Can a state known for rugged terrain and long stretches of highway become a model for walkable, people-focused cities? While Montana’s identity is rooted in its wide-open spaces, several of its urban areas are reshaping that narrative with thoughtful investments in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.
Cities like Missoula and Billings are demonstrating that even in a rural state, active transportation can thrive when paired with smart planning, strong community engagement, and a commitment to long-term sustainability.
Rethinking Transportation in the Big Sky State
Montana has long been associated with wide-open highways, sprawling landscapes, and car-centric lifestyles. With towns and cities often separated by dozens or even hundreds of miles, personal vehicles have historically been the most practical way to get around. This mindset has shaped infrastructure for decades, leaving little room for walkability or active transit in most planning documents.
But in recent years, a shift has started. Several Montana cities are now rethinking how people move through their communities, especially at the local level. Planners are beginning to see that pedestrian and bike infrastructure isn’t just for urban cores in large states. It’s a valuable tool for improving health, safety, and livability in Montana’s own growing cities.
State-level strategies and long-term planning documents have started to reflect this change, signaling a broader commitment to active transportation.
Challenges Montana Needs to Overcome
Despite the progress in urban centers, much of Montana still struggles with making pedestrian and bike infrastructure a practical reality. Smaller towns often lack the funding and technical support to plan and build such systems from scratch.
Rural geography adds complexity. Many residents live far from their workplaces, schools, or stores, making active transportation a less feasible option without better local connections. These realities show that improving walkability statewide will take time, funding, and continued community engagement. For cyclists injured due to poor infrastructure or unsafe road conditions, speaking with a Montana bicycle accident lawyer can help clarify their legal rights and options.
There are also cultural barriers. In communities where driving has always been the default, the idea of walking or biking as daily transportation can be met with skepticism.
Winters bring additional challenges, including icy sidewalks and reduced daylight. While some cities prioritize clearing trails and paths, many smaller areas don’t yet have the capacity to do so consistently.
Missoula – Montana’s Trailblazing Bike City
Missoula stands out as one of the most walkable and bike-friendly cities in the state. It has built a strong network of off-street trails and bike lanes that connect neighborhoods, schools, parks, and its downtown area.
These connections make biking and walking practical, not just recreational. The city has also integrated traffic-calming features and dedicated pedestrian bridges, making active transportation feel safer and more convenient.
The efforts have paid off. Commuter biking is common, and community surveys often show high satisfaction with the city’s trails and walkability. Investment in year-round maintenance ensures that pathways stay usable even during the colder months.
What makes Missoula a model isn’t just the infrastructure. It’s how well it supports a shift in behavior. Residents are embracing walking and biking as daily routines, not just weekend activities.
Billings – Big on Green Infrastructure
Billings has taken a broader approach, incorporating pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure into larger sustainability goals. Its regional trail system helps residents move through the city without relying on cars, and there’s a growing emphasis on improving the downtown area’s walkability.
Mixed-use development and denser zoning are being paired with better sidewalks, crossings, and green space to create more cohesive, accessible neighborhoods. The city has also made strides in energy-efficient public facilities and transportation upgrades that support lower emissions.
This includes rethinking how infrastructure projects are planned, making room for people on foot and on bikes alongside vehicles. While Billings still faces challenges common to mid-sized cities, it’s actively working to create a safer, more inviting environment for those who want to get around without a car.
College Towns as Sustainability Labs
Montana’s college towns have become testing grounds for sustainable transportation. In cities like Bozeman and Missoula, the presence of large universities brings both a young population and a culture open to change.
Campuses often lead the way in encouraging biking and walking through well-designed networks, ample bike parking, and student-run repair and rental programs. The result is a natural environment for people-powered movement.
What’s especially noteworthy is how these efforts extend beyond campus. Students and faculty influence the surrounding communities, driving interest in safer crossings, better lighting, and clear signage.
These towns also prioritize snow removal on pedestrian paths and bike lanes, making year-round use more realistic. The infrastructure doesn’t just support students. It helps residents of all ages who want more mobility options.
The Role of Community and Statewide Advocacy
Grassroots efforts and local partnerships have been essential in pushing walkability and bike infrastructure forward. Community groups have played a key role in educating the public, organizing events, and helping cities apply for grants.
They often serve as the link between planners and residents, making sure that infrastructure fits real community needs rather than just checking a box on a plan. At the state level, guidance and toolkits have helped towns of all sizes learn how to implement best practices.
There’s also been an effort to fold pedestrian and bike planning into broader transportation strategies, ensuring these elements are considered from the start of a project. While resources may still be limited, the groundwork is in place to keep momentum going, especially as more Montanans begin to recognize the health, safety, and quality-of-life benefits that come from walkable, bikeable cities.
Conclusion
Montana’s evolving approach to walkability and bike infrastructure shows that progress doesn’t require abandoning identity, it requires adapting it. By leveraging community support, embracing practical urban design, and aligning green goals with everyday mobility, its cities are becoming healthier, more accessible places to live.
These changes may be gradual, but they’re rooted in lasting impact, offering a blueprint for how even the most expansive states can foster connected, people-friendly communities.