Promotion Resources

Below, you'll find tools and information for promoting your established U.S. Bicycle Route.

Guiding Documents

Best Practice Phase II: An overview of how states are signing, mapping and promoting their U.S. Bicycle Routes.

Signing

See Signing for more information.

Signing guides

AASHTO Guide for The Development of Bicycle Facilities 4th Edition: This is the newest version of the guide, released in February of 2013.
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices: This manual is managed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the latest version was released in 2009. The black and white USBR sign is in the manual; however, a new green and white version was approved that states may use if they request interim approval from the FHWA.
U.S. Bicycle Route Guide Signing is a report that evaluates the signing needed for effective wayfinding and consistency on co-designated numbered and/or named bicycle routes, specifically U.S. Bicycle Routes. The final report provides recommendations for an effective method for integrating existing named and numbered routes and trails into a national route system.

Signing Examples

Wayfinding Funding: Signing USBR 20 in Michigan
Making it Happen in Michigan: Signing USBR 35
USBR 76: Missouri Officially Designated and Signed
Bridges, Trails and Signs - Oh My! - Best practices from Europe
Best Practices Guide Phase II - Signing case studies from various states

Mapping

USBRS Interactive Map: OpenCycleMap displays all currently designated U.S. Bicycle Routes, as well as other national, state, and local bicycle routes in the United States. This blog post describes how to follow OpenCycleMap on your phone or device.
Maps and Route Resources: Links to all maps, turn-by-turns, and other resources for established USBRs - including digital maps in Ride with GPS and any information provided by state DOTs or other route creators. If you have USBR maps that aren't shown on this page, please contact us.
Adventure Cycling Route Network + U.S. Bicycle Routes map tool: Adventure Cycling routes are overlaid onto Open Cycle Map, which displays all currently designated U.S. Bicycle Routes. You can also view an Amtrak bike services overlay.
Other mapping resources:
Labeling U.S. Bicycle Routes: Adventure Cycling is now labeling U.S. Bicycle Routes where they coincide with Adventure Cycling routes on their maps.

Tourism & Marketing

Increasingly, tourism agencies/organizations are promoting bicycling as a part of their economic development strategies. Reach out to your local, regional or state tourism partners for their help in promoting a USBR. See Promotion and Building Bicycle Tourism for more information. And check out the examples below:

Utah: Visit Utah has a webpage dedicated to USBR 70/79, and published a blog post and video about the route.
Minnesota: Pedal Minnesota promotes bicycle tourism in Minnesota and has written blog posts about USBR 41 and 45.
Indiana: Hamilton County Tourism wrote a blog post and created a website for USBR 35 in Indiana, with services/attractions listed by county, as well as maps, cue sheets, and other resources for riding the route.

Media & Outreach

Spread the word about a USBR by planning an event to celebrate designation, or by reaching out to both traditional media and social media.

Promotional Events

Inaugural rides

Washington - USBR 10 in 2014
Tennessee - USBR 23 in 2014
Minnesota - USBR 41 in 2017

Ribbon Cutting events

Traverse City, Michigan - USBR 35 in 2012.
Farmington and Springfield, Missouri - USBR 76 in 2014
Anacortes and Colville, Washington State - USBR 10 in 2014
London, Ohio - USBR 50 in 2017
St Paul, Minnesota - USBR 41 in 2017

Media

Adventure Cycling and AASHTO announce new USBR designations by issuing a joint national press release. States are encouraged to issue press releases at the state and local level as well. Find recent news stories under the USBRS in the News tab.

Past press releases announcing new USBRS designations: