Announcing New U.S. Bicycle Route System Online Resources

May 28, 2015

The U.S. Bicycle Route System is a huge, complex project that offers an incredible and inspiring vision for a national bicycle route network. But it is often confusing. The who, what, when, why and how of the USBRS (and there are always those bewildering acronyms) can be difficult to grasp. Up until now, there has been very little user-friendly information available in a centralized place for anyone to learn about the USBRS – both for cyclists looking for resources to ride existing routes and for planners looking for resources to implement routes.

And now – drum roll – Adventure Cycling is introducing its new and improved online resources to help you find the USBRS information you’re looking for, all in one easy, convenient place. Check out www.adventurecycling.org/usbrs and read the highlights below to find out more about this awesome new resource. 

Getting Started

You can start by clicking on the section that relates to your interest:

• Ride a U.S. Bicycle Route for cyclists,
• Implement a U.S. Bicycle Route for planning partners, and
• Promote a U.S. Bicycle Route for tourism and promotion partners.

Make sure to read through the frequently asked questions (FAQs) for introductory information about the USBRS:

• FAQs for Cyclists provides answers to common questions that cyclists interested in riding U.S. Bicycle Routes may find helpful.
• FAQs for Planners provides answers to common questions about implementing and promoting U.S. Bicycle Routes that planners may find helpful.

Maps & Route Info

There are various USBRS map pages that will be helpful to both cyclists and planners:

• The National Corridor Plan (above) displays numbered corridors in a template that shows where U.S. Bicycle Routes will be developed and how they will connect between states. It is a visual tool for planners to develop routes and shows how the 50,000-mile network will look when it's complete. 
• The USBRS Interactive Map displays both designated and proposed USBRs, as well as other national and local bicycle routes (such as the East Coast Greenway, Mississippi River Trail, etc.) in an Open Street map format. Zooming in provides more information and detail about each route.
• You can find a state-by-state listing of each established U.S. Bicycle Route on the Maps & Route Resources page, which provides links to the maps, cue sheets, and other information available through the state transportation agency or bicycle/trail group that developed the route. This page also shows which routes are signed or plan to be signed.

Benefits

If you’re looking for information on the economic, health, environmental, and transportation benefits of the USBRS and bicycling in general, check out the Benefits and Building Support pages.

• The Economic Impact page provides an up-to-date list of economic studies from around the country and the world that show how bicycling benefits economies of all sizes.

Utah DOT staff study a map while planning USBR 70/79, designated in May 2015.

Implementation

If you're interested in implementing a U.S. Bicycle Route in your state, these resources will help you understand and navigate the process:

• Planners can find information detailing the step-by-step process of implementing a USBR on the Planning and Designation pages.
• Implementation Resources lists links to guiding documents, supplemental information, and templates.
• The Best Practices Guide provides case studies documenting the models and processes that states have used to implement USBRs, which can vary greatly between states.

Cyclists convene for the USBR 76 inaugural ride and grand opening event in Farmington, Missouri.

Promotion

No U.S. Bicycle Route will be ridden unless it is promoted and tourism and transportation agencies, statewide bicycle/trails groups, and other partners can get started with these resources:

• The checklist under Promote a U.S. Bicycle Route provides a great starting point for promotion strategies and ideas.
• You’ll find guiding documents, examples and background information on signing, mapping, marketing, media and outreach strategies, and ideas in Promotion Resources.
• Learn all about signing a USBR and the type of signs used on the Signing page. More background info about signing is provided on FAQs for Planners. 

Do you have any suggestions? We're welcoming feedback and would love to hear your thoughts about the new online resources.

First photo by Jim Sayer; second photo by Saara Snow.

 

Donate today to support the U.S. Bicycle Route System and win a Zumax helmet from Rudy Project!  A $50 or more donation puts you into the drawing for a Revolt 1 from Giant, a $25 or more donation and you could be biking down the Danube with Bike Tours Direct. Thanks for your support!

 

 

—

 BUILDING THE U.S. BICYCLE ROUTE SYSTEM is posted by Ginny Sullivan and  Saara Snow of the Travel Initiatives Department and focuses on news related to the  emerging U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS).

 The 2015 Build It. Bike It. Be a Part of It. Campaign runs through May 31, 2015. All  donations are tax deductible and support Adventure Cycling's organizing efforts and  technical assistance for the U.S. Bicycle Route System. The campaign is supported by  Adventure Cycling members, bicycle industry partners, bicycle clubs, and cyclists across North America.

Build It. Bike It. Be a Part of It. is generously sponsored by Exodus Travels, Ortieb USA, Planet Bike, Primal Wear, SKS USA, Town Pump Hotel Group, Cascade Bicycle Club, and  Knickerbikers Bicycle Touring Club of San Diego. In-kind sponsors include Bar Mitts, Bike2Power, BikeFlights.com, Bike Touring News, Club Ride, Cygolite, Ortlieb USA, Osprey Packs, Planet Bike, Revelate Designs, Road Holland Cycling Apparel, Rudy Project, Sierra Trading Post, and TiGr Locks. 

Over the years, the U.S. Bicycle Route System has been supported in part by grants from the Tawani Foundation, Lazar Foundation, the SRAM Cycling Fund, and Climate Ride.

Learn more about the campaign and make a donation at adventurecycling.org/beapartofit.