Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway
Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities

Bicycle travel is safe along the entire route, and grades throughout are minor. Both counties are popular cycling destinations with bicycle guides. All municipalities except Goldsboro have sidewalks; pedestrians are not encouraged to move from town to town on foot. Pedestrian travel around Bucktown is possible on Greenbrier and Bestpitch Ferry Roads because they are lightly traveled. Goldsboro and Greensboro plan rail-trails within their borders.

Home of the Cambridge Triathlon Bicycle Course, Dorchester County offers bike routes both within Cambridge and in the countryside, including a route in Blackwater Wildlife Refuge. Dorchester was chosen as one of the top ten rides by Bicycling Magazine in 1995.

The majority of the roads on this byway have paved shoulders that are at least eight feet wide (regardless of average daily traffic (ADT)) or the roadways have less than 2,000 ADT (regardless of the roadway or shoulder widths). Some of the roads (from Cambridge to Bucktown and back to US-50) are operated and maintained by the county or local jurisdiction and have not been rated. They typically do not have shoulders and carry less traffic than state roadways.

In Maryland, the bicycle is defined as a vehicle and as such is required to operate under the same rules and regulations as a motorized vehicle. Cyclists are required to obey all traffic signals and signs. All persons in Maryland under the age of 16 are required by law to wear a helmet when on public property. These local jurisdictions carry their own restrictions on helmet use.

  • Allegany County - Under 16
  • Howard County - Under 17
  • Montgomery County - Under 18
  • Sykesville - All ages

For additional information the Maryland State Highway Administration operates a telephone service for citizens seeking general information on bicycling in Maryland. Please call 800-252-8776, leave your name, address, and phone number and they will get back to you as soon as possible. If you prefer to write, please address all inquires to:

Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator
Maryland State Highway Administration
707 North Calvert Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202

The following brochures are available to individuals upon request:

  • Bicycling in Maryland (A Bicycle Information Guide)
  • A Safety Handbook for Bicycles and Mopeds
  • The Maryland Vehicle Law Pertaining to Bicycles