In Salt Lake City, bike advocacy groups promote bicycling and safer roadways

Salt Lake City, Utah – Two bike advocacy groups, Salt Lake City Fixed and Unplugged Wellness, are urging citizens to use the city’s infrastructure and get outside. They clarified that safety concerns are one reason why people might be reluctant to ride bikes.

Dan Dugan, president of Salt Lake City Council District 6, stated, “We need a lot of improvement in that area; we’ve had pedestrian and cyclist fatalities over the years and we want to eliminate those.”

Their goal, according to Unplugged Wellness, is to help people feel more alive. They take great pleasure in instructing others on how to ride bikes safely.

50% of Americans do not spend time outdoors, while the average American spends 11 hours a day in front of a screen. Bikes are enjoyable and help us connect with our surroundings and community,” stated Lucas Matelich of Unplugged Wellness.

Joining their bike community is something else the founder of SLC Fixed Gear intends to accomplish.

“Fortunate to have bike paths like the nine line or the S-line, we do have quite a few bike lanes so we take advantage of what we do have,” Nick Santos, owner of SLC Fixed.

To identify locations that could use improvement, the Salt Lake City Council is collaborating with locals.

“We’re listening we want your feedback and we want your input because I want to go to those neighborhoods and say hey we have some ideas how to help your neighborhood slow down the traffic,” Dugan explained.

We need to follow the traffic laws and just slow down, not just from the perspective of the driver, the distracted motorist, or the distracted pedestrians in the entire community. We should take our time and make our presence known in order to make your streets and highways safer for all people,” Dugan added.

Matelich offers some recommendations of his own, including “wider bike lanes, lining the bike lanes with bollards, even painting the bike lanes gives a visual barrier.”

“The city does want change,” says Councilman Dan Dugan. “We must approve our streets so that vehicles, bikers, scooter riders, and walkers may travel safely. By 2035, the mayor declared, “We want to be Vision 0 and have zero fatalities.” We want to do it,” Dugan stated.

In order to reduce traffic in specific hotspots, we’re also tackling it around the city with prompt responses; the neighbors are aware of these locations. “We’re collaborating with the locals and the Department of Transportation to reduce traffic in specific locations,” stated Dan Dugan, District 6 representative for the Salt Lake City Council.

figuring out how to reduce traffic. Dan Dugan of Salt Lake City Council District 6 stated, “Bulb outs so you bump it out so the street is narrow at a crosswalk going to a school.”

An avid According to Salt Lake City cyclists, there are some trouble spots. “There are some streets that are very dangerous, the cars drive very fast, or the bike lane just disappears, 7th East is basically a freeway, there is a bike lane on it but nobody ever rides on it because it’s so unsafe,” stated Santos.

It’s all about the foundation, the cycling groups explained. “Have a full-proof infrastructure so have protection for the pedestrians and the cyclists the designated areas for the cars to drive separately,” stated Santos.

There may be more people who feel comfortable using the city’s infrastructure if the streets are safer. “I don’t think drivers bear the burden.” We don’t need to rely on the drivers if we construct the town better with safer roadways, so I believe the infrastructure should bear the responsibility,” Matelich added.

Santos mentioned how much it is valued that the city is promoting safer streets. “Pedestrians and cyclists are often the minority and the cars get the larger stage, when I hear that we have somebody speaking for us that is amazing and that’s what will keep planting bike lanes and bike paths,” stated Santos.

According to Unplugged Wellness, it is crucial for cyclists to be aware of traffic laws and maintain vigilance. “You have to be continually aware, ride right ride assertively, the #1 thing that keeps a lot of new people from riding and we’re here to wave the flag that hey when we ride together with ‘know-how’ actually it is safe,” Matelich continued.

SLC Fixed and Unplugged Wellness wants to share the joy of riding a bike, therefore they invite anyone to join their rides. Matelich added, “Let’s get more butts on bikes.”