Iowa's 'Bike Friendliness' is Slipping: Should Iowans Do More to Support Cycling?

(Editor's Note: The map above was created by the League of American Cyclists)

Many people know of Iowa through RAGBRAI - the midsummer bike ride that draws thousands of people from around the country and world. 

That may have helped the positive vibe about cycling that earned Iowa a top 10 bike friendly state ranking as recently as 2011, according to the League of American Bicyclists.

But, Iowa is sliding pretty quickly. Iowa is down to No. 21 on the organizations list. The top five are Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Minnesota and Delaware.

Iowa scored well on education and encouragement of cycling but poorly on infrastructure and funding. Mark Wyatt, the executive director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, told the Des Moines Register that the League of American Bicyclists report is a "blueprint" for what Iowa needs to do.

Does Iowa need to do more to support cycling?