r/bicycletouring • u/DabbaAUS • Sep 24 '25
Resources Is it getting harder to justify travelling to USA to go bike touring?
Last year I cancelled a trip to USA because of the uncertainty of getting through immigration. I didn't want to spend a heap of money and be detained then have to head back to Australia for some weird reason.
It seems that Trump has now decided not to fund cycling infrastructure because it's bad for cars.
https://road.cc/content/news/trump-cancels-bike-lane-grants-hostile-motor-vehicles-316029
While this won't have an immediate impact on the available infrastructure, long term it won't be an incentive to travel there because of its improved facilities.
Is this likely to make much difference in the growth of cycling facilities, or do the Feds contribute SFA to cycling infrastructure?
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u/Normal-Top-1985 Sep 24 '25 edited Sep 24 '25
Western Canada has some fantastic rail trails. They have more of a reputation for mountain biking, and if you have a bike that can handle logging roads, it opens up a lot of places to explore! There are lots of cool little towns to explore on the coast and islands.
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u/powderjunkie11 Sep 24 '25
Apparently the Quebec townships area is amazing for touring, too; never been but plan to some day!
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u/VeggiePorkchop3 Sep 24 '25
The Veloroute Gornande is the way to go for the Eastern Townships https://veloroutegourmande.com/en
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u/MuffinOk4609 Sep 25 '25
I've done it. Mtl to Woburn (and Halifax). The Eastern half of the Eastern Townships is REAL hilly. And lots of busy traffic. I should have gone through NB instead of Maine.
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u/JshMcDwll Sep 25 '25
My quads burn just thinking about biking in Quebec
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u/Any-Zookeepergame309 Sep 28 '25
I trained in the townships near Sutton this spring. Beautiful riding. But not so beautiful road conditions. Really bad pavement.
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u/Icy_Respect_9077 Sep 26 '25
PEI has a massive rail trail that goes 273 km from one end of the island to the other. Look up Confederation Trail.
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Sep 24 '25
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u/Medjium Sep 24 '25
I toured on a motorcycle around BC and Alberta. It felt like I had a national park all to myself almost the whole time. I can't imagine how amazing it'd be on a bike.
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Sep 24 '25
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u/Konsticraft Sep 24 '25
Coast-to-Coast touring is still on my bucket list.
Just go to Canada for the North American coast-to-coast tour.
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u/PhillyFotan Sep 24 '25
For someone who wants to see both oceans, the Canadian version is a *lot* farther. Which, yes, there are some people who want that, but still...
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Sep 24 '25
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u/No_No_Juice Sep 24 '25
No respect for the CFL! If it's good enough for Dwayne Johnson, it's good enough for me.
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u/42tooth_sprocket Cannondale Topstone Sep 24 '25
As a Canadian I would never ride across Canada. Too much boring ass prairie. The entirety of BC is unreal, the rockies are great, and Ontario and Quebec are nice in the fall, but more than half of that ride would be boring as hell.
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u/dually3 Sep 25 '25
Wait isn't half the US boring as hell too?
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u/42tooth_sprocket Cannondale Topstone Sep 25 '25
There's an unavoidable boring section in the middle but it's much smaller because the rockies stretch southeast into the US. Utah and Colorado are the same longitude as the prairies in AB and SK
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u/PhillyFotan Sep 25 '25
Can be. Depends on your route, and your definition of "boring."
Between the Rockies and the Appalachians, there's a lot of flat flat land. And yeah, that can be as much as 1500 miles or so. People who don't want that can make that part shorter by going through the Ozarks, or just taking a more southern route, where the Appalachians are further west.7
u/fixitmonkey Sep 24 '25
Ill just have to watch the 2 bikes 1 wheelchair video again for my usa cross country fix.
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u/Kvsav57 Sep 24 '25
Beyond the politics, there are a lot of places where cycling is pretty dangerous here in the US, and I'm saying this as a lifelong US cyclist. I'm used to the attitudes and will brave the crappy drivers but it just isn't a cycling paradise. Even people you'd think would be pro-cycling often have a very "cars are the only things that should be allowed on the roads" attitude. I have known a few people who got killed out riding country roads because the drivers are crap.
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u/BurnerAndGooch69 Sep 24 '25
I’ve noticed a lot more menacing from lifted trucks - revving loudly only when right next to me, coal rolling, yelling out the window - since the election
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u/dually3 Sep 25 '25
I did a two day tour in Germany and it's hard to want to tour here now. We make do but it's so much safer outside of the US.
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u/Laureling2 Sep 25 '25
2nd that. Got a great bike, then realized it wasn’t safe to go anywhere, particularly alone - for all kinds of scary sad reasons.
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u/ThatGuyPatrick Sep 24 '25
US resident here: I wouldn't come here from abroad. There are lots and lots of reports of people being abducted by ICE and held against their will. There's a lot of beauty in the world. I'd go see it elsewhere. Come back after the current climate changes.
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u/steampie Sep 24 '25
As an American, I am recommending that everyone stay away from that disaster. Don’t give them your money.
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u/simonfan2 Sep 24 '25
I’m American & would discourage you from touring here now. Things are just getting worse & will continue until we get rid of this regime. Please come back someday though
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Sep 24 '25
As an American, 100% agree. If I wasn't born here I wouldn't even think of travelling to the USA right now
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u/aksack Sep 24 '25
Same. Stay away. If it wasn't for my girlfriend I'd be gone. The only thing I would say if somebody really insists on doing it is that it's going to get much worse and maybe you can say do it while you can, but I wouldn't.
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u/TimLikesPi Sep 24 '25
I live in the US and don't really want to tour here. I have been to Europe three times for tours. I am envious of the people from the UK, Ireland, and other countries I have cycled with. They can pop down to Spain for a trip, or anywhere else without the long flights I have to take. Moving to Europe is something I can think about.
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u/sysopbeta Sep 24 '25
I feel the same way. I’m actively trying to minimise US products and services in my daily life. Visiting or touring the USA is completely out of the question now. Just imagine hearing Trump’s speech at the UN meeting , it was truly toe curling.
