On May 19, 2012, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), in collaboration with organizers from Adventure Cycling Association, Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation (TART) Trails Inc. and the City of Traverse City, dedicated the newly designated U.S. Bicycle Route (USBR) 35. The route utilizes the Leelanau and TART Trails, thus passing through the City of Traverse City, and will provide a direct benefit to Traverse City residents and businesses.

The Mississippi River Trail (MRT) bicycle route received state and national recognition when state legislators designated the trail as Minnesota’s first state bikeway during the 2012 session and federal officials today announced approval of U.S. Bicycle Route 45 in southeastern Minnesota. The MRT connects existing shouldered highways, low-use roads and off-road paths for bicyclists and closely follows the Mississippi River from the headwaters at Itasca State Park to the Iowa border.

The Mississippi River Trail bicycle route received state and national recognition when state legislators designated the trail as Minnesota’s first state bikeway during the 2012 session and federal officials today announced approval of U.S. Bicycle Route 45 in southeastern Minnesota. The MRT connects existing shouldered highways, low-use roads and off-road paths for bicyclists and closely follows the Mississippi River from the headwaters at Itasca State Park to the Iowa border.

Federal officials announced approval of the Mississippi River Trail bicycle route today U.S. Bicycle Route 45 in southeastern Minnesota, making it the first U.S. route in the state. State lawmakers also recently designated the trail as Minnesota's first state bikeway during the 2012 legislative session. The Mississippi River Trail in Minnesota closely follows the Mississippi River from the headwaters at Itasca State Park to the Iowa border, running 148 miles.

The Mississippi River Trail (MRT) bicycle route received state and national recognition when state legislators designated the trail as Minnesota’s first state bikeway during the 2012 session and federal officials today announced approval of U.S. Bicycle Route 45 in southeastern Minnesota.The MRT connects existing shouldered highways, low-use roads and off-road paths for bicyclists and closely follows the Mississippi River from the headwaters at Itasca State Park to the Iowa border.

A committee of the American Association of Highway and Transportation Officials has approved three new additions to the U.S. Bicycle Route, an emerging national network of bicycle routes. The U.S. Bicycle Route System project involves officials and staff from state departments of transportation, the Federal Highway Administration and nonprofit organizations such as Adventure Cycling Association, the East Coast Greenway Alliance and Mississippi River Trail Inc. The new sections are U.S. Bicycle Route 35 in Michigan, USBR 45 in Minnesota and realignments for USBR 1 in North Carolina. Last year, AASHTO approved six U.S. Bicycle Routes at its annual May meeting.

“There are some beautiful spots in every state,” Rich said. “Sometimes you can take a flatter road and a shorter road, or you can take an alternative route that is more scenic, where the views are spectacular. You may have to work harder to get there, but the end result is worth it.”

The TART and Leelanau recreation trails are part of a proposed 501-mile national bike route in Michigan. U.S. Bike Route 35 starts in New Buffalo near the Michigan-Indiana border and runs along the western Michigan shoreline over a network of paved highways, roads and regional trails, including local routes, and into the Upper Peninsula to Sault Ste. Marie and the bridge to Canada.

It's no secret Missoula continues to grow as a bicycle friendly community, but road safety still remains a concern. Tomorrow night bicyclists will gather at the court house for the ride of silence, a way to honor bicyclists who have been injured or killed while riding.

Newburyport, MA based bike tour company Easy Rider Tours is putting a technical twist on its National Bike Month celebrations. In addition to Bike Month themed posts and articles, the company is donating a dollar for every new Twitter follower, up to $250 to the Adventure Cycling Association.