More than 400 miles of state Highway 20, including the North Cascades Scenic Highway portion, have been designated as Washington’s first interstate bike route that will be part of the U.S. Bicycle Route System.
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials approved official recognition, which will be included in future updates of the highway design manual followed by transportation planners and engineers at all levels of government, according to a press release by Washington Bikes.
The 407-mile route will follow Highway 20 from Newport, Washington, at the Idaho border to the ferry terminal in Anacortes.
The national interstate route will eventually connect all the northern tier states, linking Washington state to Maine and running from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean, according to the Washington Bikes release. When fully developed, the U.S. system will include more than 50,000 miles of interstate bicycle routes crisscrossing the country and providing route guidance to touring cyclists, commuters and recreational riders.
The bike route effort in Washington state is being coordinated by Washington Bikes (formerly known as the Bicycle Alliance of Washington), in partnership with the Washington State Department of Transportation. For more information, call (206) 224-9252.