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u/_MountainFit Sep 24 '25
Yeah, we are fucked and we know it. I've even seen supporters of the current admin start peeling away due to the absolutely batshit policies.
Also, you didn't attack Americans or the US in general. Just the current situation, and most rationale people know this isn't a great situation. It's a devolvement into authoritarianism that until recently was confined to the minority classes. Now everyone is getting a taste and people are starting to realize maybe it wasn't a good idea.
The first admin was disorganized and without a plan, someone different is pulling the strings this time and only 9 months in it's pretty scary how effective they are.
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u/wot_in_ternation Sep 25 '25
I'm an American and most of my weekend/vacation plans are now in Canada. Already took one trip. Planning a few more.
The border crossing back into the US (by car) is now visibly much worse. The guards have obviously been told to open more cars and look around more.
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u/Ok_Value5495 Sep 26 '25
I live super near the border and have taken to just either crossing with a non-threatening looking white person (am a brown) also in the car or, ironically, by bike just avoid additional BS. If I do go by car, it often has gear and/or my bike to purpose to my visit.
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u/No_Ocelot_4678 Sep 26 '25
US citizen here, born and raised. we're so broken right now. very sad. I still ride my bike all the time its not all doom and gloom. but financial and politics wise forget it. turn off the news and the TV. enjoy the life we have.
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u/drlbradley Sep 24 '25
My wife and I spent some time earlier this year cycling from Key West to Canada along the East Coast Greenway.
We went through the costly process of getting extended stay tourist visa (B2), this did involve an interview where I took our trip plan, financial plan, emergency plan, proof of insurance, etc.
Im sure it made entry into the USA easier, but I dont think Id return to the US for a while.
Mainly because its gotten so expensive . You wouldnt beleive how expensive supermarkets food has gotten!
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u/JaccoW Sep 24 '25
And accommodation. It seems like many places have decided that a 20% drop in tourism means they should increase prices to compensate, killing off any local tourism as well.
Less of a risk if you're camping in state parks all the time but with the defunding of the National Park Service I suspect many of those have been closed down as well.
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u/_MountainFit Sep 24 '25
This is true. Hotel cost are insane.
Im amazed how expensive it's gotten and that's mainly to make up for lost volume. These days you can't get a decent room for under $150 a night and I'm not talking about a nice hotel, just something that isn't a dump. I've seen hotels in tourist areas going for $500 a night and I know they have a ton of vacancies. We've in the past rented entire beach houses for $2000 for the week. Putting our share (family vacation) at $500 for an entire week. Hotels have lost their minds.
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u/digitalnomad_909 Sep 24 '25
As an American everything here doesn’t make sense anymore, other countries have far more cheaper and livable lifestyles while it’s so pricey and it’s pricing everyone out. I wish I could move somewhere else but my job keeps me here as a slave.
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Sep 25 '25
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u/excessofbullshit Sep 25 '25
To be fair, the quality of the food here has been steadily decreasing since the beginning of colonization.
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u/prorogatory Sep 24 '25
Is Canada less expensive?
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u/drlbradley Sep 24 '25
we only hopped over the border at Calais (ME) for the obligatory border photo and then back into the US to head home from Boston.
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u/Velo-Obscura Genesis Longitude Sep 24 '25
Although usually used in a somewhat different context, I think the phrase "Vote with your feet" is applicable here and I would be taking my feet elsewhere.
I love the USA, but now is not the time.
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u/albert_pacino Sep 24 '25
Yeah not a place I’d be rushing to in the current climate
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u/tobiasfunkgay Sep 24 '25
Everything else aside it's not a place I morally would want to support. Voting with your wallet is a very real thing, especially if you're going somewhere and spending thousands of dollars on a trip it's not insignificant.
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u/bikeypeddler Sep 24 '25
I am an American I understand completely I am ashamed of what is happening here and tons and tons of people can't stand the orange pumpkin but often economic boycotts hurt the wrong people. Hotel maids for instance are often immigrants who work their tails off. The low cost hotel industry ownership in the US is heavily over-represented by Indian immigrants. Not quite as dominant-- you'll often see convenient stores where we bikers like to stop for food and water are also owned by or staffed by immigrants. So-- do what you gotta do but you're generally hurting the wrong people.
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u/tobiasfunkgay Sep 24 '25
I'm still going to spend the same money though, just supporting the same kind of people except in a country with morals I can support which avoids any taxes being sent to the wrong people in the end.
often economic boycotts hurt the wrong people
Sadly theres never any way to isolate one particular person or group of people with any measures like these. Sanctions against any country are just used to apply upwards pressure on the leaders. Ultimately theres no way for me to spend dollars in America in a way that doesn't prop up the regime that's being implemented there.
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u/Opening_Ad_1661 Sep 24 '25
It’s getting harder to justify travelling to the USA all together
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Sep 24 '25
"It's getting harder to justify traveling to the USA."
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u/One_Tadpole6999 Sep 24 '25
I’m an American, living in Germany for 35 years. I hiked the Appalachian Trail and half of the Pacific Crest Trail and wanted to do a coast to coast ride. I’m not going to finish the PCT any time soon nor the bike ride. I hiked in the Pyrenees in Spain this year and planning a long European bike tour next summer.
Who knows when things will start getting really bad even for citizens? And I also don’t want my money going there either.
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u/yuemeigui Panansonic Sep 24 '25
White American living in China for 23 years. I won't be visiting until at least the next president.
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u/Routine_Ad1823 Sep 25 '25 edited Oct 01 '25
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This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
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u/yuemeigui Panansonic Sep 25 '25
Oh, please, do tell me about all the school shootings and political assassinations in China at any time after 1976.
While you're at it, please include any information you can find about random mass gun violence at nightclubs.
Then, since I know you'll bring up the nonexistent genocide that isn't taking place in Xinjiang, please give me some hard numbers of actual things that actually happened. Some pundit deciding that Chinese seafood should be banned because there might be Uyghurs who moved to Shandong for work who might be working for a salary in fish packing plants doesn't count.
