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1. What is the U.S. Bicycle Route System?
2. What are the advantages of having a U.S. Bicycle Route?
3. Is there demand?
4. Who is funding this initiative?
5. Are there any existing routes?
6. How are routes decided upon?
7. Who oversees/maintains the U.S. Bicycle Route System?
8. What does designation mean?
9. What stipulations are there for developing U.S. Bicycle Routes?
10. What if the best route or an important connection is not on a road managed by the State Department of Transportation?
11. What is AASHTO?
12. What is the Adventure Cycling Association?
1. What is the U.S. Bicycle Route System?
The U.S. Bicycle Route System is a proposed national network of bicycle routes that span multiple states and are of national and regional significance. These routes are nominated for national designation by State Departments of Transportation (DOTs), and designated and catalogued by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
2. What are the advantages of having a U.S. Bicycle Route System?
With gas prices at an all time high and climate change on the minds of many Americans, bicycling provides a sustainable transportation solution. The goal of the U.S. Bicycle Route System is to provide the opportunity for more people to travel by bicycle, especially for medium and long-distance travel. Besides the environmental benefits, cycling is healthy and affordable, and spending by traveling bicyclists can provide a powerful economic impact for the many towns and cities that they encounter on their journeys. For more information regarding the economic benefits, visit our Resources page.
3. Is there Demand?
Overall, bicycling is booming in the U.S. According to the Bicycle Retailers Association, cycling facilities construction is at an all-time high, and both pedestrian and bicycle facilities have received an increasing level of support from the government in recent years. Better facilities continue to be an important factor in the industry’s growth.
44.7 million Americans age seven and older were estimated to have ridden a bicycle six times or more in 2008, according to the National Sporting Goods Association. This was up 11% from 2007.
Adventure Cycling Association has more than 44,500 members. Over the last 10 years, the organization has seen a 27% growth in membership and a 42% growth in sales of maps.
The U.S. bicycle industry was a $6 billion industry in 2008, including the retail value of bicycles, related parts, and accessories, according to research funded by the National Sporting Goods Association. Visit our Resource page for more information on the economic benefits of bicycle travel.
Cycling is the seventh most popular recreational activity in the U.S.
Other countries that have invested in national systems with success
The United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Canada are a few of the countries that have invested in national systems.
The United Kingdom’s National Cycle Network, developed with the help of Sustrans (a nonprofit organization) has more than 12,000 miles of connected bike routes and trails. Funding comes from multiple resources including the lottery, landfill tax, and various charitable foundations. The system boasts that 75% of the U.K. population lives within two miles of a route. According to surveys, yearly trips have grown from 85 million in 2000 to 386 million currently.
VeloLand Switzerland is expanding their current system of nine routes to 50. They are supported by multiple entities including the Switzerland Mobility Foundation, the federal Office of Energy and local governments.
Vélo Quebec’s La Route Verte is a 2,400-mile network that generates more than $160 million annually in economic returns. This network incorporates bike paths, designated shared roadways, and roads with paved shoulders all marked with bright signage. The network also connects urban and suburban routes to serve every-day cyclists. Vélo Quebec has received much support from the Quebec government.
A few others to look at include: Denmark’s Route Network, the European Cycle Route Network, Western Australia’s Bike Routes and Germany’s D-Route Network.
4. Who is funding this initiative?
Currently there is no appropriated funding specific to the U.S. Bicycle Route System, but there are existing federal funding mechanisms that are appropriate for the U.S. Bicycle Routes. These may include:
Section 402 Highway Safety Grants
The State and Community Highway Safety Grant Program (commonly known as Section 402 Funds) funds education, enforcement, and research programs designed to reduce traffic crashes, deaths, injuries, and property damage. To find out more about this fund, download the report from the League of American Bicyclists (LAB).
Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP)
The Highway Safety Improvement Program funds infrastructure projects aimed at reducing highway fatalities and serious injuries. Bicycle and pedestrian projects are eligible for funding, but HSIP has been largely overlooked for these projects. Read the LAB report on HSIP (PDF, 320k) for a complete table of HSIP spending, bike/ped project examples, and tips for accessing HSIP funds.
Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Plan (CMAQ)
CMAQ funds transportation projects that improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion in areas that do not meet air quality standards. You can learn more about this fund in the League of American Bicyclists' CMAQ report.
In addition, America Bikes is working with Congress to ensure the next federal transportation bill supports the U.S. Bicycle Route System.
5. Are there any existing routes?
The U.S. Bicycle Route System was officially established in 1978, and AASHTO recognized two routes in 1982: east-west U.S. Bicycle Route (USBR) 76, which originally followed Adventure Cycling Association’s TransAmerica Trail (TransAm) through Virginia, Kentucky, and Illinois, and north-south USBR 1, which originally followed Adventure Cycling’s Atlantic Coast Route through North Carolina and Virginia. No other designations of U.S. Bicycle Routes have been made since these first two routes were established.
6. How are routes decided upon?
Overview
The AASHTO Task Force on U.S. Bicycle Routes has provided some guidelines (PDF, 20k) and recommended corridors (PDF, 444k) to assist states in choosing routes, but state DOTs, as the points of contact for these routes, will be the arbiters of where the routes will ultimately go. Routes may be established on roads, trails, or highways depending upon state policy or laws. States are encouraged to develop/follow their own criteria and policies. States are also encouraged to use their local and statewide bicycle organizations to assist in choosing routes and are welcome to use Adventure Cycling Association’s routes.
When new facilities are built for U.S. Bicycle Routes, AASHTO recommends that states refer to the AASHTO Guide for Development of Bicycle Facilities.
Using the Corridor Plan
Corridors form the framework for the first phase of the U.S. Bicycle Route System. These are not routes, but rather 50-mile wide swaths that suggest where a route should or could be developed. Corridors link key destinations, urban centers, and take into account the natural landscape.
