Prize drawings and fun for everyone who joins the event
Join us in celebration of Billings’ first downtown cycle track at The Great Downtown Bike Roll on Saturday, September 20, at 10:00 am!
Led by City Council member Ed Gulick and Kristi Drake of Billings Trail Net, the ride will begin at Black Dog Coffee House, 3115 10th Ave. North, and roll into downtown on the newly constructed two-way cycle track along North 31st Street and 3rd Avenue North.
The event will highlight the benefits of this new facility, teach riders how to navigate it safely, and showcase how it connects Billings neighborhoods to downtown for the first time.
Black Dog Coffee and Downtown Billings are contributing prizes and a discount on coffee for participants. Those wishing to join the event must register on the event website or at the event. They also must wear a helmet and bring a well-functioning bike.
“This is really a major development in making Billings a welcoming place; especially to our downtown retailers and employers,” says Kristi Drake, Billings TrailNet’s executive director. “We applaud the city for moving forward with this project and bringing Billings into the 21st century as we look to attract talent and tourism.”
“Before this project, there were limited bike facilities going through or to downtown,” said Sarah Plath, staff engineer for the City of Billings and project manager for the Downtown Billings Two-Way Restoration project. “Now we have direct connectivity, making downtown more accessible for all users.”
The two-way cycle track is part of the Downtown Billings Two-Way Restoration Project, which completed necessary roadway maintenance and ADA upgrades, converted streets to two-way traffic, and installed new bicycle infrastructure—all under one coordinated effort.
“This project was about balancing priorities,” Plath explained. “We focused on preserving as much parking as possible while also making downtown safer and more inviting for bicyclists. The goal is to create a downtown that works for everyone—drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.”
The new cycletrack:
- Physically separates bikes from vehicles using flexible delineators.
- Allows two-way bike travel on one side of the street.
- Features a bike box on Division Street and 3rd Avenue North to give cyclists a safe place ahead of cars at stoplights.
Pictured above is Mark Nicholson, who is a candidate for City Council in Ward 1, trying out the new cycle track.
- Requires all users to adjust—drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians need to remain aware at intersections, alleys, and driveways.
Megan McLean of DOWL engineering emphasized, “This is an adjustment. Drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists need to be very aware as they move through downtown. Our priority is making sure everyone is as safe as possible.”
We hope you will join us Saturday for the Great Downtown Bike Roll! This event is designed for anyone curious about the facility—especially families, children, and new riders who want to feel more confident biking downtown.
Event Details:
📅 Saturday, September 20, 2025
🕙 10:00 a.m.
📍 Starts on patio at Black Dog Coffee House, 3115 10th Ave. North, Billings. Coffee discount and prize drawings prior to the ride.