West to East - Indiana and Ohio

[LucyM]

Good morning (UK time).
Cheers for all the help on my other posts so far - if anyone plans on coming to Scotland to cycle,  hopefully I can give you some pointers.
My route planning across America has so far taken me to the Deke Slayton Museum in Sparta,  Wisconsin - from here I plan to head South East to Indiana and head East to Ohio (eventually heading to New York). I would really like to travel through the Amish areas - see the horse drawn carts,  traditions, etc but not intrude.   Any suggestions on routes?   Any do and don'ts - don't want to upset or offend anyone.   
Cheers again for all your help.
Happy cycling.
Lucy

[jamawani]

I encountered a number of Amish communities on my x-USA trip last summer.
In Spencer, Ohio, a young, single Amish guy gave me a ride in his buggy.
I had tried to engage two guys in German at the store.
All I said in German was that I sure couldn't understand their German and they laughed.
They speak a Plattdeutsch from the 18th century.

In Rebersburg, Penna, non-Amish neighbors drove Amish families to the store.
Each Amish community decides its own level of use or non-use of technology.
Whether something is seen as prideful or disruptive to the community is the main factor.
I helped a family load a van with a week's supply of groceries -
And in the process learned how they chose to accommodate technology.

Amish people are people first. Too often they are besieged by tourists who see them as "quaint".
Please avoid taking pictures - even at a distance - it is not what they want.
A frequent misuse is to photograph Amish people from behind. Why?

Here are are the relevant pages of my posted journal for Indiana and Ohio:
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=tS&page_id=472637&v=4E

You can find my route on those pages. Pretty direct across Indiana and Ohio.
It doesn't aim for Amish communities - but there are many.
Millersburg in Holmes County, Ohio is an Amish center - plus the area has good bike trails.
And the historic Lincoln Highway traverses both states - the old road has light traffic.
http://www.lincolnhighwayoh.com/guide/preface.html

Best - J

[LucyM]

Cheers J - loving the pictures especially the lighthouse at Michigan City - I love lighthouses and hoping to visit some along the Oregon Coast and then some along the Maine Coast when I get there.

[indyfabz]

Pennsylvania Bike Route V passes through the Brush Valley east of Penn State University. The Brush Valley is home to numerous Amish farm. You are more likely to see people out and about in buggies on the weekends. Route V ends at the Pennsylvania-New Jersey border, which sets you up for New York (assuming you mean New York City). If you find yourself going near Vienna, Ohio, I have a nice route from there that takes you to Route V in Emlenton, PA and incorporates about 23 miles of pretty rail-trail along the Allegheny River.

[canalligators]

Sizeable Amish community in northeastern Indiana, around Shipshewana.

If you're coming down the 400 Trail and going through Baraboo WI, don't miss the circus museum.

There is a network of rail trails around and through Chicago.  The lakeshore trail is great.  If you need a good urban escape route south out of Chicago, I can supply it.

[LucyM]

Sizeable Amish community in northeastern Indiana, around Shipshewana.

If you're coming down the 400 Trail and going through Baraboo WI, don't miss the circus museum.

There is a network of rail trails around and through Chicago.  The lakeshore trail is great.  If you need a good urban escape route south out of Chicago, I can supply it.

Yes please to urban escape route out of Chicago.   Thank you

[LucyM]

Pennsylvania Bike Route V passes through the Brush Valley east of Penn State University. The Brush Valley is home to numerous Amish farm. You are more likely to see people out and about in buggies on the weekends. Route V ends at the Pennsylvania-New Jersey border, which sets you up for New York (assuming you mean New York City). If you find yourself going near Vienna, Ohio, I have a nice route from there that takes you to Route V in Emlenton, PA and incorporates about 23 miles of pretty rail-trail along the Allegheny River.

Cheers for the pointers - I've googled the Pennslylvania bike route you mentioned and found some links for maps but don't seem to get anywhere - ?old links that don't work any more - any advice would be great.

[jamawani]

The center of Amish culture is around Lancaster, Penna -  on Route S
http://www.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/bikes/state_mapS.pdf
Each of the sections is clickable.

I would take the ATA Trail all the way down from Pittsburgh.
It's a delightful experience - lovely, carless riding in the East. (Connecting on Section 4)
The Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece Falling Water is a bit off trail and uphill - but worth it.

Here's the link to Route V
http://www.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/bikes/state_mapV.pdf
It traverses a more remote areas of the state.

[canalligators]

Here is my RideWithGPS route for Chicago exit south:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/24751

The departure point is Union Station, but no matter where you are, get to the lake shore and get on the trail to start.  End point is where we spent our first night.  You can easily go directly east from there, or find your way south if you're picking up the Northern Tier route.  Either way, this map will get you out of downtown Chicago with only a little riding on moderate traffic streets.

[indyfabz]

Cheers for the pointers - I've googled the Pennslylvania bike route you mentioned and found some links for maps but don't seem to get anywhere - ?old links that don't work any more - any advice would be great.

Yeah. Some search results return links that no longer work.

A few years ago I rode the Great Allegheny Passage Trail mentioned above from Pittsburgh to Cumberland. From there, I took U.S. 220 then U.S. 220 Business to Bedford to pick up Route S. Took Route S proper into Lancaster Country then modified it for a stretch based on personal knowledge. (I live in Philly and ride in Lancaster County relatively frequently.) Pick up the route again in Chester County, left it in the Phoenixville, PA area and made my way to the Schuylkill River Trail and took that into town.

Overall, I liked Route V better, although Route S does afford you the opportunity to ride a nearly 9 mile stretch of abandoned PA Turnpike with it's two long, unlit tunnels. Spooky experience if you are on your own like I was. Bright light (I used my camping headlamp) is essential. If you have ever seen the film "The Road" starring Viggo Mortensen, one of the tunnel portals was used as a filming location. Plenty of camping on or close to both routes.