Missoula, Montana — This morning, Adventure Cycling Association kicked off a unique grassroots fundraising effort to raise $20,000 or more to support ongoing organizing and cartographic efforts for the emerging U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS) — what could become the largest official cycling network on earth. The Build it. Bike it. Be a part it. campaign will run through National Bike Month, ending on Monday, May 31, 2010.

Using social media tools, a group of dedicated fundraisers, and leveraged funds from a diverse roster of business and organizational donors, Adventure Cycling hopes to inspire cyclists across America to donate $10 or more to help build this national network.

Cyclists can donate on Adventure Cycling's Change.org fundraising page for the project or through Causes on Facebook. Cyclists can learn how to help spread the word at http://www.adventurecycling.org/beapartofit.

Donations from business supporters, combined with a few early bird gifts from Adventure Cycling members, have helped the Association start the campaign today with having raised over half its goal amount of $20,000. "The early support for the campaign has boosted hopes that we will exceed our awareness and donation goals," said Winona Bateman, media director for Adventure Cycling and an organizer of the campaign.

To date, business supporters of the campaign include BikeFlights.com, BOB, Klean Kanteen, Red Arrow Group, Renaissance Bicycles, Salsa Cycles, and Team Estrogen.

This early excitement is not surprising. In the last year, the U.S. Bicycle Route System has been gaining momentum at the state and federal level. More than 28 states are interested in or actively working on implementing U.S. Bicycle Routes and the USBRS is currently part of the proposed Federal Transportation Bill now pending in the U.S. House of Representatives to be considered later in 2010. The USBRS has also surfaced in the buzz generated by Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood's recent policy directive asking that more attention be paid, in federal transportation planning, to bicyclists and pedestrians. Secretary LaHood recently commented positively about the USBRS project in an interview on National Public Radio.

"Momentum behind the U.S. Bicycle Route System has been growing over the last few years, including support from the bike industry and foundations, strong interest from states in implementing U.S. Bicycle Routes, and the inclusion of the project in federal legislation," said Jim Sayer, executive director of Adventure Cycling Association. "The U.S. Bicycle Route System will connect urban, suburban, and rural parts of America. Cyclists and the nation stand to benefit, just as we have seen in other countries that have created national cycling systems."

A select group of media partners are helping to spread the word about the Build it. Bike it. Be a part of it. campaign; they include Bicycle Radio, Momentum, New Belgium Brewing, NewWest.net, Pedal Pushers, Wend, and Women's Cycling Magazine.

Since 2006, Adventure Cycling's work on the U.S. Bicycle Route System has also been supported by grants from Bikes Belong ($40,000), Education Foundation of America ($70,000), Lazar Foundation ($40,000), SRAM Cycling Fund ($30,000), and the Surdna Foundation ($15,000).

Help build the U.S. Bicycle Route System, get involved and spread the word:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/beapartofit

Want to donate? You can donate through Causes on Facebook:
http://www.causes.com/causes/419721, or through Adventure Cycling's Change.org fundraising page: http://www.adventurecycling.org/usbrsdonate.