Nearly 3,000 miles of new U.S. Bicycle Routes!

Aug 25th, 2021

From the California coast to the heart of the country, the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS) has grown by leaps and bounds this summer:  2,903 miles of new USBRS routes expanding the network to 17,734 miles! 

Ohio designated a whopping 1,177 miles, raising its status to the state with the most U.S. Bicycle Route miles in the country, now totaling 1,523 miles.

In addition, two states improved their existing USBRS routes with minor realignments.

The USBRS is a developing national network of officially recognized, numbered, and signed bicycle routes, with the goal of 50,000 miles of routes linking every state in the country. All U.S. Bicycle Routes are designated by state departments of transportation and approved by AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials). 

Adventure Cycling Association provides national coordination for the USBRS, partners with AASHTO to ensure states have the resources and expertise needed for successful route designation.

Read on for more information and links to the routes for closer inspection.

California

USBR 66 is an east to west route in the southern end of the state generally following U.S. Route 66.

USBR 95 is a north to south route along the coastline.

USBR 50 was realigned to take advantage of a newly completed segment of the El Dorado Trail.

Florida

In Key West, the north to south USBR 1 was realigned to allow safer passage to the southernmost point in Florida.

Indiana

USBR 235 is a scenic north to south alternative to USBR 35 beginning in Indianapolis. The route incorporates a spur out to bike-friendly Bloomington before ending in Seymour.

Photo of a group of cycilsts riding on USBR 30 in Ohio.
Cyclists enjoying USBR 30 in Lorain County, Ohio.
Photo courtesy of Ohio Department of Transportation

Ohio

The six new U.S. Bicycle Routes in the Buckeye State complement and support their state bicycle route network.

USBR 21 and USBR 25 are north to south routes taking advantage of the well established off-street trail system in the state. These routes feature the Ohio to Erie Trail and the Great Miami River Trail. USBR 225 is an alternate route along the opposite bank of the Great Miami River.

(Note: USBR 25 is represented by two routes at this time, USBR 25 North between Michigan and Cincinnati and USBR 25 South between Cincinnati and Aberdeen.)

USBR 30 is an east to west route along the shore of Lake Erie and utilizing the North Coast Inland Trail. USBR 230 is a scenic alternative that takes in more of Lake Erie before rejoining USBR 30 in Fremont.

USBR 44 is also an east to west route from Massillon to the Indiana border. It includes a stretch of the Ohio to Erie Trail.

Utah

USBR 77 is a north to south route beginning at the Idaho border and ending at USBR 70 in Torrey. USBR 677 is a less urban and more scenic alternate route on the west side of Utah Lake, while USBR 877 connects USBR 77 and USBR 79.

Most of the north to south USBR 79 was designated prior to this cycle. The most recent designation completes the route to the border with Arizona near Kanab. USBR 679 connects USBR 79 and USBR 70.

Beautiful vista of the Snake River on USBR 81 in Washington state.
A scenic Snake River vista to be found on USBR 81 in Washington state.
Karl Boehmke

Washington

USBR 81 is the first designation in a future, longer north to south, Canada to Idaho route. It starts near the town of Tekoa, descends into the Snake River Canyon and ends in Asotin. USBR 281 is an alternate route from Pullman connecting with Idaho north of Clarkston. It is in two pieces, USBR 281 North and USBR 281 South to accommodate where the route goes into Idaho in the middle.

USBR 40 is a small start to a route that will eventually stretch 400 miles, east to west across Washington. This piece starts at the Idaho border and ends in Tekoa.

USBR 20 is an east to west route in the south of the state. It begins at the Idaho border and crosses the Columbia Plateau following the Snake River and ends just past Lewis & Clark State Park on the Touchet River.

For more details on each of these routes, check them out in the USBRS Maps and Route Resources page or see the press release.