Hi jim,
Ellie here, Routes and Advocacy Coordinator at Adventure Cycling. This May, we are sharing updates on the advocacy work happening behind the scenes for cyclists everywhere. Today we are focusing on the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS) and why keeping it updated matters.
The USBRS is the nation’s largest official cycling network, a collection of long-distance designated routes that span the country. What makes it valuable is that its official designation gives bike travel a place in transportation planning. This means it makes it easier for state and local agencies to dedicate funding, staff, and long-term investment to safer, more connected routes.
Adventure Cycling serves as the national technical coordinator, working with state departments of transportation to make sure the system keeps pace with better infrastructure as it becomes available.
This spring’s designation cycle is a good example of that work in action. New bridges, trail realignments, and off-road improvements across California, Minnesota, Ohio, and North Carolina moved riders onto safer and more connected roads. This resulted in pivotal improvements to the national route network.
- California: A new pedestrian bridge on the El Dorado Trail safely connects cyclists across Missouri Flat Road, improving conditions along USBR 50 for people walking and biking through the corridor.
- Minnesota: Portions of USBR 20, USBR 41, and USBR 45 were realigned onto dedicated trail infrastructure, keeping cyclists on separated paths rather than highway segments. That includes the recently completed Tofte Gap section of the Gitchi-Gami State Trail, a long-awaited improvement for riders onthat corridor.
- Ohio: USBR 21 now routes cyclists onto a newly extended section of the Holmes County Trail, taking them off-road for four miles between Glenmont and Killbuck.
- North Carolina: Two segments of USBR 1 were shifted from on-road to off-road greenways, including the Black Creek Greenway and White Oak Creek Greenway.
A designated route stays useful over time when it is monitored and adjusted as roads evolve. Adventure Cycling’s leadership helps keep these designated routes active and helps create new ones, enhancing your experience as a USBRS cyclist.
Ready to ride a USBRS route? Explore all designated routes on our interactive map and find one near you.
