Hold onto your handlebars

How bike friendly is Louisville

Take a spin around Cherokee Park’s 2.3-mile Scenic Loop. | Photo by @e_enilorac | Photo by @e_enilorac

Derby City scored 43 out of 100 on Walk Score’s bikeability meter, deeming it a “somewhat bikeable” city.

Our score is determined by four components: bike lanes, hills, destinations and connectivity, and bicycle mode share. Wondering what all that means? Let’s bike it out.

🛣️ Bike lanes

Walk Score rates this category on the total length of bike paths and lanes. Learn more about local bike routes or plan a bike commute.

🏔️ Hill score

Hilliness is based on the steepest grade within our area, calculated using the National Elevation Data set from the United States Geological Survey (USGC). Play with the USGS’ interactive map to learn more about nearby topography.

🗺️ Destinations and connectivity

This uses our city’s Walk Score, which measures whether or not you need a car to run daily errands. Derby City scored a 34, but neighborhoods like Phoenix Hill, Central Business District, and Highlands scored higher.

While you may need a vehicle to get around most of Louisville, the bus system’s “Bikes on Board” program makes it easier to get around.
This category takes into account the social nature of bicycling. Even though Louisville doesn’t have tons of bicycling infrastructure, more cyclists mean more drivers are aware of bicycles — which makes roadways safer. Learn more about bike safety, including laws and reporting incidents.

A bright orange bike rack with metal lettering reading "LOUISVILLE" — If there were a score for “best bike racks” we’d get a 100.

🚲 How can we boost our score?

Our city is already taking ~~steps~~ (er, pedals?) towards becoming more bike-friendly with initiatives like rightsizing roads to better accommodate bike lanes and pedestrians.

We can also boost our community score by joining one of these cycling organizations.

Don’t have a bike yet? Rent one or support one of these local bike shops:

Falls City Community Bikeworks, 1217 Logan St.
Grit Cycling, 2020 S. Preston St.
On Your Left Cycles, 625 Baxter Ave.

Click here to have your event featured.

Wednesday, Feb. 15

National Farm Machinery Show Championship Tractor Pull | Wednesday, Feb. 15-Saturday, Feb. 18 | Times vary | Freedom Hall, 937 Phillips Ln., Louisville | $9-$38 | See which modified tractor can pull a heavy drag the farthest.
“Annie” | Wednesday, Feb. 15-Sunday, Feb. 19 | Times vary | Kentucky Center for the Arts, 501 W. Main St., Louisville | $46.80-$134.55 | See the Broadway musical based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip “Little Orphan Annie.”

Friday, Feb. 17

Brew With You at Gravely Brewing for the “Friday Ride Home” | Friday, Feb. 17 | 4-7 p.m. | Gravely Brewing, 514 Baxter Ave., Louisville | Free | Grab a beer with your favorite Louisville Public Media radio hosts.
Movie Night: “Pulp Fiction” | Friday, Feb. 17 | 8 p.m. | Louisville Palace, 625 S. 4th St., Louisville | $14 | See this 1994 Quentin Tarantino film on the big screen.

Saturday, Feb. 18

The Gravy Cup | Saturday, Feb. 18 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Mellwood Art Center, 1860 Mellwood Ave., Louisville | $25-$60 | Sample 40+ kinds of gravies and then vote for your favorite at this biscuit and gravy showdown.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Travel and Outdoors

What’s in (and easy): Flying local in 2023 🛫

Presented by a LOUtoday Partner

You’re one flight away from sunny Tampa, Charleston, New Orleans, and San Francisco via Breeze Airways. | Photo provided by Louisville Regional Airport Authority

Pack your bags, Louisville. With 35+ nonstop destinations, Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport’s (SDF) growing list of airlines + destinations makes it easy for Louisvillians to conveniently start their trip right in Derby City without worrying about driving somewhere else to catch a flight.

Since 2019, the airport has added three new airlines and multiple cities. Read: There are now more low-fare options and destinations than ever.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s been added:

Spirit: Offering low-fare flights to Los Angeles, Vegas, and Orlando
Breeze Airways: Offering low-fare flights to Tampa, Charleston, New Orleans, and San Francisco
Allegiant: Offering low-fare flights to Austin, Sarasota, and summer seasonal flights to Charleston
Southwest: Offering expanded operations out of SDF, including nonstop flights to Atlanta

The airport’s expansion isn’t slowing down in 2023. Keep reading to see which destinations are being added this spring — and to learn about a new program that is improving Louisvillians’ traveling experience.*

SEE WHAT ELSE IS NEW

Weather

72º | Partly cloudy | 10% chance of rain

Announced

The Chicks are coming to Derby City. On Tuesday, July 25, you can catch this Grammy Award-winning country band at the KFC Yum! Center. Tickets go on sale Thursday, Feb. 16. 🪕 (WHAS 11)

Travel

In more travel news... Muhammad Ali International Airport will have two new flights. From May through Tuesday, Sept. 5, Breeze Airways will offer seasonal flights to Raleigh-Durham, NC and Jacksonville, FL. Say hello to RALtoday while you’re there. ✈️ (Louisville Business First)

Closing

The Frisch’s Big Boy location in St. Matthews will soon close. You have until Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. to grab your last Big Boy Combo near Mall of St. Matthews. Or visit the soon-to-be last Frisch’s in Derby City at 1710 Lincoln Ave. 🍔 (WLKY)

Number

8% — the average Louisville rent increase in January. This increase brings the median rent to $1,389. Learn more about the cost of living in Derby City. 🏠 (Redfin)
24,000. That’s the number of socks UPS donated to Wayside Christian Mission. You can help those experiencing housing insecurity by making a donation of food, furniture, or large household appliances. 🧦 (WHAS 11)

Outdoors

Join Idlewild Butterfly Farm for Botany for Gardeners on Saturday, Feb. 18 and get a closer look at native plant seeds with the owner of Ironweed Native Plant Nursery, Alicia Bosela. Tickets are $40 and come with light refreshments, plus seeds you can sow yourself.

Shop

We love our furry friends, so it’s a good thing Love Your Pet Day is Monday, Feb. 20. Celebrate your beloved pet with this “Out of this World” bandana from Hannah Chloe Co. That’s something worth barking about. 🐾

Job

On the hunt for a new job? Check out Greater Louisville Inc.’s job board to see what full-time jobs, part-time gigs, and internships the River City has to offer.*

Drink

55°. That’s the optimal temperature for storing wine. So unless you enjoy keeping your humble abode chilled year round, we recommend buying a wine fridge to foster favorable conditions for long-term aging. Our pick: this sleek wine fridge with touch-panel control and capacity for 24 bottles. Cheers. 🍷 *

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

Membership perks good enough to shout

Are you ready to take advantage of our membership benefits? | Graphic by 6AM City

Today our parent company, 6AM City, is celebrating a birthday! To celebrate, we want you to be a part of our newsletter membership program.

The LOUtoday membership program will be rolling out member shoutouts in our newsletters, and members will have the opportunity to submit shoutouts such as celebrations, births, engagements, anniversaries, and more. 🎉

Other membership perks include special birthday shoutouts + discounts to our local shop, Six and Main.

Now is the time to start taking advantage of these awesome benefits.

BECOME A MEMBER TODAY

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Jessalin.

Editor’s pick: I am forever heartbroken that the underground bike park is no more. I guess Louisvillians will have to get their biking thrills above ground at Eva Bandman Cyclocross Park.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Valentine’s Day may be over, but you can still buy flowers and go star-gazing.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Katie Molck, Britt Thorson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Mandey Lee | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

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