United States Bicycle Route System

US national cycling route network

The United States Bicycle Route System (abbreviated USBRS) is the national cycling route network of the United States. It consists of interstate long distance cycling routes that use multiple types of bicycling infrastructure, including off road paths, bicycle lanes, and low traffic roads. As with the complementary United States Numbered Highways system for motorists, each U. S. Bicycle Route is maintained by state and local governments. The USBRS is intended to eventually traverse the entire country, like the Dutch National Cycle Routes and the United Kingdom's National Cycle Network, yet at a scale similar to the EuroVelo network that spans Europe. The USBRS was established in 1978 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the same body that coordinates the numbering of Interstate highways and U. S. Routes. The first two U. S. Bicycle Routes were established in 1982 and remained the only two until 2011. Steady growth and interest in the system has followed since. The existing USBR 1 will be the easternmost route, though USBR 5 will run farther east of it in Virginia and the Carolinas. The westernmost and northernmost routes are USBR 97 and USBR 8, respectively, both of which are in the state of Alaska, but USBR 97 also enters Washington. Outside of Alaska, the westernmost route is expected to be USBR 95 and the northernmost USBR 8. USBR 90 is expected to be the southernmost route. The first routes were defined in 1982: U. S. Bicycle Route 1 (USBR 1) from North Carolina to Virginia, and the stretch of USBR 76 from Illinois through Kentucky to Virginia. These two routes remained the only routes in the system until 2011. In the interim, only minor routing changes had been made in Virginia. AASHTO established a new task force in 2003 to study expansion of the system. The task force included state and federal highway officials and representatives from bicycling organizations. In October 2008, AASHTO approved a national level corridor and route designation plan. Other organizations involved in the effort include state departments of transportation, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the Adventure Cycling Association. In 2009, the U. S. House of Representatives proposed moving the U. S. Bicycle Route System under the authority of the FHWA as part of a new Office of Livability. In 2009, the FHWA published a new edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices that introduces a revised U. S. Bicycle Route shield. Compared to the 2003 edition, the new design swaps the bicycle symbol and route number. The FHWA gave 17 states interim approval to use the alternative design before formally incorporating it into the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices in 2023. Across 2013, several other additions to the system were made. After approval in 2012, signage for USBR 45 in Minnesota was completed in the summer. An expansion of USBR 76 into Missouri was signed in October, and both Tennessee and Maryland entered the system on November 5 with USBR 23 and USBR 50, respectively. Florida has also begun planning on four bicycle routes, including its stretch of USBR 1 and USBR 90.

as of November 2022, there are 31 official parent routes in varying stages of completion. In areas where a specific route has not been approved by AASHTO, there is only a prioritized corridor. The 24 existing subsidiary and alternate routes are grouped with their one or two digit parents. Route number States with approved routes States within corridor Official length Formed Notes(mi)(km) Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, District of Columbia, Florida Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D. C., Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida 1982 One of the original routes. Maine Delaware, Maryland 2020 Maine Maine327 mile (526 km) 2019 Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut 380.6 mile (613 km) 2015 Alaska Alaska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan 2011 The northernmost route in the system, USBR 8 was approved from Fairbanks to the Canadian border, following Alaska Route 2 along the Richardson and Alaska highways. Michigan Georgia, Florida New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida 2018 First segment from Fitzgerald, Georgia, to Florida state line approved in 2018. The second segment from the Georgia state line to USBR 90 in Madison, Florida was approved in 2018. Michigan, Minnesota, Washington, Michigan section approved from the international Bluewater Ferry to Canada in Marine City, Michigan, and is planned to incorporate the Lake Michigan Carferry crossing between Ludington, Michigan and Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia 2015 Tennessee2023 Chattanooga to Nashville. Georgia Georgia 12.6 mile (20 km) 2018 Originally established in 2015 as USBR 321; renumbered in 2018. Georgia Georgia 38.8 mile (62 km) 2018 Originally established in 2015 as USBR 521; renumbered in 2018. Georgia Georgia 2016 Kentucky, Ohio North Dakota, Planned to incorporate the Lake Express ferry crossing on Lake Michigan between Muskegon, Michigan and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Follows the North Coast Inland Trail in Ohio. Ohio Wisconsin 40.02 mile (64 km) 2020 Provides a non ferry alternative to USBR 30 in a part of Wisconsin when the Merrimac Ferry is not in service. Michigan, Indiana Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi 2012 Planned to run from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to USBR 45 on the Mississippi River in Mississippi or Louisiana. Michigan portion dedicated on May 19, 2012. Indiana portion approved in September 2015. Indiana Indiana 30.4 mile (49 km) 2015 Indiana Planned to stretch from eastern Oregon to New York City. Illinois Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois57.4 mile (92 km) 2014 Currently runs from the Wisconsin–Illinois state line south to Chicago. Minnesota Minnesota 315 mile (507 km) 2016 Established in Minnesota in 2016. Runs from the Canada–US border in Minnesota south to the Mississippi River and USBR 45. Ohio District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Nevada, California Washington, D. C., Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California1500.65 mile (2415 km) 2013 Planned to be one of the longest routes, stretching from Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware through Washington, D. C. in the east to near San Francisco, California. Ohio Ohio 32.3 mile (52 km) 2015 Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, California The Kansas segment was realigned in 2018, shortening the route by 7 mile (11 km). Virginia Virginia 17 mile (27 km) 2016 Utah Florida Montana, Idaho, Washington Missoula, Montana to Seattle, Washington vicinity. Washington, D. C., Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington Planned to run from Washington, D. C. to Seattle, Washington. Utah, Nevada Planned to run from Salt Lake City, Utah to USBR 50 near Reno, Nevada. Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana Planned to run from USBR 10 in Minnesota to USBR 45 west of New Orleans. North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas Planned to run from the Canada–US border in North Dakota south to the Mexican border in Texas. North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas Planned to run from USBR 10 in North Dakota south to USBR 84 near Lubbock, Texas. Colorado, New Mexico, Texas Planned to run from USBR 76 in Colorado to USBR 90 in El Paso, Texas. South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico Planned to run from the South Carolina coast to near El Paso, Texas. Washington, Oregon, California The easternmost of three routes serving the three West Coast states. Planned to run from USBR 10 to USBR 70 east of Los Angeles.