A new state joins the USBRS!
MISSOULA, Mont. (Nov. 30, 2022) – Arkansas has joined the U.S. Bicycle Route System with the designation of its first U.S. Bicycle Route, while Tennessee has designated a second route, Adventure Cycling Association announced today.
The new routes, along with the realignment of routes in Minnesota, New York, and Ohio, add more than 425 miles to the U.S. Bicycle Route System, bringing total mileage to nearly 19,000, and improving connectivity and the cycling experience.
Arkansas’ first U.S. Bicycle Route is also the first segment of USBR 80 designated in the country. The new route travels from the Mississippi River on the Tennessee border to the Arkansas River at Little Rock, through rural areas and historical downtowns of the Arkansas Delta. USBR 21 in Tennessee begins in the Cumberland Gap on the Kentucky border and continues through the Tennessee River Valley to Chattanooga and the Georgia border, linking Cleveland to Atlanta.
The realignment of routes through Minnesota, New York, and Ohio were made based on feedback from cyclists and local communities, as well as the completion of infrastructure improvements and other projects.
“Milestones matter, and the fact the USBRS is closing in on the 19,000-mile mark speaks to the successful collaboration between the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and our partners at Adventure Cycling,” said Jim Tymon, AASHTO executive director. “State departments of transportation are focused on delivering a safe, multimodal transportation system that offers mobility for all, and opening new routes in new states like Arkansas, which joins the USBRS this year, shows this partnership’s commitment to do just that.”
The U.S. Bicycle Route System is a developing national network of officially designated, numbered, and signed routes that use existing roads, trails, and other facilities appropriate for bike travel. It will eventually encompass 50,000 miles of routes and open new opportunities for cross-country travel, regional touring, and commuting by bike. It also benefits communities by providing new bicycle routes, enhancing safety, and increasing tourism and economic activity.
U.S. Bicycle Routes are developed by state departments of transportation and officially designated by AASHTO. With the new designation and realignments, the U.S. Bicycle Route System now boasts 18,953 miles of routes in 34 states and Washington, D.C. At least 38 states are currently developing additional U.S. Bicycle Routes.
Digital maps for all designated U.S. Bicycle Routes are available to the public for free on the Adventure Cycling Association website.
The nonprofit Adventure Cycling Association promotes bike travel and is the only organization that coordinates national development of the U.S. Bicycle Route System. Adventure Cycling staff offer technical assistance, volunteer coordination, and outreach to help states achieve official designation of routes.
“This round of designations marks exciting progress for this project,” said Jennifer O’Dell, Executive Director of Adventure Cycling. “I’m particularly excited to see a first-time designation for Arkansas, a state I called home for many years. Thank you to Adventure Cycling members and donors who support this work.”
Highlights of the newly designated U.S. Bicycle Routes include:
Arkansas
USBR 80 (177.5 miles): The first segment of USBR 80 in the country travels west from West Memphis, on the Mississippi River at the Tennessee border, to Little Rock, where the Big Dam Bridge crosses the Arkansas River. Along the way, it passes through rural areas and historical downtowns of the Arkansas Delta, including Marianna, home of the James Beard Award-winning Jones Bar-B-Q Diner, and Stuttgart, known for its waterfowl tourism on the Mississippi Flyway. The route will eventually continue to the Oklahoma border. USBR 80 map.
Tennessee
USBR 21 (250.4 miles): USBR 21 begins in Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, on the Kentucky border, and travels southwest through the Tennessee River Valley to Chattanooga and the Georgia border. It rounds Norris Lake, visits Knoxville, passes Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and crosses the ridges east of Chickamauga Lake before making its last stop in Chattanooga. With the designation of USBR 21 in Tennessee, the route now links Cleveland to Atlanta. USBR 21 map.
Realigned U.S. Bicycle Routes include:
Minnesota
USBR 41: Added off-road trails to USBR 41 between Grand Portage State Park, at the Canadian border, and St. Paul, including through Duluth and portions of the Gitchi-Gami State Trail on the north shore of Lake Superior. USBR 41 map.
Link: Minnesota Department of Transportation
New York
USBR 11: Moved the northern end of USBR 11 between Sodus Point and the Pennsylvania border near Lindley from a residential area to Sodus Point Beach, on Lake Ontario. USBR 11 map.
Ohio
USBR 21: Completed the off-road Beechmont Bridge Connector over the Little Miami River in Cincinnati on USBR 21 between Cleveland and Maysville, on the Kentucky border. USBR 21 through Ohio is now more than 90 percent off-road trails. USBR 21 map.
USBR 25 North: Moved USBR 25 North, between Toledo, on the Michigan border, and Cincinnati, to the east side of the Miami River in Dayton. USBR 25 North map.
USBR 30: Extended the off-road North Coast Inland Trail to the Village of Elmore on USBR 30 between Conneaut, on the Pennsylvania border, and Toledo, on the Michigan border. USBR 30 map.
USBR 44: Made minor realignments on USBR 44 between Masillon, west of Canton, and the Indiana border. USBR 44 map.
USBR 50: Made minor realignments on USBR 50 between Steubenville, near the Pennsylvania border, and the Indiana border. USBR 50 map.
Link: Ohio Department of Transportation
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ABOUT ADVENTURE CYCLING ASSOCIATION
Adventure Cycling Association inspires, empowers, and connects people to travel by bike. It is the largest cycling membership organization in North America with more than 50,000 members. Adventure Cycling has produced over 50,000 miles of meticulously mapped bicycle routes for North America, organizes more than 100 tours annually, and publishes bike travel information including Adventure Cyclist magazine. Adventure Cycling Association has provided dedicated staff support to the U.S. Bicycle Route System since 2005, including research support, meeting coordination and technical guidance for states developing routes. Phone: 800-755-BIKE (2453). Web: www.adventurecycling.org.
CONTACT
Jennifer Hamelman, USBRS Program Manager
jhamelman@adventurecycling.org
800-755-BIKE (2453) / Twitter: @USBicycleRoutes and @advcyclingassoc
IMAGES AND INFORMATION
Download photos of the new U.S. Bicycle Routes
Download a web-ready overview map of the U.S. Bicycle Route System
