US Bicycle Routes 1, 76, and 176 cross through Virginia
Source: Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), U.S. Bicycle Routes in Virginia
US Bicycle Routes 1, 76, and 176 cross through Virginia
Source: Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), U.S. Bicycle Routes in Virginia
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) began to define a network of long-distance cycling routes, the United States Bicycle Route System (USBRS), in 1978. Nationwide, routes totaling 50,000 miles have been identified. As of 2020, 15,000 miles had been officially designated in 29 states.
There are 274 miles in Virginia for U.S. Bicycle Route 1. The north-south route is consistent with, in most places, the East Coast Greenway.
U.S. Bicycle Route 76 is an east-west route stretching 555 miles from Yorktown to Breaks Interstate Park. It is a part of the TransAmerica Trail. U.S. Bicycle Route 176 is a short connector, mostly along the Virginia Capital Trail, linking the other two routes.
US Bike Route 76 crosses the state, from Kentucky to Yorktown
Source: Ride With GPS, USBR 76 VA
The Virginia Bicycling Federation succeeded in getting US Bike Route 11 added to the National Corridor Map in 2012. The 475-mile route included the Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway.1
The annual Bike Virginia tour, started in 1988, is a six-day experience enjoyed by over 900 cyclists in 2019. Routes are designed for 300-400 miles of riding in different conditions, with options for distance and difficulty. In 2012, Bike Virginia estimated that the visitors it attracted to a community would spend over $1 million for lodging, food, drink, entertainment, transportation, and retail purchases.2
patch for 25th anniversary of Bike Virginia tour
Source: Bike Virginia, Shop
On the Eastern Shore, the Between the Waters Bike Tour organized by the Citizens For A Better Eastern Shore attracts over 1,000 cyclists now. When it started in the mid-1990's, there were only 100 or so.3
Americans purchase roughly $4 billion worth of bikes annually. Only one-eighth of those are manufactured in the United States; most are made in China. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, demand for bikes spiked because it was a safe way to exercise, away from gyms and other indoor locations. However, the supply chain was disrupted and some customers were unable to purchase new bikes.4
15,000 of the planned 50,000 miles of US Bike Routes were established by 2020
Source: Adventure Cycling, National Corridor Plan
the 2019 Bike Virginia routes were centered on Woodstock and Harrisonburg
Source: Bike Virginia, BikeORama (2019)
for biking to be used for short trips, stores as well as public buildings must provide the bike equivalent to parking spaces