Now, people wishing to commute to work or visit downtown by bicycle are able to do so more safely. 

 

BikeNet is glad to have a role in the striping of a new bike lane on Lewis Avenue, which runs east-west through our community. This will enable an entire section of Billings residents who live south of Grand Avenue to travel by bicycle between downtown and the West End. Until now, cyclists had to put their lives on the line trying to negotiate through narrow, heavily-trafficked streets.

 

This will provide a safe route for students going to Lewis and Clark and Burlington Elementary by bike.

 

Kevin Odenthal, a member of BikeNet’s board of directors, believes that providing motorists with more information about effectively sharing the road with bicyclists on this key east-west road is important. “Lewis Avenue is the route I use to commute back and forth to work.  I know a lot of people who ride, or would like to ride but there’s that safety issue.  Children who bike to Lewis & Clark and Burlington School need a safe path, and this will give parents some comfort to know their kids have a clearly marked way to get to school,” says Odenthal.

 

BikeNet helped to move the project forward with funds raised at Ales for Trails.

 

After conversations with City Engineering and Public Works about this need, Odenthal was overjoyed to get the news that the City of Billings was willing to stripe bike lanes, along with signage, on this quieter residential street.  The only catch was that the City needed just over $28,000 for signs and pavement markings they had not budgeted for the current fiscal year.  Seeing the opportunity for this major game-changer in the realm of active transportation, BikeNet approved the funding and got others on board for financial support.

 

Most of the funds for this project come from proceeds BikeNet earns from Ales for Trails.  “This is what BikeNet does:” Odenthal adds, “BikeNet helps provide the funds to meet community needs.”  Two other organizations provided a funding boost.

 

Other contributors

 

Part of the funding comes from Lucky’s Market, who, at its grand opening in Billings last spring, donated $5,000 to BikeNet to be used for the trail system. BikeNet saw the opportunity for a bike lane project which runs near Lucky’s and which could benefit shoppers who would prefer to ride to the store.  BikeNet asked the grocer if they could put the gift toward this project. Lucky’s approved. “Lucky’s Market is proud to support a project like this, which will enable more people to bike safely through Billings,” says company founder Bo Sharon.

 

RiverStone Health provided additional funds through a Montana Community Transformation Grant award. Melissa Henderson, a prevention health specialist with RiverStone Health said, “We are happy to be a part of the safety enhancement project on Lewis Avenue which will make it easier for people to get the recommended sixty minutes of physical activity each day.  Incorporating small activities like always using the stairs instead of the elevator or biking or walking to do errands instead of using a car, begin to add up and this project is just one of many ways we can help improve the life, health and safety of the community.”

 

This was a BikeNet Trails Committee Priority

 

Chad Broderius, a member of BikeNet’s Trails Committee and owner of Red Rover Bicycle Collective, says that this route will shift the course of active transportation in Billings. “The BikeNet Trails Committee worked hard to establish priority projects in Billings,” says Broderius, “Lewis Avenue was identified as priority number one.   I am encouraged to see Lewis Avenue being striped for bicycle traffic.   As a committee we felt the need to upgrade the bicycle commuter options.”  BikeNet’s Trails Committee committee is working to alleviate commuter pinch points to and from downtown Billings.  “We have challenged ourselves to assist the bicycle commuter culture,” he adds.

 

Addressing the parking issue

 

Several years ago when Lewis Avenue was to be striped for bike lanes the City met with resistance from some residents who were at risk of losing their parking.  This time, the lanes have been designed so that where the road narrows and where parking would have been lost, the bike lanes turn into sharrows (regular lanes shared by cars and bikes).

 

Erin Claunch, an engineer for the City’s Public Works Department explains: “this time we have taken a more systematic approach. We’ve analyzed each house (on Lewis Ave.) with the intent of minimizing the parking loss.”  In some cases, road space near traffic signals had to be brought up to national standards, resulting in a few parking places being removed in order to meet those laws.  “The only instances where parking was taken away were those where the road wasn’t up to national guidelines or there was the ability to park on side streets,” he adds.

 

Perfect timing for the mass ride to Ales for Trails

 

The bike lanes will be completed just in time for cyclists headed from the West End to get to Ales for Trails, where BikeNet raises funds for projects such as Lewis Avenue.   Many of our local bike shops are hosting mass rides, including Red Rover Bicycle Collective and The Spoke Shop. To join a ride or to buy tickets to Ales for Trails contact any of the four area bike shops in Billings. Tickets are also available at The Base Camp and all Anytime Fitness locations.

 

BikeNet’s Trails Committee meets the last Tuesday of every month.  The next meeting will be Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014.  For more information on how to attend, contact committee chairman and BikeNet board president, Jeff Bollman at jeffbollman@gmail.com.