Whitman County included in network of bike routes

TEKOA - Four new bicycle routes include Tekoa, Clarkston, and the Palouse in a national network.

Adventure Cycling Association designated 18 new U.S. bicycle routes in five states, adding 2,903 miles to the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS). The USBRS is now 17,734 miles in 31 states and Washington, DC.

Four new routes in Washington State run through Tekoa, Clarkston, and the Palouse.

USBR 81 and USBR 281 (103.4 and 23.1 miles): USBR Route 81 is 103.4 miles and runs through the wheat fields of the Palouse starting near Tekoa. The route passes Pullman descends into the Snake River Canyon and onto Clarkston. It continues to Asotin.

USBR Route 281 is 23.1 miles leaving Pullman and head south to the Palouse on top of the Columbia Plateau.

USBR Route 40 is 1.9 miles and starts at the Idaho border and ends in Tekoa.

USBR 20 Route is 77.8 miles and begins at the Idaho border in Clarkston and follows the Snake River to the Lewis & Clark State Park on the Touchet River.

"Twice each year, state departments of transportation play a significant role in the expansion of the U.S. Bicycle Route System by designating new routes," said Jim Tymon, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

The USBRS has a goal of developing a network of bicycle routes of 50,000 miles linking every state in the country.

"With this addition of nearly 3,000 miles, the U.S. Bicycle Route System continues to pick up momentum - and the growth of the system benefits every person who has, is, or will be traveling by bike," said Scott Pankratz, executive director of Adventure Cycling.

Maps of routes can be found online at wsdot.wa.gov/travel/commute-choices/bike/us-bicycle-route-system-washington