National long-distance cycle route expands in the west

There’s a new long-distance bike trail in the Mountain West.

Nearly 500 miles of existing roads in Wyoming are now part of the U.S. Bicycle Trails System, a network of more than 20,000 miles of roads, including roads in Utah, Nevada and Arizona.

For many cyclists, these types of bike rides across the country are an adventure they would love to experience.

“It’s a different way to experience the Mountain West area and not only see the beauty and splendor there, but smell it and probably taste it,” said Jen Hamelman of the Adventure Cycling Association.

This association pressures state transportation agencies, such as Wyoming, to designate long-distance bicycle routes and gain support from all jurisdictions to do so.

These routes must be approved by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). The only requirement is that the route must connect to existing or proposed routes in adjacent states. They can be interstate highways or back roads.

Adventure Cycling Club

Hamelman said the goal is to have 50,000 miles of connected roads nationwide and that participating in this system is a win for small-town economies.

“Cyclists need a lot of food for fuel, places to stay, and they travel slower and cover shorter distances than if someone were to drive across the state,” Hamelman said.

She added that designating new routes does not necessarily mean that infrastructure needs to be changed, but that this could happen in the future as more cyclists take to the roads.

“By making more people aware that cycling is a legitimate way to travel, whether across town or across the country, the need to improve and expand infrastructure becomes greater,” she said.

For example, Hamelman said, states may decide to build shoulders along roads if they have a high cyclist count.

The new Wyoming portion runs from the Idaho border to Colorado, winding through Grand Teton National Park, Sinks Canyon State Park, Alcova Reservoir and Saratoga Hot Springs.

Hamelman said to watch for more designations in the Mountain West next year. Idaho, Colorado and New Mexico have yet to officially map trails.

This story was produced by the Mountain West News Bureau, a partnership between Wyoming Public Media, Nevada Public Radio, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNR in Nevada, KUNC in Colorado and KANW in New Mexico, with support from affiliated stations in the region. Funding for the Mountain West News Bureau is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.