By Paula Pyzik Scott

New green and white signs have popped up in and near Bluffton marked “25.” They are wayfinding signs for US Bike Route 25 North, which takes cyclists from Toledo to Cincinnati.

At virtually the same time, Bluffton popped up as rated #2 in Ohio on People for Bikes’ City Ratings. Bluffton received a 75 (out of 100) network score. The average network score for all cities in 2024 is 28.

Both designations come with online maps that show you cycling options and their level of difficulty.

The USBRS page provided by Adventure Cycling Association shows the Toledo-Cincinnati route is 269 miles in total and “begins at the Michigan border and passes through Toledo, Lima and Dayton before ending on the Purple People bridge in Cincinnati. This route runs along segments of the Little Miami Scenic Trail and Great Miami River Trail."

It also provides the following notes:

• Signed routes are indicated with a green shield image in the left-hand navigation.
• On an individual route map, select your travel direction by using the buttons above the map image.
• On an individual route map, a red route line indicates a shared roadway, while a green line indicates an off-road path.
• All USBRS data is accessible for free through this map interface. Use of the advanced Ride with GPS tools requires a paid account.
• Most USBRS routes are designed for adult, experienced cyclists defined as those 16 years of age or older, with at least a few years of bicycling experience. Route conditions will vary.

The People for Bikes website provides data on specific locations in and around Bluffton, showing low stress (blue) and high stress (red) routes. It also scores one's ability to get to services, shopping, work and school in Bluffton.