Wisconsin bicycle route recognized on national level
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), approved U.S. Bike Route (USBR) 30 and USBR 230, as Wisconsin’s first nationally designated bicycle routes. The 269-mile USBR 30, crosses the state from east to west.
It begins in Milwaukee, at Lake Michigan, and ends in Bluff Siding, on the Mississippi River. The route uses multiple types of existing bicycling infrastructure, including state and county bike trails, local roads and bike paths, and state and county highways.
USBR 230 is an alternate leg, providing routing directions for use when the Merrimac Ferry (Colsac III) is not in operation.
“Establishing this route has been years in the making, and it’s a great accomplishment for the state,” said WisDOTsecretary- designee Craig Thompson. “More than 70 communities in 11 counties, worked together to create this great transportation corridor that will be enjoyed by local, regional and national bicyclists.”
Wisconsin’s USBR 30/230 route, showcases many natural and cultural resources, while traveling through rural, urban and suburban communities – creating opportunities for people everywhere to bicycle for travel, transportation and recreation.
“When you explore Wisconsin’s fresh coast by bike, whether in our forests, or the flowing and meandering Driftless Region, cyclists will find thrilling trails, vibrant urban areas and awe-inspiring landscapes,” said tourism secretary-designee Sara Meaney. “We are honored to have U.S. Bike Route 30 welcomed into the U.S. Bicycle Route System’s national network.”
USBR 30/230 guides bicyclists through more than 160 miles of DNR state and county trails. Many of the trails are converted former railroad corridors.
“More than half of USBR 30 is made up of our state bike trails,” said Preston Cole, DNR secretary. “This new route gives bicyclists detailed directions to navigate across the state, providing yet another way to experience our great outdoors.”
A map and turn-by-turn directions are available on the WisDOT website at /wisconsindot.gov.
