Data gathered for the plan indicates 11% of county residents bike or walk to work every day, roughly 8,000 people. Missoula planners aim to triple that number over the next 20 years.

While cycling home from the gym in March 2020, Heidi Sedivy was struck head-on by a car on Russell Street. Impaled by her handlebars and rushed to the hospital, she survived the crash, but no longer feels comfortable riding on Missoula public roads.

Once a daily bike commuter, Sedivy has not ridden in town for over two years.

“It was nice not being tied to a car, and I really enjoyed it,” said Sedivy. “But there is currently no way for me to get to work without riding on a main road, so I drive.”

In an effort to mitigate risks to cyclists and pedestrians, Missoula County has been developing a Pathways and Trails Master Plan. The plan outlines and prioritizes the expansion of paved shared-use pathways, to enable safe, sustainable alternative transportation for local residents.

Kathryn Simeck

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What Is Bike Infrastructure?

Safe and comprehensive bike facilities play a crucial role in keeping vulnerable road users safe, promoting biking as an everyday transit mode, and reducing carbon emissions and traffic congestion by encouraging a shift to more multimodal transportation.