Bicyclists got the first opportunity to try out the first phase of the Iowa 100 extension in Cedar Rapids Saturday.

The Highway 100 phase 1 extension includes a new interchange at Edgewood Road, as well as a new four-lane divided highway from Edgewood to Covington Roads.

Mayor Ron Corbett along with city leaders and people from the Department of Transportation cut a ribbon signifying a new beginning for transportation in Cedar Rapids. Then it was off to the races for the dozens of bicyclists, walkers and joggers. It was the first time anyone from the public got to try it out.

“Biking is important to our community, it's a great alternate way of getting around and it's a healthy activity so bikers have been an important part of the culture of Cedar Rapids,” Cedar Rapids city manager Jeff Pomeranz said.

The ride was four miles out and four miles back, eight total. Bikers said they liked riding over the bridge, and noted its importance.

"If you were here in 2008 and we had a flood and we had one way to get over the river and back if we had this it would have made things a lot easier. People that live on the NE side and the NW side I mean this will save them a bunch of time getting across town,” Robert Tow said.

"Well it just is a great mode of transportation for getting around the metro. It's an important economic development tool, it's an important transportation tool,” Pomeranz said.

The DOT says cars won’t be able to drive on it until mid-December. Phase two of the extension - Covington Road to U.S. 30 - is in the works and the DOT hopes to open sometime in late 2018 or early 2019.