Some are perplexed by the large concrete platforms intended to safeguard bikers and pedestrians on Salt Lake City streets

Salt Lake City, Utah – For decades, Everen Brown has been employed at his West Temple office, which is close to 300 South. He claims that a massive chunk of concrete emerged on the road this summer.

“Will people be able to navigate this?” he questioned. “This particular island seems like a huge safety risk to me because it has a ramp that someone on a bike or scooter could go up, and there’s nothing at the end of this,” the author said. It is simply a massive drop.

Although not the first of its kind in Salt Lake City’s downtown, Brown said it’s most likely the biggest.

“I wish the city had taken that into consideration. They all have tire marks on them because people can’t make that sharp of a turn in large vehicles,” he remarked.

The platform serves to ensure the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians, according to Salt Lake City transportation director Jon Larsen.

He explained, “We refer to it as a ‘protected intersection’ because it has curbing and other features that increase the safety of people walking and bicycling from being struck by cars.”

According to Larsen, pavement markings and signage warning people not to ride on top of the barrier will be in place by the end of this month.

When everything is finished, he predicted, it will be clear to bikers where they should go.
According to Larsen, Salt Lake City was the nation’s pioneer in establishing this kind of protected crossroads.

He stated, “Unfortunately, the number of people who are killed on Salt Lake City’s streets on a yearly average is currently about 20.” “We will restore and make a street safer whenever we have the opportunity to rebuild it.”

Brown believes that in order to create a community where people want to bike and walk in, the city would be better off using funds to address more pressing problems.

“Many people are still afraid to visit Salt Lake’s downtown due to the presence of homeless people and individuals begging for money,” he stated. “I don’t think many people will really want to come to downtown Salt Lake until that’s taken care of,” the said.