The Corridor Plan was developed through three years of research and corridor assessment. Starting with the Route Inventory (PDF, 4.3m)and the Corridor Criteria (PDF, 20k), the Task Force looked at every feasible corridor that might exist. The result was a dense network that was not feasible in the near-term. Therefore, the Task Force prioritized certain corridors. The plan has changed many times based upon recommendations from state DOTs, trail administrators, and bicycle organizations. It will continue to be modified as states get more involved in establishing U.S. Bicycle Routes.
Many DOTs are recognizing the need to establish and encourage more bicycling and walking as a viable and necessary transportation mode. The Corridor Plan establishes a starting point for states to begin working together on making interstate connections. Though no new U.S. Bicycle Routes have been established in recent years, AASHTO recognized that this was probably due to the lack of a plan and facilitated communication between states.
Implementation by state DOTs and partners
State DOTs are the point of contact for coordinating the selection of routes, documenting them, and applying to AASHTO for designation. However, DOTs may use contractors, volunteers, and/or private or agency partners to choose and sign the routes, document them, and maintain them.
7. Who oversees/maintains the U.S. Bicycle Route System?
Ultimately, oversight belongs to the state DOT, however maintenance of a route can vary, depending upon what agency (state, county, or local) has responsibility for the roads or trails that the route uses and what agreements are in place between these agencies. For example, a route could use a state highway for one segment, then travel along a county road, and then use an independent pathway maintained by a park district or recreational organization.
8. What does designation mean?
In this case, designation signifies that a route is officially recognized with a route number and may be signed or marked appropriately
AASHTO’s route numbering process
The Task Force on U.S. Bicycle Routes developed a Designation System (PDF, 444k) for the Corridor Plan, and AASHTO’s Special Committee on Route Numbering will use the designation plan to determine what number will be assigned to the proposed route. States are welcome to use alternate routes to access services or spur into a city or community. The Task Force will be available to make recommendations and deal with any issues. It will be up to the state DOT to determine how to manage the route through mapping and/or signing.
State routes vs. U.S. Bicycle Routes?
Currently, state and local bicycle routes use the green and white M1-8 sign as seen in the U.S. Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). U.S. Bicycle Routes use the black and white M1-9 sign (PDF, 8k) as shown in the MUTCD. (However National Committee approved a green/white version of the sign that must receive interim approval from Federal Highways to be used.) This is similar to how states use black and white U.S. Route marker shields exclusively for U.S. highways and a different design for state or local highways.
9. What stipulations are there for developing U.S. Bicycle Routes?
Any state DOT can designate a U.S. Bicycle Route as long as the route travels between two or more states, a state and an international border, or connects other U.S. Bicycle Routes. For example, when designating U.S. Bicycle Route 76, the states of Virginia and Kentucky worked together to align the connection of the route across their common state border.
States wanting to designate a specific U.S. Bicycle Route will need to submit coordinated Applications to AASHTO.
Step-by-step guidelines for implementation
The first step is for stakeholders to review the National Corridor Plan map (PDF, 444k) which the AASHTO Task Force on U.S. Bicycle Routes, with staff support from Adventure Cycling Association, developed as a guide for states to use when considering where a route might be developed. Corridor and Route Criteria (PDF, 20k) were also developed by the Task Force in 2006. The corridor plan can be changed by the states involved in designating the U.S. Bicycle Route. Changes can be based upon local knowledge, road and trail choices, demand and destinations, or access to services. The Task Force recognizes that local knowledge is key to getting the best route established for the best bicycling experience.
Adventure Cycling developed a Checklist for Designation (PDF, 80k) to aid states and their partners in how they might develop U.S. Bicycle Routes. As states work toward implementation, this checklist will be refined and other templates will be developed (check the Resources page). However, it should be noted, there is no one way to accomplish implementation.
10. What if the best route or an important connection is not on a road managed by the State Department of Transportation?
State DOTs can work in coordination with local jurisdictions (counties, townships, and municipalities) and other organizations or agencies to establish the best route. Oftentimes, roads that are very suitable for cycling routes are outside state DOT jurisdiction. When designating and signing these routes, cooperation between agencies and agreements might be necessary.
States such as Pennsylvania, Georgia, and New York have coordinated efforts between multiple municipalities in their state networks with great success. Their examples might provide a model for states to replicate.
11. What is AASHTO?
AASHTO is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association representing highway and transportation departments in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. It represents all five transportation modes: air, highways, public transportation, rail, and water. Its primary goal is to foster the development, operation, and maintenance of an integrated national transportation system. AASHTO advocates transportation-related policies and provides technical services to support states in their efforts to efficiently and safely move people and goods. Much of AASHTO's work is done by committees comprised of member department personnel who serve voluntarily. The Association provides a forum for consideration of transportation issues and is frequently called upon by Congress to conduct surveys, provide data, and testify on transportation legislation. Through AASHTO's policy development activities, member departments often address federal programs and provide guidance. For more information, visit www.transportation.org.
12. What is the Adventure Cycling Association?
Adventure Cycling Association is the leading bicycle travel organization in North America with 44,500 members. A nonprofit organization, its mission is to inspire people of all ages to travel by bicycle. Adventure Cycling produces routes and maps for cycling in North America, organizes more than 40 tours annually, and publishes the best bicycle travel information anywhere, including Adventure Cyclist magazine and the Cyclists' Yellow Pages. With 38,158 meticulously mapped miles in the Adventure Cycling Route Network, Adventure Cycling gives cyclists the tools and confidence to create their own bike travel adventures. Visit www.adventurecycling.org.
For more information, please contact
or
, Adventure Cycling's special projects director.
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