U.S. Bicycle Route Guide Signing

Overview

The objective of this project was to evaluate the signing needed for effective wayfinding and consistency on co-designated numbered and/or named bicycle routes, specifically U.S. Bicycle Routes, recognizing funding and resource constraints. The final report provides recommendations for an effective method for integrating existing named and numbered routes and trails into a national route system. With the increasing number of designated segments of the U.S. Bicycle Route System approved by AASHTO, there will be projects to add guide signing to these new route segments. Numbered route signs are a very useful aid for navigation for bicyclists and inform cyclists they are traveling on a national network. At the same time, state and local agencies responsible for signs are facing very tight budgets and need to make the most effective use of their limited funds. At times, distinct bicycle routes are co-designated (e.g. U.S. Bicycle Route 45 and the Mississippi River Trail) The concern is that currently available funding for signing of U.S. Bicycle Routes is often not adequate to provide full co-designation of shared routes at every location. Agencies could provide full signing only along a limited length of route, or conversely could provide limited signing along an entire route - but there is currently no useful technical guidance that agencies can use to help prioritize their signing resources for these bicycle routes.