copenhagen , which is I belive, best city for cycling...

    ernwopr@wp.pl

    Bikes are envirnment friendly

    Posted By http://www.ukdirect.ie/ - Thu, Apr 15 2010 at 6:11 AM EST

    Bicycle need good roads that true ,but it do not emits co2 and many more harmful gas in the environment, Government should promote bicycle over automobiles.

    breezer

    Posted By bobby yeck - Thu, Mar 25 2010 at 11:47 AM EST

    i like the breezer!! the perfect all weather transporter!!! the best HPV

    Bike for Health

    Posted By Arminda - Thu, Mar 25 2010 at 11:05 AM EST

    Thank you for this wonderful post. I own a beautiful mountain bike and love riding as often as possible. Even though bike commuting is not an option for me, I encourage everyone to get out and ride as much as possible - take the family and explore your local greenways and trails. We'll all be better for it!

    Newbie on hills

    Posted By Amber - Mon, Mar 22 2010 at 10:44 PM EST

    Hi I am most interested in this article and am looking for a nice cargo bike. I know nothing about bicycles and find the typical bike website very intimidating. This article helped to direct my attention on where to look and what to look for. That said, can any of these bikes negotiate a very steep hill? I have to climb one each day on my commute - wondering if it would be even possible to ride up it. I am leaning most towards either the Radish or the Simple City - look most practical for.... More

    Amber, a bike to consider

    Posted By Hope Dlugozima - Tue, Mar 23 2010 at 10:44 AM EST

    Check out this "electric-assist" bike that we reviewed earlier this year...it's perfect for people who commute in hilly areas:
    http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/energy/blogs/an-electric-assist-bike-in...

    The Staff at MNN

    bike

    Posted By Hunter - Wed, Mar 17 2010 at 2:40 PM EST

    I like most of the bikes but I also like the Hyland from Civia it is a little more than 1000 but at the new price of 1675 from 2100 it still is a great bike with nothing left out.

    Only thing...

    Posted By Alex - Wed, Mar 17 2010 at 2:38 PM EST

    Tricky thing with the REI stocked Kona Ute is that it only comes with ONE bag and a second one is hard to get (no sell at REI, for instance). The Xtracycle comes with two bags as far as I can tell – and they seem to carry all things great and small. Like: http://www.flickr.com/groups/xtracycle/pool/

    recommendations

    Posted By steve - Wed, Mar 17 2010 at 2:37 PM EST

    My wife has a neurological condition that makes riding a bike or driving a car impossible. She bought a Trek adult trike and has great luck with it. It is light as adult trikes go, very stable, has fenders, a three speed hub, large baskets, chain guard and even a parking brake.

    She was worried that neighbors would laugh at her trike, but two other women have bought them – very stable and practical for local shopping and errands – anything up to about 7 or 8 miles for her.

    my bike

    Posted By Anne - Wed, Mar 17 2010 at 2:36 PM EST

    I have had my “urban” Trek Lime for several years. It’s not as SEXY as some of these, but it gets the job done!
    I also wanted to add that another characteristic of the Urban Bike is that the handlebars are reasonably narrow, making it safer to negotiate traffic and alleys.

    .

    Posted By Gonzo - Wed, Mar 17 2010 at 2:36 PM EST

    Those were certainly cool bikes. However as an American bicycle enthusiast who has lived in Holland for 7+ years and in England for 5+ years, it is my opinion that my fellow Americans are not ready to trade cars for bikes. Other than those in dense urban areas, many Americans such as myself live in suburban areas where commutes to work, schools, and kids' activities dictate the automobile as the transportation of choice. Time management and the lack of mass transit provides no other choice. Not.... More

    12 Cool Urban Bicycles Ready to Replace Your Car

    Posted By Grampa Doc - Wed, Apr 07 2010 at 2:11 PM EST

    Gonzo's God Bless America comment seems like an apple pie recipe for just leaving it alone. America is perfect? Americans are not ready to trade cars for bikes? I am 66, spent the last 5 years of my career commuting from my suburban neighborhood to my job in the urban hills of Portland. I am in better physical shape than before, when I thought pavement was only for cars and rain runoff. Now I'm selling our second car and looking at the Xtracycle and other vehicles I might use that would.... More

    Ready or not ...

    Posted By Chris Baskind - Thu, Mar 25 2010 at 2:30 AM EST

    I'm 48, and live in just the sort of sprawling suburban situation you say is unsuitable for serious utility cycling. I haven't driven since last June.

    Yeah, I've found this inconvenient on a few occasions. But a quality utility bike meets virtually all of my transportation needs. It's improved my health, slashed my living expenses, and reduced my environmental footprint. My school-aged son cycles, too.

    Europeans do it, and so can we. Of course, Amsterdam and Copenhagen's.... More

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