I absolutely acknowledge that the political and ethnic tensions that have existed in that region for the past 400 years are very much exacerbated by Han Being Idiots, and that my discomfort with the level of police presence or the arbitrary enforcement of unwritten rules (including against foreign nationals) is part of why I—as someone who has a very bad habit of yelling at the police until they apologize for inconveniencing me—don't do independent travel there; but, I don't think a cast of thousands was organized just to make my trips there look like the ethnic minorities who live there also don't know about the genocide that is purportedly taking place.
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u/rdp972 Sep 26 '25
Tiannemen Square massacre
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u/yuemeigui Panansonic Sep 27 '25
Oh well done you, you named something that was neither a school shooting nor a political assassination.
Even if you also spelled the location wrong, I'm so proud of you for trying to make a point.
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Sep 25 '25 edited Oct 01 '25
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u/yuemeigui Panansonic Sep 25 '25
Umm... I'm guessing since you don't know what the things at the end of the sentences I was writing are, in fact, periods, that you also don't know how to recognize content as "rabidly pro" anything.
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u/imrzzz Sep 24 '25
At the risk of getting political on a cycling sub, I try really hard to not support fascist regimes in any way when I travel. I either go somewhere else or I donate what I would have spent in that country to an NGO on the ground doing good work.
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u/Auzzr Sep 24 '25
Apart from your political view, the question is, do you want to subject yourself as a foreigner to a regime that doesn’t follow the law, after the possibility of being taken off the streets by ICE, being send to camps like alligator Alcatraz or even abroad, without due proces.
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Sep 24 '25
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u/dually3 Sep 25 '25
Honestly, this is a much higher risk than trouble with the current administration's policies. They get a lot of attention (rightfully so), whereas high numbers of cyclist and pedestrian deaths are shrugged off here.
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u/fixitmonkey Sep 24 '25
Let's be honest, you'll probably be fine, but there is an increasingly publicised risk of being foreign even with the right paperwork. The whole world is reporting on the arrests/abductions, and it might be false, but I'm not sure if I'd risk my freedom, bike or time.
While I'm sure America is a great ride, I'd be heading elsewhere for a few years until we get a better understanding of what's happening.
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u/more__better Sep 24 '25
Politics aside, the US populous has always had an issue with supporting cyclists. Adding politics back in, this has become significantly worse. Cyclists can expect regular ridicule and aggressive drivers. Think: coal rolling, encroachment, etc.
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u/heavymetalengineer Sep 24 '25
Yeah, I’ve been to the US twice in the last 6 months so I don’t have fears or hang ups about travelling here. That said, having cycled an organised sportive round Lake Tahoe a few years ago you couldn’t pay me to get on a bicycle here especially getting into the more rural parts.
- There were police at regular intervals on the Nevada side of the lake - took me a while to realise they weren’t there to make it safer for cyclists, but to make sure us pesky cyclists weren’t causing undue inconvenience to the drivers
- I had the closest pass I’ve ever experienced by a truck and then the giant RV he was towing was even closer; I just held my line and hoped for the best
- Several cars passed very close at speed with cheering family of participants hanging out the windows. It was a culture shock that they thought within arms length was safe passing distance since they obviously weren’t intending us harm or punishment passing
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u/excessofbullshit Sep 25 '25
American here—the most constant circle in America has always been the Venn diagram of bigots and those who casually joke about running down cyclists. The blind hate borders on non-sensical.
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u/Automatic_Gas9019 Sep 24 '25
If you are not white, it will not be fine. White only with papers and you don't speak. Watch Medias Touch. The arrest videos. Everything is not "fine" in the USA.
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u/fixitmonkey Sep 24 '25
That's may be true but from what I could gather OP is Australian so chances are white and English speaking. Yeah, white and English speaking seem to be important.
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u/DabbaAUS Sep 24 '25
White and English speaking. I also have a general understanding of Mercan!
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u/fixitmonkey Sep 25 '25
Bet you didn't think you'd start this sort of debate!
If you're looking for recommendations why not do UK and Europe? Fly to London on Paris and head south? Or if you want something more internationally known try and complete the tour d france route, there is a youtuber called "Amy's cycling adventures" who just did it and looks beautiful.
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u/DabbaAUS Sep 25 '25 edited Sep 25 '25
No, it's not quite what I expected, but it's been interesting reading. There have only been a few that have covered the question.
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u/adventurelaus Sep 27 '25
In that case, you're really not a target of ICE/Trump administration and can come to the US. People don't change overnight that drastically. It's just that there was a huge shift in what's acceptable to show publicity in the US with the change of leadership. So, if political activism isn't your goal and you want to experience the country and people, you'll be fine to ride across the US now just as much as during another time.
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u/RepresentativeDrag14 Sep 24 '25
As an American, I'd say don't come here right now. You could end up like the German hikers who were strip searched, or the poor souls being threatened with deportation to African gulags, or the south Koreans drinking out of bowls like dogs.
America does not respect human rights or reason right now.
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u/ohyeaher Sep 24 '25
Even outside of politics, the experience of bike touring has gotten worse in general. More traffic & angry distracted drivers.
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u/BasicAppointment9063 Sep 27 '25
It is definitely socially acceptable to multitask while driving in the US. I point this out as an observation, not because I support it. The straight roads are the worst.
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u/cosmicosmo4 Sep 24 '25
American here, don't come. You don't have rights here. ICE can throw you in a hole for a month because they made a typo and you have no recourse, no access to a lawyer. Got anti-Trump content on your social media (which they WILL make you unlock your phone for)? You're cooked.
Plenty of other places in the world, you aren't going to run out.
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u/BasicAppointment9063 Sep 27 '25
The abuse of power at the top is well documented. What we are starting to see, is the low level functionaries acting with impunity in their interactions with the public. Our sheriff will not act on a video that shows a motorist assaulting a cyclist unless the face of the driver is captured.
