In celebration of May as National Bike Month, the Binghamton Metropolitan Transportation Study (BMTS) is announcing that it has produced a new map of its seven signed regional bicycle routes, New York State Bike Routes 11 and 17, as well as greenway walking and biking trails.  The map is available for FREE to the public.

In June of 1996, the BMTS Policy Committee approved the BMTS Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan.  A high priority action of this plan's implementation schedule was to create a system of on-road bicycle routes throughout the Binghamton Urbanized Area.  The system was designed to be a continuous network linking residential, commercial, and business districts; educational institutions, major employment sites, and recreational areas.  In addition to posting identification signs along the routes to alert both motorists and cyclists, the project called for the production of a bicycle route map.

During 2000, BMTS produced its first bicycle route map to inform cyclists about bicycle route locations and access to points of interest and common destinations; to encourage more people to bicycle; and to educate cyclists about their rights and responsibilities as roadway users. The map displayed the seven regional bicycle routes, New York State Bike Route 17. It also included bicycle safety and traffic law information.  An update to the original map was done and printed during 2005, which added greenway walking and biking trails, New York State Bike Route 11, descriptions of the local bike route system, and a list of local annual events.

The new bicycle route map displays updates to the same information, and now includes safety instructions for using walking and biking trails.

The Bicycle Route Maps are available at the following locations:

·         Local Bicycle Shops

·         Public Libraries

·         Broome CountyChamber of Commerce and I-81 GatewayInformationCenter

·         Tioga County Tourism Office

·         UHS Stay Healthy Center – Oakdale Mall

·         BMTS Office – Broome County Office Building (5^th Floor)

 The map is also available online by going to www.bmtsonline.com and clicking on “Maps”.

 This project was funded by the Federal Highway Administration Surface Transportation Program.

For more information, please contact Scott Reigle of BMTS at 778-2443 or sreigle@co.broome.ny.us