Exciting Updates about the U.S. Bicycle Route System

Wow, what a month!Good news abounds for the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS). Recently, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood blogged on Fast Lane that the recent approval of new U.S. Bike Routes for this emerging network will help more Americans use their bikes for transportation and recreation. Like last summer's post, LaHood's recent comments sparked new media interest in the project.My favorite line from the Secretary's post might be his statement that, "Thirty states are now working on routes to serve as easy-to-ride trunk lines connecting city, regional and statewide cycling trails (and routes). These will provide transportation, tourism, and economic development opportunities across the country."But that line also made me pause; we've been touting our total number of states involved in USBR development at thirty since March, when we announced that grand total at the National Bike Summit. However, in updating the Getting It Done: Status Report, I see that the grand total of states involved now sits at 40 -- plus the District of Columbia.Yes, since March, states that have come on board include Arizona, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Wyoming.And the good news doesn't end there.

My good friends Mike and Joan wrote to tell me that they witnessed new U.S. Bike Route Signs going up along the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail in Kentucky (remember, USBR 76 was designated in 1982). You can see more photos of the county transportation workers placing the signs along the roadway and read about their experience in Mike and Joan's journal. A year ago, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet promised they would provide the signs -- and they followed up on that commitment. Thank you, Kentucky!This week I am off to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada for the Ontario Bike Summit to talk about the economic and other benefits associated with bike tourism and travel. One of my goals will be to inspire growing interest in developing a regional bike network -- possibly similar to Quebec's La Route Verte, but with ties to U.S. Bicycle Routes, such as the newly designated USBR 20 through Michigan.All in all, a great month for the project. Thanks to the many helpers I have out there working to make this happen! You know who you are.Top photo of Secretary LaHood by Jonathon Maus of Bike Portland; middle photo by Mike Weingarten.---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/2011/06/exciting-updates-about-us-bicycle-route.html