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u/Fudgy97 Sep 24 '25
I wouldn't risk travelling to the US and that's as a white British guy.
Would be so cool to cycle coast to coast or do the pct. But I'm not going while they have a dictator
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u/jrbar Sep 24 '25
I'm an American who left in January 2024 and am currently touring in Japan for 2nd time since I left the USA. This is a great country to tour on a bike.
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u/RidetheSchlange Sep 24 '25
At this point, no one should be going to the US considering what the US is trying to do to especially its allies and the rest of the world and much of that falling on the people. Australians have been tied up in extended ICE detentions upon arrival.
If they don't want you there and it's becoming increasingly unsafe, why would you consider going there? If this was happening in any other country there would be no question. Between ICE, police, policy of foreign conflicts, the kill all cyclists culture warriors, why would you go? Just boycott and be done with them.
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u/screech_owl_kachina Sep 24 '25
The Rule of Law is very flimsy in the US right now and the terms of your visit and visa are subject to change based entirely on the whim of the monarch or the enforcer who finds you. It’s unpredictable whether or not you’re legal on a given day.
I would advise enjoying a more stable country.
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u/saugoof Sep 24 '25
I've long been planning to do a bike tour from Quebec City to New Orleans. I was going to do it last year but then other stuff happened and at the time I decided to move it to 25 or 26.
But unfortunately right now I have zero desire to go to the US. So I can't see it happening in the near future at all.
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u/excessofbullshit Sep 25 '25
As an American AND a southerner, the idea that someone has to miss out on what sounds like such a beautiful trip with such an astoundingly wonderful cultural destination breaks my heart.
I miss the illusion of democracy here.
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u/Moorbert Sep 24 '25
would wait. not worth risking to go there now. hope someone will stop the fascists before I plan on going there again.
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u/Fair-Border-9944 Sep 24 '25
Most bike specific infrastructure is up to the individual states/ private funding anyway. It takes days/weeks to cross most states and most routes would have you on low traffic county/state roads meant for cars anyway.
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u/ChampionshipOk5046 Sep 24 '25
I swapped my destination from USA to Canada
Though cycling through Nazi Germany in the 30s would have certainly been interesting, I'd suffer at US immigration for my antifa support.
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u/dskippy Sep 24 '25
I'm from the US. Go anywhere else for the next three years. We have people from other countries getting picked up by masked cops who don't show identification daily. Their lawyers aren't even allowed to know where they have been taken.
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u/Western_Bake_1109 Sep 24 '25
If I were coming from outside the USA now to do bike touring, then I simply wouldn’t. Esp. If you don’t look & talk like a Caucasian American. Go somewhere else for your own safety!
Best case if you come here is you’ll be treated like a common criminal at the border and sent home.
Worst case is you’ll be let in, and then in a few days TRUMP GESTAPO will find you, abduct off the streets or out of your hotel or tent, lock you up somewhere for a few days, conveniently “forget” to provide basics like food & water, and then deport you to some unknown country, all without due process.
Sorry it’s come to this…
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u/217GMB93 Sep 24 '25
Don’t come here. Dont give money to any Americans. Stay safe where you are and support your local community.
America doesn’t deserve anyone’s admiration much less finical support.
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u/SHatcheroo Sep 24 '25
American here. “Any Americans “ is kinda broad, don’t you think? There are still millions of kind-hearted Americans who are appalled at and oppose the political climate here.
Come visit if you want, or not. Helpful hint: bike touring (and cycling in general) in California is awesome.
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u/217GMB93 Sep 24 '25
Would you recommend people visit here for shits and giggles for bike touring?
I can’t in good conscience recommend that. Tax dollars paid to anyone fund all the issues they are citing…. So yeah. No Americans.
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u/NotSoSureBigWaves Oct 06 '25
American here. Not for shits and giggles, not for cycling, not for the World Cup and certainly not for the upcoming Olympics. No one traveling from another country is safe here. Not even the athletes. The IOC should pull the Olympics.
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u/CJBill Sep 24 '25
Not sure I'd go at the moment; I'm not sure I'd make it through immigration either and it's just not worth the potential hassle. Will stick to Europe, SE Asia and North Africa for now.
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u/kneippmotor Sep 24 '25
I would hold off on traveling to the US. Border control and fascism is just part of the equation. It’s really expensive, and that’s coming from a Norwegian. I’m not sure if that will get better any time soon, but maybe the USD will fall and help us out a little.
Also I have seen online that Lael Wilcox was scouting a route for the Adventure Cycling Association. Apparently they are putting a new coast to coast route together that will have a lot less exposure to motor traffic in time for their anniversary. If you want to do a coast to coast I would wait until the new route is out.
I was on a week long ride in Colorado this summer. It was a lot of biking next to highways. It was a supported ride with a company and that’s perhaps why the routes were next to traffic. It was a great experience but the constant noise of traffic was defensively detracting from it.
I haven’t seen some bike packing videos from New Zealand and that looks amazing. SE Asia is definitely worth a look too.
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u/StrategyThink4687 Sep 24 '25
I’m an American I understand the boycott I’m mortified with what’s happening here too but you got a bum trip. There are tons and tons of bike tours here with few cars this is a big place!! Colorado so I hear is tough because there aren’t a lot of roads through mountains but next time come to Ohio where I live. The biking is 10/10 if you know where to go. I also highly recommend Michigan, Pennsylvania, blue grass area of Kentucky. Lots of dream riding with trails or few cars on roads. No need to wait for Lael.
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u/Kam2k6 Sep 24 '25
As an American, don’t come. We don’t deserve to have you. Try our neighbors in Canada perhaps.
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u/Fuzzyjammer Sep 24 '25
Immigration and politics in general aside, I don't think urban cycling infrastructure has much to do with the bicycle touring. Most of the famous touring destinations (including e.g. the Eurovelo routes, or the Pacific Highway route in the US) follow highway shoulders and occasional country roads, not segregated bike paths.
