Cyclists traveling in Kansas, Indiana and Missouri can take in scenic lake views, pass historic sites and landmarks, visit battlegrounds, picnic in state parks, cross swinging bridges, ride along forests, and dine at cafes and breweries in the tranquil countryside and busy towns on four new bike paths, part of an ongoing expansion to the United States Bicycle Route System (USBR).
More than 3,500 miles were added across the tri-state in 2024, more than any year. The national network now totals 23,186 miles.
The news was announced earlier this month through the Adventure Cycling Association, a nonprofit organization based in Missoula, Montana, in partnership with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
“Thanks to the efforts of volunteers, advocates and state departments of transportation, and support of our members and AASHTO, these four designations in Kansas, Indiana and Missouri bring us closer to the goal of an interstate bicycle travel network of routes equally accessible to all,” Jenn Hamelman, director of routes at Adventure Cycling Association, said in a statement.
The U.S. Bicycle Route System is a national network of publicly accessible, numbered, and signed routes across the country that use existing roads, trails, and other facilities appropriate for bike travel.
Routes are developed through state departments of transportation and officially designated through AASHTO, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that represents DOTs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
Adventure Cycling aims to help states achieve official address designation for the initiative through research, technical assistance, volunteer coordination, and outreach.
When completed, the network is expected to encompass 50,000 miles of routes. The overriding goal, the cycling association said, is to create new opportunities for cross-country travel, regional tourism, and bike commuting that will benefit nearby communities by improving cycling connectivity, stimulating the economy and enhancing safety.
New cycling routes:
In Indiana, riders riding approximately two hundred miles of USBR 37 can traverse a combination of suburban and rural landscapes, starting on the Erie Lackawanna Trail in Griffith and passing through or near the Tippecanoe Battlefield, Indiana Beach Boardwalk, Prophetstown State Park. , Wabash Heritage Trail. Place the John T. Myers, the Big Four Rail Trail and the Farm Heritage Trail.
In Missouri, USBR 51 provides a continuous north-south bicycle route through the state for a total of nearly 554 miles, utilizing state and local roadways as well as established trails and facilities, including the Katy Trail, Watkins Woolen Mill State Park, Corps of Engineers at Truman Lake, Swinging Bridge Trail, and Frisco Highline Trail.
In Kansas, two new routes bring the total miles in the state to 883. On USBR 50 in the northeast corner, cyclists can bypass Four State Lookout in White Cloud, enjoy views of Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and the Missouri River and eat at restaurants in Troy and Atchison.
On USBR 55, a north-south direction in the eastern part of the state, cyclists will find “a fascinating mix of urban and rural areas” and will be challenged through the numerous hills, the Array Cycling Agreement noted, but they will also be welcomed . through “top-notch motorcycle breakdown shops and plenty of food and lodging options, adding a base camp in Humboldt with small cabins and campsites. ” Informal and subtle cuisine, satisfied schedules, brasseries, cafes, etc. await you on this picturesque journey.
“State DOTs aim to deliver a safe multimodal transportation formula that provides mobility for all,” Jim Tymon, AASHTO’s executive director, said in a statement. “Our partnership with the Adventure Cycling Association to continually expand America’s motorcycle network is just one of many tactics states are implementing to achieve this goal. “
For more information about the Adventure Cycling Association, click here. For more facts on the U. S. motorcycle lane formula, please contact us. For more information on the U. S. and virtual maps and address descriptions across the state, click here.
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