New Routes Added To U.S. Bicycle Route System, Now More Than 18,000 Miles

Three new cycling paths travel along Historic Route 66 through Oklahoma, wind among some of Minnesota’s lakes, and take in river views in Delaware, passing historic sites and landmarks, offering scenic experiences and enhancing safety.

The recently designated routes and the realignment and extension of additional routes through Indiana and Michigan have added more than 650 miles to the U.S. Bicycle Route System, which now boasts nearly 19,000 miles of routes in more than 30 states and Washington, DC.

The news was announced recently by the Adventure Cycling Association, a nonprofit membership organization based in Missoula, Mont., that has supported the initiative since 2005, through research, technical guidance and other resources.

“It’s been 96 years since the iconic Route 66 opened to motor vehicle traffic in the U.S.,” Jim Tymon, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), said in a statement.

U.S. Bicycle Routes (USBR) are developed by state departments of transportation and officially designated by AASHTO.

“Now, cyclists can follow the historic route for more than 400 miles through Oklahoma using the newly designated USBR 66,” Tymon added.

The U.S. Bicycle Route System is a developing network of publicly-accessible, numbered, and signed travel paths across the country that use existing roads, trails, and other facilities for bike travel. At least 38 states are currently developing additional routes, according to the Adventure Cycling Association.

When completed, the network is expected to encompass 50,000 miles of routes. The goal, the association said, is to create new opportunities for cross-country travel, tourism, and bike commuting that will benefit nearby communities by improving cycling connectivity, stimulating the economy as well as enhancing safety.

In Oklahoma, cyclists on the 429 miles of new bike paths can follow Historic Route 66, travel through Tulsa and Oklahoma City, and pass landmarks like the world’s largest concrete totem pole near Chelsea, the Round Barn in Arcadia, the historic Bridgeport Bridge from “The Grapes of Wrath,” and Lucille’s Service Station in Weatherford.

In Minnesota, 188 miles of paths now connect trails, beginning near the west bank of the Mississippi River in St. Cloud before joining the Lake Wobegon Regional Trail to Osakis, passing numerous towns and several of the state’s 10,000 lakes along the way.

In Delaware, the new route of 37 miles joins the Northern Delaware Greenway and links Bellevue State Park to Brandywine Park as it enters Wilmington. After crossing the center of the city, it follows the Jack A. Markell Trail to historic New Castle. Along the Delaware River, cyclists can spot waterfowl, ships, and the Delaware Memorial Bridge.

“We’re excited to coordinate this project to build a better future for bicycle travel across the United States,” Jennifer O’Dell, executive director of Adventure Cycling, said in a statement. The latest designations, she added, are a “powerful momentum in this long-term effort.”

For more information about the Adventure Cycling Association, click here. For more information about the U.S. Bicycle Route System and for digital maps and descriptions of routes by state, click here and here.