Adventure Cycling is at it again, and in a very good way.  They are working directly with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to help in the planning of an official interstate bike system.  The AASHTO Task Force was charged with developing a national corridor-level plan and designation system that transportation agencies can utilize for the development of bicycle routes.

What this means for you and me is much more support on a federal level for cyclists.  While this doesn’t mean that the system will be a massive trail network, it does suggest an effort to utilize existing roads and trails by making them more bike friendly.

Cycling routes create viable transportation alternatives and positively impact rural economies. Well-planned bike routes also provide places for citizens to exercise & explore, offering a great opportunity for improving health and well-being, as well as connecting people to the landscapes and cultures of our fabulous country.

The task force that was assembled to create the route plans has created an official draft which was approved by the AASHTO in October of this year.  The next step is for the task force to work directly with states, cities, counties, and local cycling organizations to make the dream a reality.  The first step in the long process ahead is simply awareness.

Implementation of the U.S. Bike Route System can take several forms: signage and markings; bike route maps; highway maps with bike route markings; recognition of bike routes in highway planning and maintenance; and so on. State and local agencies will determine the details of bicycle route implementation that fit within their overall programs.

While putting up signs on existing trails and roadways may seem like a minor step, it helps create a vision of a much larger plan.  With local and federal help, this interstate bike system could eventually turn into something as grand as the current options already in place around Europe.

[Via Adventure Cycling]