jdemay8

I am planning a bike trip across Ohio this summer and am researching the best route. Of primary concern is minimal traffic/wide shoulders.

I have been researching the US BR 50 segment across central Ohio, which appears to be 45% rail trails and 55% road. Does anyone know if the road segments have bike lanes/wide shoulders? Or stated differently, does the US BR 50 designation carry with it bike lanes or similar, or is just regular roads with signage marking the route?

Unfortunately, I can't drive the route and research it myself, as I live out-of-state and am planning this remotely.

Any insight would be appreciated, as well as any thoughts/suggestions as to good routes to bike across the Buckeye State!

Thank you!

robert schlatte

I would not worry about high traffic or high speed traffic. You are correct, from the Indiana border east through Columbus, much of the primary route is bike trails. The roadway segments appears to be lightly traveled country roads. The US bike route criteria for route selection provides selected routes will be bicycle friendly. Also, if you use google map, you can get a street view or good close up look at road segments you may be concerned about. In any event, I would not give it second thought.

jdemay8

Robert, thank you so much for the information and idea (google map)! Good to know!

spacemaniss

I don't know if this is acceptable, but I would recommend riding Ohio to Erie trail. I rode it last summer from Cleveland to Cincinnati. Only about 40 miles are on shared roads out of 326 mi total. It's was a lot of fun, and not very challenging. Only one hilly section with shared roads was tough.

jdemay8

Wow, thank you so much spacemaniss, I just looked up the trail and this is exactly what we are looking for! This is perfect. Thanks again.

chas58

what, is it something like this?
https://bikepacking.com/routes/bucke...bicycle-route/