INDOT’s extra effort in listening to the public has resulted in a new U.S. bicycle route that has been tested and traveled by cyclists before receiving its final designation, making the route more
suitable than the original proposal.
U.S. Bicycle Route (USBR) 37 was officially designated by the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in December 2024. INDOT’s robust public involvement with Hoosiers helped make the designation a reality.
The USBR system is the national cycling route network of the United States. It consists of interstate long-distance cycling routes that use multiple types of bicycling infrastructure, including off-road paths, designated bicycle lanes, and low-traffic roads. The USBR system is intended to enable experienced long-distance bicyclists, generally considered “touring cyclists,” who are comfortable riding on most types of facilities, including roads without any special treatments for bicyclists. Each USBR is maintained by state and local governments.
The new 186.9-mile USBR 37 connects the Erie Lackawanna Trail in northwest Indiana to the Monon Trail in central Indiana. The route is likely to promote bicycle tourism because it primarily consists of existing city streets and country roads with some sections on off-street trails and multiuse paths.
USBR 37 begins in Griffith in Lake County, weaving through a mix of suburban and rural landscapes before ending in Carmel in Hamilton County.
Southward from Griffith, the route nears Rensselaer, passes near Indiana Beach Boardwalk, and heads toward Prophetstown State Park in Battleground. Cyclists traveling through West Lafayette are encouraged to experience the Wabash Heritage Trail and cross the John T. Myers Pedestrian Bridge. The journey continues through Lafayette, taking paths like the Big 4 Rail Trail and Farm Heritage Trail.
USBR 37 continues through Lebanon and Zionsville, following the Zionsville Rail Trail. The route concludes at the Monon Trail on East 106th Street in Carmel, connecting to the popular multiuse urban path.
“This marks the first time that a USBR route has been designated since we adopted our Planning Public Involvement Plan (PPIP),” said INDOT Transportation Modeler and Planner Alison Shaner. “This was the first time this process included a public comment period.”
The PPIP mandates a weeklong comment period, but in early 2024, INDOT extended the period to 30 days because of the public interest that the route was receiving.
“Many Hoosiers submitted comments about their concerns, and we wanted to make sure that we addressed them,” said Shaner.
Transportation Planner Brandon Burgoa and Shaner spent portions of March and April 2024 driving the route by following the route log. They steered clear of any trails or areas where motorized vehicles are restricted.
“While surveying, we caught a few spots that really concerned us, including U.S. 231 near Rensselaer and River Road in Lafayette,” said Shaner.
The INDOT duo worked with a representative from the Adventure Cycling Association, which co-manages the program with AASHTO, Tippecanoe County engineers, and the Area Plan Commission of Tippecanoe County (APCTC) to make the final decisions. An APCTC planner rode parts of the route on his bicycle and recruited other cyclists to get a more authentic feel for the route and some of the alternatives that INDOT came up with.
With the establishment of USBR 37, nearly 920 miles of USBR-designated routes exist in Indiana. Total USBR mileage in the United States is 23,186.
No physical infrastructure is required for USBR designation, and the designation does not imply an infrastructure investment. No signs or constructed infrastructure are required for the designation, but INDOT plans to evaluate the benefits and costs of route signage.
A digital map of all USBR routes, including those in Indiana, is available here.