In 2008, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) established a nation-wide corridor plan for US Bicycle Routes to facilitate travel between the states on roadways identified as suitable for cycling. The US Bike Route System will ultimately connect states coast to coast and border to border. So far, 14,000 miles have been designated in 27 states, and when completed, the network will be over 50,000 miles long.
US Bicycle Route 95 (USBR 95) is proposed to be part of this national bike network and will extend along the California coast from San Diego to Crescent City. There it will connect to the next route which continues along the coast through the states of Oregon and Washington.
In order to designate a US Bicycle Route, each local road owner needs to communicate to their State Department of Transportation, Caltrans, that they support the route. Regionally, the Transportation Agency of Monterey County's (TAMC) Technical Advisory and Bike and Pedestrian Committees led the efforts to inform their local agency partners of the benefits of this Bicycle Route. Among the 70 local agencies along USBR 95, 43 have approved the designation as of early May 2020. Monterey and Sand City have already expressed their support of this route.
Bicycle tourism is a growing industry in North America contributing to the economies of communities that provide facilities for such tourists. As a City, Carmel stands to benefit from this opportunity both economically and from a health and environmental perspective by encouraging bicycle travel in our region. There are no requirements for facility construction or upgrades to routes identified as US Bicycle Routes.
Once Caltrans receives resolutions of support from all local jurisdictions and confirms the suitability of the proposed route, they will submit an application to AASHTO for the official designation as a US Bicycle Route.
The non-profit Adventure Cycling Association houses many relevant resources to guide the route implementation process and promote the environmental, economic, health, and transportation benefits of establishing a US Bicycle Route. The Association notes several key points and clarifications for common questions that have arisen in establishing bike routes, as follows.
- The target audience for US Bicycle Routes are long-distance bicycle travelers who are experienced road users and accustomed to riding in higher-density traffic and at higher speeds.
- There is no cost for implementing a US Bicycle Route, and there are no requirements for signage. Routes can be designated through a number of ways, including: maps, signs, pavement markings, downloadable geographic coordinates, etc.
- Roads, streets, and trails designated as US Bicycle Routes are not limited in any way from being changed.
- Local jurisdictions are encouraged to submit alternative alignments to Caltrans if they desire.
The initial alignment of USBR 95 locally was from the Highway 68 Roundabout at Highway 1, and extended southerly all along Highway 1 down to Big Sur, completely bypassing Carmel. Public Works pursued a realignment of the route through the heart of Carmel, and this realignment proposal was accepted by TAMC and the Adventure Cycling Association.
As shown on the attached map, in the Carmel area, USBR 95 now proceeds southbound on Highway 1 to the Carpenter Street exit, west along Serra Avenue, south along Camino del Monte and San Carlos Street, east on Thirteenth Avenue, and out of the City via Rio Road to Highway 1. This route matches an official City bike route identified in the General Plan's Circulation Element. This route also promotes bicyclists to enjoy Forest Hill Park, downtown shops, restaurants, and hotels, and continue past Sunset Center, the Mission Trail Nature Preserve, and historic Carmel Mission.