Utah is being built up as the next cycling mecca while also seeing the most deadly month for bikers in state history| Updated: 2:39 p.m.
But the cycling scene in the state isn’t as rosy as it might appear in the Google reviews. In 2020, Utah tied its record for most fatal car accidents involving cyclists with eight. In just one month this year, five cyclists died after being hit by a car — two of whom were brothers competing in a race in St. George.
When Washington County hosted its first Ironman race in 2010, the Ironman Foundation invested in improvements to the course. Over the years, more of that investment and advocacy from groups like the Southern Utah Bicycle Alliance led to wider shoulders and better road interchanges. That, in turn, caused more cycling races and triathlons to spring up while also prompting people to come to the area for more leisurely rides. By 2018, St.
, killing them. The woman allegedly told police she was on medication and having a medical issue when she swerved onto the shoulder. That sentiment isn’t unfounded. For one, Jensen had his own near-death experience last year. While crossing 3300 South on 2000 East in Salt Lake City, he looked up to see an SUV about to barrel through the red light. The driver, he said, was looking at length at something in his rearview mirror. Jensen also was hit by a car last year, his only such accident in a decade of riding.reported accidents involving distracted driving rose 9.9% from 2018 to 2019.
“I’m riding the bike paths, which are awesome. And I’m in the bike lanes,” she said. “I don’t have the fear. I don’t feel it.”St. George turned out to actually be a great place for her to land, then. Thehas more than 60 miles of paved bike paths that are separate from roads. Another stretch from La Verkin to Springdale and the mouth of Zion National Park is expected to be completed in about five years.
“Part of their directive is to make the roads safe for everybody to use,” Lewis said. “Some of it takes some time. There’s some areas, there’s stretches of road that have small shoulders and they need some widening and improvements. And those are major projects. But they’re not out of the radar, you know? It’s not that people aren’t thinking about that.”
I have no idea why they get out on some of those roads, NO IDEA.