Building Bike Routes for the U.S. Bicycle Route System

As the coordinator for the U.S. Bicycle Route System, I've come to realize that collaboration is key to getting the work done. Happily, the state agencies I am working with are more than eager to work with cyclists, cycling organizations and trail groups. It's a win-win for everyone; cyclists get to have a hand in choosing the routes and the state and local agencies leverage their work.

In order to help the process along, I constantly look for potential resources the will make everyone's role easier. I came across an interesting blog a couple weeks ago and asked Mark Stosberg, a commuter, recreational cyclist and Adventure Cycling member, to give us tips on developing bicycle routes. For those interested in helping their state get on-board with the U.S. Bicycle Route System, you may just want to start close to home.

"If you are like me, you'd like to see the U.S. Bike Route network move forward in your state, but are concerned about how quickly the state government will be able and willing to get the job done.
Based on my experience in bike route planning at the city level in Richmond, Indiana, there is another option besides waiting. We produced 5,000 copies of a city-approved bike route network for about $2,000 -- the cost of printing the maps themselves.

A grassroots group of local experienced cyclists proactively met with city government and independently developed a network of recommended bike routes. This was done without even a formal non-profit status. Multiple community meetings and test-rides vetted and refined the routes. Finally, a final recommendation for routes was presented to the City and approved, and volunteer labor was used to produce the final map, with some help from the City's GIS department.

If you'd like to more about this story, I've posted to USBR forum or you can visit my website as a place to start."

Get involved with the U.S. Bicycle Route System, learn more on our website, become a fan on Facebook, or join in on our discussion forums.

photo by mynameistony77 from the Adventure Cycling Photo Contest on Flickr.


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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 U.S. Bicycle Route System 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.