U.S. Bike Routes: Reports from the Road

The last two weeks have been a whirlwind for the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS): Adventure Cycling's annual Build It. Bike It. Be A Part of It. campaign is in full swing and two new U.S. Bike Routes (USBR) were recently approved: USBR 45 in Minnesota (their first official U.S. Bike Route!) and USBR 35 in Michigan.

To celebrate the approval of USBR 35 in Michigan, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on the new route during the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Spring Meeting in Traverse City. Mike Estes, mayor of Traverse City, Kirk Steudle, director of Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and president of AASHTO, Kerry Irons, volunteer and life member of Adventure Cycling Association, and Josh DeBruyn, bicycle and pedestrian coordinator for MDOT, are pictured above at the celebration. Check out the online photo album for the event!

The May 19 event was jointly organized by Josh DeBruyn of MDOT, Russ Soyring, Traverse City, Julie Clark of Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation Trails, Inc. (TART Trails), and Kerry Irons representing Adventure Cycling. Adventure Cycling sends a big thanks out to the host committee for all their efforts.

While preparations were being made for the Traverse City ribbon-cutting event, we learned that MDOT had received approval from the Federal Highway Administration for experimental use of the new M1-9 USBR green on white sign (shown in photo above). This is especially exciting news since -- thanks to a grant provided by the Tri County Bicycle Association DALMAC fund -- Adventure Cycling, in partnership with Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance and our ever-faithful volunteer, Scott Anderson, will be signing a large portion of Michigan's USBR 20 (approved in 2011). Many counties along this route have already agreed to sign it through their jurisdiction, so the grant will fund signs on the most important sections that would not otherwise be signed.

And there's even more news! Last week, I traveled to Washington DC to participate in the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks peer group meeting. After a full day of informative sessions, including one on the great work being done in San Francisco by Transit and Trails -- an effort to connect people to trails via public transit -- our group headed out for a quick field trip, taking bike-share bikes to the Mall for a quick tour.

Later in the week, I traveled north to Maryland and reviewed the proposed Civil War Trail with volunteer Dick Cushwa (the two of us are pictured above) and Maryland DOT Bicycle-access Director Michael Jackson. One day, the trail will run from the C&O Canal north to Hagerstown. If the trail becomes part of the USBRS, it could connect to Pennsylvania -- a mere four miles away.

My visit was complete with a stay in Harper's Ferry, WV. Harper's Ferry has deep ties with Civil War and Underground Railroad history, making it a must-see visit if you are ever in the area. The National Park Service preserves much of the lower town and provides interpretive displays while maintaining the many historic buildings. You can get to Harper's Ferry by cycling the C&O Canal or the Potomac Heritage Trail, or by hiking the Appalachian Trail. Check out the National Park Services maps.

Top photos by John Williams. Middle photo by Michael Jackson. Bottom photo by Ginny Sullivan.

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BUILDING THE U.S. BICYCLE ROUTE SYSTEM (USBRS) is posted by Ginny Sullivan, USBRS coordinator at Adventure Cycling, and features news and updates related to the emerging U.S. Bicycle Route System. The USBRS project is a collaborative effort, spearheaded by a task force under the auspices of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Members of the task force include officials and staff from state DOTs, the Federal Highway Administration, and nonprofits like the East Coast Greenway Alliance, and Mississippi River Trail, Inc.

Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/05/us-bike-routes-reports-from-road.html

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