As summer has eased into a gentle and very ride-worthy fall across Utah, efforts to continue advancing bicycling have continued along at a rapid pace.
Bike Utah presented to the Interim Legislative Transportation Committee on Bicycling as Part of a Comprehensive Transportation Plan. There are efforts underway to fund transportation in Utah and we want to make sure that bicycling is an integral part of any funding plan that is developed.
Washed out roads north of Las Vegas could not stop us from getting to Interbike, the bicycle industry trade show. We were able to catch up with a number of national bike advocacy groups and many of Utah’s bicycle businesses, including QBP, Lizard Skins, Scott, TRP, Reynolds, ENVE, and DZ Laboratories.
At our quarterly meeting with UDOT Director Carlos Braceras and Deputy Director Shane Marshall, we discussed upcoming opportunities for bicyclists to give feedback to UDOT on existing roads as well as on upcoming projects. We will have more information on these opportunities in the near future.
Ogden played host to our fourth and final Mobile Active Transportation Tour last month. More than 40 people were in attendance and got the opportunity to see their outstanding paved trail system and the first section of their protected bicycle lane. We are already starting to plan for the tours in 2015. Let us know if you want your community to be involved.
We met with the Utah Department of Education to discuss opportunities to bolster the bicycling portion of the driver education. We are also developing a school-based bicycle curriculum for 4th graders. Our plan is to have every child in Utah learn how to ride a bike and how to do so safely.
Bike Utah was pleased to work with many of the 10 businesses who were recently recognized as Bicycle Friendly Businesses by the League of American Bicyclists. Please support these businesses that are working to make Utah a better place to ride. (See the article in this issue).
Please let us know if we can assist with bicycle-related efforts in your area, whether it be in helping to find funding for projects, generating support in your community, or simply by determining how to get started in becoming more bicycle friendly. We hope that you will support our efforts by becoming a member of Bike Utah (https://bikeutah.org/) or by getting your Share The Road license plate (http://www.dmv.utah.gov/plates/special-group#sharetheroad)
