A sign similar to this might soon be displayed on Hwy 20 as part of the bike route designation. Photo images courtesy of WSDOT.gov

Twisp Council members endorsed the nomination by the Bicycle Alliance of Washington (BAW) to designate a bike route through the Methow Valley. If the United States Bicycle Route System (USBRS) approves the route, Washington Bicycle Route 10 will be the first nationally designated bike route in Washington state.

United States Bike Route 10 (USBR10) follows the Scenic Route 20 (SR20) corridor thought the upper Methow Valley and continues over the pass to the Skagit Valley.  The suggested route will use lower traffic roads such as the East County Road between Twisp and Winthrop and Goat Creek Road from the bridge to Mazama when available. Reeves also notes that BR 10 will take detours through small towns whenever possible. “We want to include small towns within our routes,” says Paula Reeves,the bicycle and pedestrian coordinator for Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). “We want bicyclists to be able to take tourist stops along the way.”

Established in 1982, the USBRS is a national network of bicycle routes that connect the rural and urban landscapes of the nation. To date, 5,973 miles of U.S. bike routes have been established and 40 states are actively seeking route designations. Reeves says that Washington is getting closer to inclusion. 

Now that the Twisp Town Council has endorsed the BAW’s nomination for the project, BAW along with WSDOT will apply for designation of a bike route by the American Association of State Highway Officials. “Washington will be put on the map,” says Reeves. “This is a great revenue opportunity for places like the Methow Valley.”

The organization that is leading the campaign for national bicycling routes is Adventure Cycling, a Montana-based non-profit. Adventure Cycling has over 45,000 members and offers guided biking tours throughout North America. According to its website, Adventure Cycling has worked toward creating a biking culture and making every state bike accessible and friendly since 1973.  

Though the USBRS requires endorsements from potential route areas, there is little more for an area to do. “The designation of a route in your area doesn’t bring any design or maintenance requirements,” says Reeves. The only visual acknowledgement of a designated bike route will be road signs and additional bicycling traffic. 

Rose Weagant
2/17/2014