A ribbon-cutting to celebrate the establishment of U.S. Bicycle Route 66 in Missouri and Kansas will be at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Schifferdecker Park stage on the west side of Joplin, Missouri, just off Route 66.
The ribbon-cutting comes at at time when two annual bicycle events on Route 66 converge on Joplin that weekend — Oklahoma Freewheel (which began in Elk City, Oklahoma, and ends in Joplin on Saturday) and Big BAM Ride (which begins in Joplin on Monday and finishes June 22 in Eureka, Missouri).
A concert by St. Louis performer Aina Cook will follow the ceremony.
Here’s what signs for new bicycle route will look like:
A news release earlier this week from the Adventure Cycling Association explains the new U.S. Bicycle Route 66:
Missouri and Kansas joined forces to designate USBR 66, becoming the first states to officially designate the historic “Mother Road” for bicycling. […]
U.S. Bicycle Route 66 covers 345 miles across Missouri and 13 miles across the southeast corner of Kansas, connecting cyclists to Oklahoma and Illinois. It roughly parallels today’s I-44, which takes most motor vehicle traffic, leaving the historic Route 66 segments as relatively low-traffic side-roads that wander through the countryside, preserving traces of an American icon as it stood half a century ago.
Cyclists on USBR 66 can visit historic Marsh Bridge, Riverton Store (in continuous operation since 1925), the Galena Mining Museum, Old Chain of Rocks Bridge across the Mississippi River, the Big Chief Roadhouse in Wildwood, the Route 66 Museum in Lebanon, the Uranus Fudge Factory and General Store, Route 66 parks in Springfield and Joplin, Route 66 State Park in Eureka, many period hotels, bridges, and original stretches of historic roadway, and the birthplace of Route 66 in Springfield.
“We are so pleased to see this important historic route—already used by many bicyclists from across the world—officially adopted as part of the U.S. Bicycle Route System. We much appreciate the work of MoDOT and leaders of communities along the route who have worked hard for this day. Riding this route really gives a glimpse into the soul of the American heartland.” Brent Hugh, Executive Director, Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation
“We’re excited for the opportunity to designate our portion of Historic Route 66 as a United States Bicycle Route. We’ve been working with other state agencies and local communities to develop and promote active tourism along our state’s byway system. This designation helps support our efforts and attracts travelers to our state.” – Matt Messina (KS Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator)
USBR 66 is important for the homage it pays to historic Route 66, but also because it intersects with other key bicycle touring routes, including the Mississippi River Trail, the Great Rivers South Bicycle Route, the Transamerica Trail (USBR 76), the Lewis and Clark Bicycle Touring Route, and USBR 51 connecting Missouri to Louisiana and Minnesota, currently under development. Additionally, with the designation of U.S. Bicycle Route 66 in Missouri and Kansas, interest has picked up in other states located along the historic road.
(Image of cyclists at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in St. Louis by Trailnet via Flickr; image of U.S. Bicycle Route 66 sign courtesy of the Adventure Cycling Association)