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Thursday, November 12, 2026Nov 12

Chattanooga ranked among best cities for retirees to enjoy ‘bicycling bliss’

Several cyclist us the path at the Chattanooga Riverpark.
Several cyclist us the path at the Chattanooga Riverpark. Several cyclist us the path at the Chattanooga Riverpark.
photo Cars pass a new bike lane Monday, Sept. 28, 2015 on Broad Street.
photo Barricades sit in a new bike lane Monday, Sept. 28, 2015 on Broad Street.
photo Chattanooga was one of eight cities highlighted for being bike-friendly by the “Where to Retire” magazine that hits the newsstands on Feb. 16.

Soddy-Daisy resident Tom Jamison retired on a Friday in October, 2004.

The next day, he pedaled away from his home on a new touring bicycle en route to Orlando, Fla., where eight days later he was to meet his youngest daughter and her family for a vacation at SeaWorld.

Jamison, who has racked up at least 10,000 miles bicycling every year but one since 2007, wasn’t surprised to hear that Chattanooga was recognized as one of the best cities in America for “bicycling bliss” for seniors by Where to Retire magazine.

“It’s a good place to cycle,” said Jamison, 61, a retired Tennessee Valley Authority engineer and project manager. “The terrain around here is just great. This is just as good as any [place] there is.”

Chattanooga and the seven other cities – Ann Arbor, Mich.; Cary, N.C.; Fort Collins, Colo.; Gainesville, Fla.; Las Cruces, N.M.; Mesa, Ariz.; and Sioux Falls, S.D. – make it easy to bike, the magazine’s editor, Annette Fuller, said.