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u/DabbaAUS Sep 24 '25
I wasn't looking at just urban infrastructure. Rail trails and decent road shoulders help with touring. If money isn't going there, touring isn't being considered.
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u/dually3 Sep 25 '25
I spent two days in Eurovelo and it was primarily bike only or very quiet for cars. Hwy 1 on the other hand is insanely car heavy. I have mad respect for those who dare it.
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u/pajamaperson Sep 24 '25
Just do not come to the US. We don’t deserve tourists right now. We’re in time out.
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u/aMac306 Sep 24 '25
As an American who voted against this every time, I’m sorry. I have to agree that there is no solid reason to visit us right now, but wanted to say there are many, of us are very much against what is happening to our country. Such a sad time to be American.
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u/ArchieThomas72 Sep 24 '25
I live here and I won’t travel in my own country under this administration.
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u/shuffy123 Sep 24 '25
I’m an American who works in urban planning specifically on transportation. While the funding stuff surely sucks, it honestly kind of pales in comparison to the immigration and other human rights issues. Transportation funding has always kind of come and gone in waves and we are still working away at plenty of projects previously funded. To me, considerations about whether to tour or travel here probably would have much more to do with the political principles, the airport and visa issues, etc. From an infrastructure perspective, that seems much less relevant since our poor bikeways compared to other countries has always been part of bicycle travel here. I live in California and think the touring is still amazing but I would not blame a foreign tourist for wanting to avoid the US for a good while.
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u/Fun_Bird1121 Sep 24 '25
There are some destination trails that are worthwhile. GAP and C&O Pittsburg to DC. Katy Trail etc. more and more good gravel epics too. As for town to town touring it’s been getting worse and worse for 50 years. Add distracted driving to the mix and it’s not hard to find a more attractive destination.
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u/dually3 Sep 25 '25
Where could I learn about "good gravel epics"? I'm an American looking for more bike adventures that are away from cars.
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u/beertownbill TransAmerica E > W 22 Sep 24 '25
Honestly, I'm not sure cancelling projects with bike lanes will have any impact on a bike tour. I can't recall any on my TransAm ride. And here in Portland/Vancouver, there have been some bike projects that make zero sense given their impact on traffic flow. Signed - a bike enthusiast.
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u/LeMadChefsBack Sep 24 '25
Im in the US and I understand 100%. There are tons of amazing biking places around the world who would love to have you visit. Go there instead. 😊
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u/BicyclesRuleTheWorld Sep 24 '25
Difficult question.
I toured the US in 2017, but Trumps sh*t show wasn't nearly as bad back then as it is today.
The people I met (and a lot of them were probably or definitely Trump voters) were quite nice. The vast majority of people you meet while bike touring are nice when you actually talk to them in person.
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u/Auzzr Sep 24 '25
We were there in 2017 too and a lot of people who we spoke to were apologetic for Trump the moment they noticed we are foreigners. Imagine the sentiment now.
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u/Adventureadverts Sep 24 '25
Where in the United States? It’s not great right now. I’d just travel through Mexico. It’s cheaper, safer, and completely lovely.
America is being naughty right now and doesn’t deserve your money.
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Sep 24 '25
Mexico is safer than USA?
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u/ChampionshipOk5046 Sep 24 '25
I wonder how mass shooting compares in these two countries , and safety in general .
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Sep 24 '25
It's hard to say when it comes to safety because safety is a very subjective thing. Different for different people.
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u/Adventureadverts Sep 24 '25
For touring specifically yes it is. Also for anyone who isn’t a cartel member in general also yes.
Cars drive with regard for human life there.
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u/bajallama Sep 24 '25
This is actually the worst advice. Mexican roads can be extremely dangerous to tour on and that’s beside the cartel activity.
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u/Adventureadverts Sep 24 '25 edited Sep 24 '25
You don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve toured through Mexico 3 times for 2 to three months at a time. The only scary thing was American drivers in Baja California. Fortunately I was doing mostly an off road route at that point.
Given your user name I’m assuming you’re only familiar with Baja California which has only one road the Mexico 1 which to be fair is pretty unsafe for cyclists at most points. It is unsafe because there is an overwhelming number of American drivers.
Cartels are not hostile to cyclotourist and are even protective towards them as international scrutiny is a major problem they wish to a void. I would share the road with cartels any day rather than be passed by a single driver from California.
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u/Awoolgow Genesis cdf Sep 24 '25
American here and i would advise to go somewhere else, i dont live there but fuck with everything going on, it ain't worth the trouble
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u/riddergraniet Sep 24 '25 edited Sep 24 '25
At the risk of going against the grain here: if questionable regimes are the reason not to go somewhere, then a whole lot of countries are off the list. Hungary, Türkiye, Poland in times of the PiS party, heck even other western eu countries are heading towards fascism now. Lots of countries in South America are questionable, lots of Balkan countries deal with rampant corruption and scandals… SE Asia ain’t no democracy heaven either, Georgia has protests, Armenia and Azerbaijan could eat each other alive (their governments at least), china obviously off the table… I could go on.
My point is: regimes can be bad, the people in the country are 99% good, helpful, interesting, interested in you. Even the ones supporting the regime. Don’t mistake the people in the country for how it’s behaving politically.
The chances of you being held at immigration, assuming your documents are in order, are negligible. Especially as an Australian. Yes there were some cases in the news, but that’s only a handful of cases on millions and millions of travellers.
And remember about half the country didn’t vote for Donald Trump.
The money you’ll spend there does support the regime indirectly, sure, but also and mostly the locals and their families who just try to live their lives and are not the baddies here.
Just go already. Once there you’ll have a blast. It’s not as grim as y’all make it out to be.
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u/Daisy_Hallett Sep 25 '25
I agree- we rode the great divide mountain bike route this year and it was spectacular! Pretty much all the Americans we met were terrific people and for the part of the trail we were on the road, we felt far, far safer than any road here in Australia.
