AASHTO approves National Bicycle Route System

Richard Moeur sent along the following announcement about the approval of the U.S. National Bicycle Route system. The system was approved by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), whose president is currently MoDOT's own Pete Rahn.

Jim Sayers of Adventure Cycling, which has led the development of the system, summarizes the importance this way:

This is four years in the making, and lays the groundwork for the U.S. to create what could eventually be the largest official bicycle route network in the world, and possibly link all the metro and state networks that Thunderhead groups are creating.

Four of the proposed "priority routes" (corridor map, PDF) run through Missouri:

- A route corresponding to the Mississippi River Trail
- A route corresponding to Route 66
- A route corresponding to the TransAmerica Trail

Moeur's announcement:

I've just received news that the AASHTO Board of Directors have voted at today's session at their annual meeting to approve and endorse the concept and plan for the US Bicycle Route System.

Information on the US Bicycle Routes plan can be seen here.

Sincere thanks to the members of the US Bicycle Routes Task Force, AASHTO and state DOT staff, and other partners who have brought this important initiative forward to where it is today. Special thanks to Jim McDonnell at AASHTO and Ginny Sullivan at Adventure Cycling Association for providing staff and operational support to this endeavor.

Here's the text of the resolution as approved by AASHTO:

Standing Committee on Highways Proposed Policy Resolution
(PPR-AM08)
Subcommittee on Design
Subcommittee on Traffic Engineering
Title: "Endorsement of the US Bicycle Routes System"

WHEREAS, thousands of bicyclists every year engage in multi-state and long-distance bicycle travel; and

WHEREAS, AASHTO has an established policy on the designation of US Bicycle Routes; and

WHEREAS, two US Bicycle Routes (US 1 and US 76) have been established by several States in accordance with this policy; and

WHEREAS, the establishment and signing of US Bicycle Routes provides important route guidance for bicycle travel; and

WHEREAS, US Bicycle Routes can provide tourism and economic development opportunities for States and local jurisdictions; and

WHEREAS, the Standing Committee on Highways established the AASHTO Task Force on US Bicycle Routes to engage in a systematic process, working with the State DOTs, to develop a corridor plan for a proposed national network of US Bicycle Routes; and

WHEREAS, the AASHTO Task Force on US Bicycle Routes has also developed a system of proposed route designations for this national network of US Bicycle Routes; and

WHEREAS, the States may establish, at their discretion, US Bicycle Routes within their State using the national corridor plan as a guide; and

WHEREAS, the Subcommittees on Design and Traffic Engineering, and the Technical Committee on Nonmotorized Transportation, have endorsed the concept of the proposed US Bicycle Routes Corridor Plan and the associated designation system as developed by the Task Force on US Bicycle Routes; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the AASHTO Standing Committee on Highways hereby endorses the concept of the proposed US Bicycle Routes Corridor Plan and the associated designation system for use in designating future US Bicycle Routes through its Special Committee on Route Numbering; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force on US Bicycle Routes will work with the Special Committee on Route Numbering and the Subcommittees on Design and Traffic Engineering on developing criteria, or a process for States to use to develop criteria, for use in designating US bicycle routes.