New 'Bike Tennessee' tourism initiative is first in South, features rural cycling routes
The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development is hoping to get more biking enthusiasts interested in vacationing across the state through a new program that's the first of its kind in the South.
Bike Tennessee features 52 newly-curated road cycling routes developed by a cycling tourism professional with a focus on bringing cycling to rural communities.
The initiative is so new, it's only offered in one other state, Oregon.
“The governor’s first executive order was to promote initiatives supporting rural counties,” Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Mark Ezell said. “And that is exactly what this initiative does. (It is) a low-cost, sustainable program that benefits smaller communities.”
To locate and design the routes, the tourist development department partnered with Shannon Burke, owner of Velo View Bike Tours in Chattanooga. Burke moved to Tennessee from California a few years ago to be closer to family, he said, adding that he immediately fell in love with the diverse terrain.
“The state has every type of mountain, and you can also ride in all seasons,” Burke said. “It’s perfect for an initiative like this.”
As Burke searched for routes, he targeted roads that didn’t have a lot of traffic, but still felt safe and provided a scenic view of the area, he said.
“I would ask myself, ‘if I put this on a bike tour, would they get their money’s worth?'” Burke said. “The result is a mix of escaping civilization, while still making sure people are comfortable.”
Tennessee's Department of Tourist Development has also partnered with Ride with GPS, a navigation platform used daily by thousands of cyclists, for the program. The state's 52 Bike Tennessee routes are accessible to users of the app and are all designed as a loop to simplify parking, while still varying distance and difficulty, officials explained.
While Tennessee doesn’t boast casinos or beaches, tourism in the state's rural areas still accounts for about 20% of visitor spending, Ezell said.
“In 2022 alone, the state welcomed 141 million visitors, who spent a record $29 billion,” Ezell explained. “A big part of that is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is still by far the most visited national park in America. This initiative gives tourists just another reason to visit our beautiful state.”
The initiative officially launched statewide in May.
For more information, visit tnvacation.com/biketennessee.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: 'Bike Tennessee' tourism draw is first of its kind in the South
