Latest expansion of bicycle route system includes Joplin

Dec. 30—The Adventure Cycling Association and the American Association of State Highway Officials recently announced an expansion of the U.S.

Bicycle Route System with four new routes, one of which goes through Joplin, Carthage, Neosho and other cities in Southwest Missouri. The newest routes are: —USBR 51 in Missouri. —USBR 50 in Kansas.



—USBR 55 in Kansas. —USBR 37 in Indiana. USBR 51 begins at U.

S. Highway 69 at the Missouri/Iowa border and ends on U.S Highway 71 at the Missouri/Arkansas border, connecting to USBR 51 in Arkansas.

The route, adding nearly 554 miles in Missouri, has segments using Missouri state and local roadways as well as established trails and facilities, including the Katy Trail, Watkins Woolen Mill State Park, Army Corps of Engineers at Truman Lake, Swinging Bridge Trail and Frisco Highline Trail. The U.S.

Bicycle Route System is a developing national network of officially designated, numbered and signed routes that use existing roads, trails and other facilities appropriate for bike travel. It will eventually encompass 50,000 miles of routes and open new opportunities for cross-country travel, regional touring and commuting by bike. It also benefits communities by providing new bicycle routes, enhancing safety and increasing tourism and economic activity.

This year, 3,568 miles were added to the system when the routes added in spring 2024 were taken into account. This is the most of any year and brings the total mileage to 23,186. "State DOTs are focused on delivering a safe, multimodal transportation system that offers mobility for all," Jim Tymon, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, 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. The four new routes added to the USBRS network in Indiana, Kansas, and Missouri further highlight the active transportation benefits that flow from the partnership between AASHTO, state DOTs, and Adventure Cycling.

" Digital maps for all designated routes are available to the public for free on the Adventure Cycling Association website. Joplin and other Southwest Missouri communities are already on USBR 66, a bike-friendly version of Route 66. Another route, USBR 76, passes north of Joplin, from Pittsburg, Kansas, to Golden City, south of Lamar and Lockwood, before continuing east.

The route follows the TransAmerica Trail. (c)2024 The Joplin Globe (Joplin, Mo.) Visit The Joplin Globe (Joplin, Mo.

) at www.joplinglobe.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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