Cyclists in Kansas, Indiana and Missouri can travel on four new bike paths.
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).
Over 3500 miles in the three states were added in 2024, more than in any other year. The national network now totals 23,186 miles.
The news was announced earlier this month by the Adventure Cycling Association, a nonprofit membership organization based in Missoula, Mont., 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.
The routes are developed by state departments of transportation and officially designated by AASHTO, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization representing state DOTs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
The Adventure Cycling staff aims to help states achieve official designation of routes 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.
The New Cycling Routes:
In Indiana, cyclists on the nearly 200 mile USBR 37 can weave through a mix of suburban and rural landscapes, beginning on the Erie Lackawanna Trail in Griffith and traveling through or near Tippecanoe Battlefield, Indiana Beach Boardwalk, Prophetstown State Park, the Wabash Heritage Trail, the John T. Myers Pedestrian Bridge, the Big 4 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 number of miles in the state to 883. On USBR 50 in the northeast corner, cyclists can stop at the Four State Lookout in White Cloud, take in views of Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and the Missouri River., and eat well in Troy and Atchison’s restaurants.
On USBR 55, a north-south route in the eastern part of the state, cyclists will find “a charming mix of urban and rural areas” and may be challenged by the many hills, the cycling association noted, but they will also be greeted by “primo bike shops, and plenty of dining and lodging options, including a basecamp in Humboldt with tiny cabins and camping spots. Casual and fine dining, happy hours, breweries, cafes, etc. all await you on this scenic journey.”
“State DOTs are focused on delivering a safe, multimodal transportation system that offers mobility for all,” Jim Tymon, executive director of AASHTO, said in a statement. “Our partnership with the Adventure Cycling Association to continually expand the U.S Bicycle Route System is just one of the many ways states are meeting that goal.”
For more information about the Adventure Cycling Association, click here. For more information about the U.S. Bicycle Route System and to access digital maps and descriptions of routes by state, click here.
