U.S. Bicycle Route 76


U.S. Bicycle Route 76 is a cross-country bicycle route east of Colorado in the United States. It is one of the two original U.S. Bicycle Routes, the other being U.S. Bicycle Route 1. USBR 76 runs from the Midwestern state of Kansas to the eastern seaboard state of Virginia. It is also known as the TransAmerica Bike Route and is contained within the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail.
A spur, U.S. Bicycle Route 176, was established in Virginia in 2016.

History

Bicycle Route 76 originated as the Bikecentennial, the route for a large bike tour organized for the 1976 celebration of the United States Bicentennial. The Adventure Cycling Association was at that time also known as the "Bikecentennial."
USBR 76 was established in 1982 as an original U.S. Bicycle Route, along with U.S. Bicycle Route 1 from Florida to Virginia. Bicycle traffic along a good deal of Bicycle Route 76 has been sparse to practically non-existent for several years. However, a 2003 conference encouraged the establishment of new interstate bicycle routes, as well as proposing the extension the two existing ones, 76's western terminus being conjectured on the Oregon coast.
Since 2014, the annual Trans Am Bike Race has used the route.

Route description

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Kansas

In Kansas, USBR 76 runs from the Colorado state line at K-96 near Towner, Colorado, to the Missouri state line at K-126 near Pittsburg, Kansas.

Missouri

In the state of Missouri, USBR 76 is signed. The route begins at the Kansas border west of Golden City, continuing east across of the state before reaching the Mississippi River just west of Chester, Illinois. The route passes through the following counties:
In the state of Illinois, USBR 76 intersects the Tunnel Hill State Trail in southern Illinois and passes through the following counties:
In the state of Kentucky, USBR 76 is signed, and a map is available as part of a state bicycle tours publication.

Virginia

In the state of Virginia, part of USBR 76 is signed, and a map is available as part of a state bicycling publication.
The route passes along the following roads and through the following counties and communities:
Total miles: 560.1

Auxiliary routes

U.S. Bicycle Route 176

U.S. Bicycle Route 176 is a connector route that connecting USBR 1 and USBR 76 at a point a little further south than where the routes cross. It travels along the Virginia Capital Trail for.