Adventure Cycling Association
| Formation | 1973 |
|---|---|
| Legal status | Active |
| Location | |
| Website |
www |
The Adventure Cycling Association is a national cycling association in the United States which provides services for cycle-tourists, publishes maps and campaigns for better cycling facilities. Its headquarters are in Missoula, Montana. Its origins are in a mass cross-country ride from the Pacific to the Atlantic in 1976, celebrating the bicentennial of the United States. It is also the publisher of Adventure Cyclist Magazine.
Origins
The Adventure Cycling Association was founded in 1973 under the name of Bikecentennial by Dan and Lys Burden and Greg and June Siple. They planned a cross-country bicycle event to celebrate the bicentennial of the United States. More than 4,000 cyclists took part in the 1976 inaugural tours. Once the event was completed, the organization lived on and became Adventure Cycling, a non-profit member organization. Adventure Cycling's mission is to inspire people of all ages to travel by bicycle for fun, fitness, and self-discovery. Adventure Cycling calls itself America's bicycle travel inspiration and resource, offering many programs for cyclists, including a national network of bicycle touring routes and organized trips. Its most popular route is the TransAmerica Trail (formerly the Bikecentennial Trail) which runs between Astoria, Oregon and Yorktown, Virginia. The route network contains more than 38,000 miles of road and mountain bike routes.
Adventure Cycling has also developed the Pedal Pioneers Guide, a manual for planning and leading youth bicycle tours. The guide is a detailed how-to for adults who want to plan and execute youth bicycle touring projects, whether a weekend tour of local roads or a cross-country adventure that takes an entire summer.
Adventure Cycling's headquarters are located in Missoula, Montana in the northern Rocky Mountains. Many cyclists make a point of riding through Missoula. Cyclists who come during business hours or on Saturday mornings in summer enjoy free ice cream, catch up on email, ask advice, and may be photographed for the association's collection.
Bicycle routes
- Adirondack Park Loop Bicycle Route
- Allegeny Mountains Loop Bicycle Route
- Atlantic Coast Bicycle Route[1]
- Florida Connector Bicycle Route
- Grand Canyon Connector Bicycle Route
- Great Divide Mountain Bike Route
- Great Parks Bicycle Route
- Great Rivers Bicycle Route
- Green Mountains Loop Bicycle Route
- Idaho Hot Springs Mountain Bike Route
- Lake Erie Connector Bicycle Route
- Lewis & Clark Trail Bicycle Route
- North Lakes Bicycle Route
- Northern Tier Bicycle Route
- Pacific Coast Bicycle Route
- Sierra Cascades Bicycle Route
- Southern Tier Bicycle Route
- Tidewater Potomac Heritage Bicycle Route
- TransAmerica Trail Bicycle Route
- Underground Railroad Bicycle Route
- Utah Cliffs Loop Bicycle Route
- Washington Parks Bicycle Route
- Western Express Bicycle Route
See also
References
- ↑ "Atlantic Coast Bicycle Route". ACA web site. Adventure Cycling Association. Archived from the original on 2 July 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-02.
The Atlantic Coast Bicycle Route is divided into two route segments. Following are the details for each segment. Bar Harbor, Maine, to Richmond, Virginia This segment is excellent for history buffs, as you'll discover sites dating back to the early days of the United States and beyond. Richmond, Virginia, to Key West, Florida This segment provides the opportunity to bike through the Deep South and travel through back-road farmlands and swamps.