Yep. Since mid-sized cities are so much smaller than a place like New York or Chicago, the inner-ring suburbs may be the same size geographically as a metropoli

Yep. Since mid-sized cities are so much smaller than a place like New York or Chicago, the inner-ring suburbs may be the same size geographically as a metropolitan downtown. It's the best of both worlds for cycling: similar route distances but on much quieter roads, for improved cyclability. You end up with most of the amenities of both the downtown and the burbs.