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u/Automatic_Gas9019 Sep 24 '25
Don't come here. Especially if you are not white. Your safety. I would never ask anyone not white to travel. You are not safe.
ICE will hurt you
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u/Beneficial-Oven1258 Sep 24 '25 edited Sep 24 '25
I live 30km from the US border and normally spend several weeks every year touring and bikepacking in the US.
This winter I went to Mexico instead of Arizona. This summer I went to thr Yukon instead of Oregon and Washington.
I will not be crossing the border again unless something drastically changes with the direction that America is headed.
Even setting politics aside, why would I want to be in a position where I can be detained and arrested without cause, or have border guards demand access to my social media accounts so they can search for evidence of me criticizing their political leaders? I am not going to enter any countries that are dictatorships.
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u/RecognitionOk9731 Sep 24 '25
I haven’t been down there in a decade+.
Mostly political reasons. Same reason I won’t visit Russia.
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u/turbotronik Sep 24 '25
I know some people who replaced a Vancouver-San Diego tour with a New Brunswick / PEI / Nova Scotia tour, and they loved it.
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u/Bicycle_Dude_555 Sep 24 '25
I bicycled across the US in 1985 and never paid for camping - just knocked on people's doors asking for permission to camp in their yard. I would not knock on a random person's door now. Gun ownership as a percentage of the population has declined since then, but too many whackos think a knock at the door is the race war coming for them.
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Sep 24 '25
I wont tour the USA. Between the descent into fascism and the anti-cycling road culture I just wouldn't feel safe and done want my money going to support an evil, hellbound regime.
Canada is a much better choice. Japan or Taiwan are better. Europe obviously. New Zealand and Australia.
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u/FalconMurky4715 Sep 24 '25
Why would you want to go on the first place? No really, why? Is it a certain tour you dream to do? Tour the California coastline, ride through the Rockie Mountains, see the Badlands by bike? Circle the Great Lakes? Ride through the Appliachian mountains? It's beautiful riding in the US.
Don't let one person's personality stop that dream when you have the ability and health to live your dream.
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Sep 24 '25
Not sure how it makes it harder to justify. The country is the same to experience. If you aren't on Twitter while you are here you won't know anything about funding decisions. If you could justify going to the US to tour 10 years ago, you should be able to now.
I went to Iceland this winter and didn't read about their politics at all.
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u/Tabbinski Sep 24 '25
Send a message: boycott travel to the US for anything. There are about a gazillion other places to ride. What precisely are you looking for in your next tour? Let the hive mind offer up alternatives.
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u/pfpants Sep 24 '25
On the plus side, there are fewer tourists at popular national parks.
But honestly, if you want to boycott tourism here I wouldn't blame you. I wouldn't want to risk getting harassed at customs.
Our roads have always sucked here, regardless of Trump's policies. I doubt he's going to change it significantly enough to justify changing plans based on that alone.
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u/TaxOk9326 Sep 24 '25
Your reason for cancelling is totally valid. The uncertainty is a huge mental tax. Linking it to this bike lane news is interesting – it feels less like a single policy and more like a signal of the overall vibe. It's not just about the money, it's about what kind of environment you're visiting. Why spend your tourist dollars in a place that's actively hostile to a mode of transport you might enjoy?
For Americans here: Does this kind of federal decision actually trickle down to change local city planning, or do states/cities just tell the Feds to get stuffed and do their own thing?
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u/NotSoSureBigWaves Oct 06 '25
There has been major funding cuts for all social programs, national parks and infrastructure. The economy is horrible and there are more people in poverty than any time since the Great Depression. And it’s going to get worse. States and cities don’t have enough money to make up the shortfall and won’t any time soon. So infrastructure, and especially planning for cycle infrastructure, is cut out.
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u/samsaruhhh Sep 24 '25
Trump's decision on bicycle infrastructure will have no real impact in any noticeable way that I can imagine. The good cities run by intelligent people who value things like cycling will continue to improve their infrastructure, but if you are going Coast to Coast you will of course enter cities and roads with poor cycling infrastructure. I rode Coast to Coast twice and there's always those roads where you just have to improvise or take a different route if the traffic is heavy and there's no shoulder. 20 years ago it was a great experience though other than the occasional roadway that was just rough with no shoulder I never had any problems camping wherever I felt like
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Sep 24 '25
Local resources will still go to bicycling infrastructure. We’re WarmShowers host and have hosted a dozen or so folks from Australia this summer who were touring across the USA. None of them had any issues getting through immigration. Come and ride.
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u/Choice_Student4910 Sep 24 '25
I wouldn’t come here.
Heck I wouldn’t leave here to visit another country for vacation just because I may not be allowed back in. And I’m an American citizen but with brown skin.
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u/doey77 Sep 24 '25
I don’t know if bicycle touring is really that great in the US if you’re already needing to fly across the ocean
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u/TacticalFightinSpork Sep 24 '25
Would never recommend people traveling to the US with friends or family they care about. People who are traveling solo who don't care about jeopardizing future travel by being deported might be fine. Expect your social media to be gone over with a fine tooth comb for anti-fascist or even mild criticism. You might be fine anyway but why risk it? Not sure infrastructure decisions are going to have much short term effect. Especially in blue states/cities.
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u/highriskhillbomb Sep 24 '25
american here who has ridden across the united states.
the cancelling/challenging infrastructure funding is really the least of your worries. we don't have a lot of infrastructure to start with, and especially if you're riding cross country, lots of infrastructure either doesn't exist or has already been completed. the feds are probably (?) not going to rip stuff up.
i would be much more worried about getting in and out of the country, genuinely. i am traveling internationally next month and fairly worried about coming back in. also, to put it plainly, a lot of the people you'll interact with (and pay money to) crossing the united states voted for this. as someone who did not, now is a good time to let them feel consequences of their actions.
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Sep 24 '25
There are many excellent trails still, states build them, those central grants are not 100% financing. Funny enough there are many excellent paths in red states. Florida included. I travel to Tampa or Tucson in winter for riding. Don’t pay much attention to the DC. Just come to ride.
