Ames
Iowa, United States
Size: Midsize City
Region: Midwest
66
City RatingOverall City RankingOut of 2579 cities (95th percentile)
Rank in the U.S.
Rank in Midwest Region
Rank in Iowa
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2024 City on the Rise
Ames achieved an impressive improvement in their City Ratings score over the last four years, growing from a score of 40 in 2020 to a score of 66 in 2024. Bike projects are a major component of the city’s Capital Improvements Plan, with approximately 10% of the total budget earmarked for new bike facilities each year. While it isn't as big as other larger Midwest cities, Ames’ population is big enough to be considered a metropolitan area, giving city staff access to transportation planning and analysis tools that allow them to better map stress levels on local streets and plan improvements that can make the biggest impact on improving bicycling.
Network Score
66
Average Network Score for all cities in 2024 was 28.
See Detailed Network Score
People
74
Access to parts of the city where residents live.
Opportunity
69
Access to jobs and schools.
Core Services
59
Access to places that serve basic needs, like hospitals and grocery stores.
Recreation
81
Access to recreational amenities like parks and trails.
Retail
54
Access to major shopping centers.
Transit
58
Access to major transit hubs.
Ames, IA
City Rating Through Time
Score changes over time reflect investments in bike infrastructure, adjustments to speed limits, and OpenStreetMap data quality improvements.
Network Analysis
This interactive map shows high-stress and low-stress areas for bicycling in Ames. If you'd like to see interactive versions of this map with additional street-level data, explore PeopleForBikes' BNA tool.
Explore bike projects near you with the Great Bicycle Infrastructure Project
Improve Your City
The Best Ways to Fund Bike Infrastructure
PeopleForBikes Senior Director for Infrastructure Dave Snyder will discuss how local and state funding for bike projects is essential to take advantage of an unprecedented amount of federal funding that often requires a local match.
How Complete Streets Can Transform Your Community
PeopleForBikes’ Legislative Strategies Guide features the best, real-world examples of policy changes being adopted in communities across the U.S. to create more great places to ride bikes.
Advancing Bike Infrastructure Through Climate Legislation
Bicycles are a crucial component in the fight against climate change, offering a sustainable solution to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.