There are only a few official NYS bike routes, 2 of which go through my area (9, 17). I don't really understand what makes them preferred bike routes.

The roads that have the signage on them don't seem particularly bike-friendly, though I'll admit 17 can go quite a way before you hit any traffic lights. The road, however, is just 1 lane in each direction with little to no shoulder for at least the 20 mile stretch that i usually drive (haven't biked it yet). The speed limit varies between 30 in the city of Newburgh to 55+ once you leave city limits, and cars are usually doing quite a bit more.

In the Newburgh, the bike route doesn't go down Broadway (a good thing, IMO), but follows a parallel course a couple of blocks over. Still, you have to cross a series of major intersections, and then travel down local streets with yet more (uncontrolled) intersections. Of all the roads in NY state, I can't imagine how this one was selected as the offical East-West bike route.

- Don