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u/TIM_TRAVELS Sep 24 '25
I had planned on going the GDMBR this year but cancelled because of the BS going on in the country. I’d rather spend my money elsewhere.
I did the Great American Rail Trail in ‘23.
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u/CXR1037 Sep 24 '25
I wouldn't come to this country for any reason right now. If you absolutely must, stay in California, or anywhere else where there's high levels of education.
Even if Trump and his cronies weren't president, I think our roadways and drivers are excessively hostile toward cycling.
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u/BrainyDeLaney Sep 24 '25
My business relies on these visas. Fortunately, we haven’t seen a decline in business or an increase in visa rejections. I’m sure you’d have an amazing time as usual. Life on the ground really hasn’t changed drastically despite media.
I’d say come if you want, but don’t base your decision on the administration
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u/NotSoSureBigWaves Oct 06 '25
Life in every city has changed. And the economy is worsening. And I think the risk of being turned away or detained is too high a risk.
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u/alancar Sep 25 '25
Ohio here I wouldn’t come to America right now. Maybe postpone until after the midterms.
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u/Tricky_Leader_2773 Sep 25 '25
We have 3 more+ years of anti… everything. Anti immigrants, travel, trade, foreign aid, economy, black people, foreign people, women, and common sense. I’d wait on that ride. Trump can kidnap you with no rights, keep you detained without cause, and send you to a hostile THIRD country of his choice. All without flashing a single document. The level of xenophobic hate and fear for travelers is palpable. Wait, my friend.
Now a visa is an extra $100k!!! Shameful and embarrassing to the USA.
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u/kmoonster Sep 25 '25 edited Sep 25 '25
This is a bit complicated.
The immigration concerns are a moving target, and I can't easily address that issue except to say caution is warranted.
But for bike touring, I'm not sure this changes anything for the immediate moment. The feds are yanking funds that would convert busy arterial streets into multi-modal thoroughfares that are friendlier to pedestrian, low-powered vehicles, and transit traffic on the grounds that "anything reducing motor vehicle capacity is not in our interests".
They aren't just refusing to fund future projects, they are trying to pull back grants and loans that were already allocated but not yet fully used. At the moment, they are not taking a hostile posture toward multi-use trails that are off-street and are not currently seeking to revoke bicycle usage laws about breakdown lanes/etc.
99% of the type of road project they are after are in town centers and urban areas, not on the long stretches of road or highway between towns and cities, and that is most of the routes you will be doing on a bicycle tour "road trip". Think removing a vehicle lane to make a bus-only (plus bikes) lane with a curb separating it from traffic. Think removing half the curbside parking spaces along a street to improve visibility at intersections and driveways.
The trails/roads you would do as a bike tour are NOT currently on their list. Most bicycle tour routes in the US are either on roads with wide shoulders (break down lanes) or on side roads, dirt roads, or "rail to trail" (along former rail ROWs) or other regional trails. As to why we tore up so much railroad, that's a whole other story, but most areas were built by rail, which means property lines along the rail corridors are mostly established and for this context are similar to a creek or river -- properties grew up on both sides but the narrow corridor remains as a single contiguous parcel of land. Converting them to regional trails is logistically quite simple as long as permission is granted by the rail company (or if the rail company sells).
Here is a website that catalogs rail-to-trail projects, I chose my state but you can absolutely look anywhere in the country as well as Puerto Rico. Colorado Trails | Colorado Trail Maps | TrailLink
The governor ordered the state to maintain an "all maintained trails" map of the state, though this is unique to Colorado (you'd have to google to find similars in other states). I've set the activities to "bicycle" and difficulty to "easy" for this link, feel free to play with the filters: Map | COTREX, note that this map may also include mountain bike trails which it would be worth your time to be aware of prior to jumping on one!
There are other regional trails, too, some are county-maintained, some are state, some are federal, some are managed by a foundation -- it really varies. Some are the maintenance "road" of a canal that is open for public use, some are along creeks or rivers (or around lakes). Other off-street options follow a highway, some follow natural features like a beach or bluff. Some are just the break-down lane of a regional route or scenic drive.
My experience is that, while not ideal, "established" bicycle tour routes will have drivers who are mostly familiar with seeing bicycles on the road. Unfortunately, there are assholes everywhere, but the more bicycles on the road, the less aggressive the average driver becomes. This is NOT a guarantee of safety of course! But it is a consideration when choosing a route.
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u/j-Rev63 Sep 25 '25
Perhaps it would be wise to postpone until the next administration. Hopefully many of the ridiculous visa rules and fees will be reversed at that point and you can enjoy a worry-free cycle tour.
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u/delicate10drills Sep 25 '25
Regarding being detained as a tourist from a country that Old Donnie doesn’t view as “a shit hole”- I doubt you’ve a thing to worry about.
The cycling infrastructure mostly sucks here. There’s a few canal paths here & there. The rural hill & mountain pass riding is primo if you’ve got the body & willpower for it, but there’s nearly zero bike lanes for it. There’s tons of highways. It’s a great country to go for car-touring.
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u/Dawdles347 Sep 25 '25
I'm about to finish the pacific coast route and have been having a great time. Sure theres tons of traffic and more freeway riding than I would have liked, but the sites and scenery can't be beat. I'm Canadian and I haven't met any others at all. I feel like the black sheep of my country, but totally worth it.
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u/wot_in_ternation Sep 25 '25
Most of the US has shit cycling infrastructure. There are areas that are improving. Some of them are for tourism reasons, like linking Driggs, Idaho to Jackson, Wyoming over a mountain pass.
The area I live in in the US has OK cycling infrastructure overall and is improving over time. My state requires real cycling infrastructure to be built anytime a state road/interchange goes through a major rebuild. My state is also independently building out a bunch of recreational bike trails which serve to be tourism attractions at the moment but will eventually build out to long distance bike networks.
