La PORTE COUNTY — A 360-mile cycling route connecting 15 counties from the northern tip of Indian to the southern end has officially launched during National Bike Month in May.
The nationally-approved and interconnected cycling route is the first one in Indiana, linking La Porte County to Floyd County.
“Bike riding is good for your health, your community, your pocketbook and your convenience," said Jane Daley, community relations manager for Visit Michigan City La Porte. "But most important is the ride. Now we have a new addition to the La Porte County shared bikeway and I encourage all bike riders from every level to try the USBR35.”
The USBR35 project was approved in 2015 by the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials with the help of Indiana Trails and Adventure Cycling Association. The goal is to draw bicycle enthusiasts to Indiana by offering a unique Midwestern cycling experience that’s safe and accessible with bicycle travel options.
“The route offers not only a flat way to see the length of the Hoosier state, but a way to see many local features via slow and meaningful transportation,” said Richard Vonnegut, vice chairman for Hoosier Rails to Trails Council. “It shows off so many places which we Hoosiers call home.”
USBR35 includes the Indiana counties of Hamilton, La Porte, Starke, Pulaski, Fulton, Miami, Howard, Tipton, Marion, Hancock, Shelby, Bartholomew, Jackson, Scott and Clark/Floyd. The route is part of a nationwide movement to make an interconnected national network of roads that allow cyclists to easily travel throughout the U.S.
This specific project is part of a $20,000 grant from the Indiana Office of Tourism Development to make the state a more bike-friendly destination. To date, more than 11,000 miles of U.S. bicycle routes have been officially designated in 24 states. When complete, the USBR system will encompass more than 50,000 miles across the country.