Cycle the City

Last week, as I was riding around downtown after work,

What? I had my bike downtown? And, I was riding? I'm as shocked as you are by this...

Okay, back to the story...  I was riding around downtown, when I saw this sign on the side of the road.

Needless to say, I was intrigued, but didn't have the time then to further investigate.

I went back later to scan the handy QR code on the sign (honestly, how did we survive before the advent of smartphones?) to get more information on this sign.

Turns out that the fine folks at BikeSLC.com have set up a 13.5 mile bicycle tour of Salt Lake City, highlighting downtown, and some of the historical sites of the city.

Route signs mark the route, or you can download a PDF version of the map, or download it into Google Maps on your smart device.

The route is mostly flat - except for the gradual climb up City Creek Canyon and uses bike lanes, multi-use paths where possible. Highlights and "photo op" locations are marked on the map.

This sounds like a perfect way for visitors - and residents (even though I have lived in SLC for 40 years, there are several places on this ride that I haven't been to before) - to see our city from a new and intimate perspective.

The Year of the Bike

The Shēngxiào, or Chinese Zodiac says that this is the Year of the Snake.

If you believe, PF Chang's, it is the year of the Dragon, again...

But here in Salt Lake City, it is the Year of the Bike.

To recognize the numerous infrastructure changes and events that are happening this year in Salt Lake City, and County, Mayor Ralph Becker has designated 2013 as the year of the bike.

Mayor Becker announced this at a press conference at the City/County building earlier today.



Some of the highlights (for me, at least) in the presentation was the announcement by the General Manager of UTA saying that they are increasing the number of bikes that each city and express bus can hold from 2 to 3, and starting this month, they are installing hooks in the TRAX cars to better hold bikes. Also, a representative from UDOT spoke, and announced that they would be working on increasing bicycle infrastructure by narrowing drive lanes, and painting bike lanes where possible when they re-surface roads. They also announced that they will be working on some bicycle-specific signals - signals that will be able to detect when there is a cyclist at the intersection, so they won't have to wait for a car to come to trip the signal, or run the light.

A list of several of the events coming up this year can be found at the BikeSLC website. 

What are you waiting for? Get out and ride, and  enjoy the Year of the Bike!