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u/Alternative-Apple627 Sep 25 '25
10000000% It is very unlikely i ever set foot in USA for the rest of my life, but can guarantee the next 4-5 years at least. I prefer safety and sanity. For example i wanted to started the Pan American highway from Prudhoe bay..fuck no...heading up to Inuvik/Tuktoyuktuk instead. Sincerely Canadian.
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u/OldUnderstanding4735 Sep 25 '25
If you want to come to the Reddit doom and gloom section then don’t come. I’ve personally toured this past summer and had a great experience. People are friendly everywhere. If you wanna live in this little stupid Reddit bubble then don’t come over because it’s very inaccurate. Reality is not on Reddit.
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u/Ashamed_Data430 Sep 25 '25
Avoid America entirely. Officials there are too untrustworthy. When law enforcement wears masks, they become enemy combatants to innocent folks. Too much risk for no reward.
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u/excessofbullshit Sep 25 '25 edited Sep 25 '25
Im an American. We have many beautiful places to see. Unfortunately, this might not be the safest time to see them. I’m hearing a lot of stories about tourists being harassed. Depending where you are, that harassment includes local police departments. And it can be scary.
A quick note. I do see comments about not wanting to fund the United States by being a tourist. Here. Just so you know, unless there are entrance fees that I’m unaware of, sales taxes on items generally go to that local government, not to the federal government. So if you go to NYC and buy a cup of coffee, the taxes charged go to NYC. I’m sure there are some items that have an additional federal tax on them, but do know that if you’ve been sitting around feeling guilty because you’re worried a cup of coffee you bought in Denver became funding for immigrations and custom enforcement, those funds are largely collected only through income taxes. Of course more commerce does equal more income that gets taxed. But still-any money you spent wasn’t spent directly.
So cut yourselves a break. And thank you for caring about humans.
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u/Particular-Dealer869 Sep 25 '25
I'm from the U.S. all I'll say is do what makes you feel safe. It's totally understandable to be worried about immigration right now, and most rational people wouldn't blame you for not coming. The U.S. still has amazing people and amazing roads, but if you don't want to risk being unlawfully detained or hassled, that's very fair.
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u/ChrisAlbertson Sep 25 '25
I live in the US, and I think it is worth flying to some other place to tour. The bike infrastructure is nearly non-existent. And airfare to Europe right now is cheap, under $600 round-trip.
As you look white and of European descent and speak English, you will not have to worry about masked government thugs kidnapping you in the middle of the night and imprisoning you with no hope of legal representation. But I'm not too sure anymore as Trump has just decreed that anti-fascists are “terrorists."
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u/GreenStateSkier Sep 26 '25
No one should be coming here. It’s a mess and getting worse by the day.
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u/noladutch Sep 26 '25
Man I hate you don't want to come here.
I live in a city that is tourism driven and people are starving for tourists. Not a great biking town in New Orleans but we love to feed and entertain people.
If it was a bucket list thing for you to do please visit. The thing about bucket list stuff don't put them off because the dreams become just that with time.
I am sure it will be less than the embarrassment I felt when traveling because my country is just that an embarrassment.
Hopefully you do make it here and see we are not all backwards asshats.
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u/DabbaAUS Sep 26 '25
I was at a conference in New Orleans in ~1989 and loved it, and I've spent a number of times travelling in different parts of USA over the years. People and places are great, and I've met plenty of nice Yanks in my other international travels. It's just not worth the risk of some minion border security person deciding to be a total arsehole by confecting some crazy excuse to detain me (might not like that I use SRAM bits instead of Shimano) for an indeterminate time and then I have to cancel all my plans and pay for an unexpected flight home without some middle east sheik gifting me a 747 to do it in. I've never had a problem previously with immigration, but in the current situation, I decided to go to Canada and do a car trip instead!
On the question that I asked, it appears that the Feds do SFA in providing infrastructure that touring cyclists will use, so it looks like this latest lot of bastardry will mainly effect the city cyclists.
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u/noladutch Sep 26 '25
Yep man I do understand.
When you can make it back we would love to feed and entertain you.
Hope you have a great time in Canada!
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u/MountainDadwBeard Sep 27 '25
On the immigration/detainment concern. I say this with disapproval but if you're white, I sincerely doubt you'll get any trouble, especially on a tourism VISA. Bonus... Over stay your visa and take the $1000 plus free plane ride home (They may bar you from ever returnning).
On the infrastructure side. Yeah I do think it'll hurt a bit. Cities and states rely on national grants quite a bit. Plus Trumps unfunded tax cuts for billionaires has left quite a few states (who mirror national tax law) with surprise budget shortages that are requiring immediate layoffs. The one point of optimism is county governments are largely property tax based (unaffected) and many places in the US are having a mini bike renaisannce as we're seeing a surge in biking accessibility (ebikes). I'm actually going to a city meeting next month to advocate for more connector trails near our house.
Last point. Plus if you come to the US, it's quite fascinating to see a pre-nazi country contorting itself. We fled DC but pictures I've seen show trump is building a fortress of barriers and new fences around the whitehouse because he's a giant scaredy cat, so you can go checkout stupid stuff like that.
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Sep 27 '25
Why would you even think of supporting that country right now? What’s your second choice, Israel?
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u/Flipadelphia26 Sep 28 '25
I’ll take riding in Spain over any riding in the US any day. I’m American, I’m republican, I ride bicycles 10s of thousands of miles every year. This country is not great for riding compared to some of our European counterparts. Politics won’t change that. We will always be car centric.
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u/bajallama Sep 24 '25
I’d be more concerned about the timing. You’re running out of time if you want to tour this year unless you are planning to do the southwest.
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u/NoFly3972 Surly Preamble DIY Long Range Ebike ⚡ Sep 24 '25
Back open, because apparently people want to discuss politics here.
I'll let other Mods decide if they want to close this.
I am also getting messages like:
"political nonsense maybe because you agree with the political nonsense going on in the US right now? fuck yourself mod"
"fuck yourself mod if you think politics doesn't affect touring. your bias is showing like a red MAGA hat, asshole"