Courtesy Richard Masoner via Flickr
Today we’d like to present you with a new opportunity (or two) to be more active in your cycling community. Riding our bikes can be a dangerous activity even at the best of times. It’s a price we pay for better health, freedom, and a connection to the world around us. Of course, that doesn’t mean that we like it to be dangerous; we should make the most of every opportunity to reduce the risks we take when we cycle.
That’s why we wear helmets. That’s why we obey traffic laws. That’s why we check our blind spots almost obsessively. That’s why we check other drivers’ blind spots repeatedly.
Many of us take better care of our bikes than we do our cars, and for good reason – a well maintained bike is a safer bike. We all know these are smart ideas. But we also have opportunities to be engaged in our communities, which could make cycling safer for everyone, not just ourselves.
Opportunities in Provo
This April, the Utah Bike Summit will be held in Provo on the 10th from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm at the Provo Library at Academy Square. Gary Fisher (yes, that Gary Fisher) will be delivering a keynote address. We’ll write more on that later.
Until then, the Provo Bicycle Committee meets once a month at 48 North 300 West in Provo. You can find more information on their Facebook event page here. We want to encourage all of you in the Utah Valley area to participate by going to the Provo committee meetings to catch up on information, as well as informing the committee about issues in your area.
There are other ways to help out in Provo too. The BikeProvo.org site recommends you talk to your city council representatives and let them know that you’re invested in cycling and you want your community to be a more bicycle friendly place. They’d also like to recommend stopping by the Provo Bicycle Collective to volunteer. The Provo Bicycle Collective is a non-profit volunteer organization that sells used bikes, helps with repairs, and offers expert advice. It’s a great place to spend some time getting to know other cyclists in your area and to give your bike some TLC.
Opportunities in Salt Lake City
Salt Lake has an advisory committee as well. The Salt Lake Bicycle Advisory Committee meets once a month – every third Monday at 5 pm. They meet in the transportation division conference room at 349 South 200 East, Suite 150. You can find out more about the Committee here, and more information about volunteering here.
Salt Lake has quite a few ways help make this city a safer place to ride. Every September, Salt Lake needs volunteers for bicycle counts and always needs people to report unsafe areas like poor shoulders or potholes. You can report those issues here.
courtesy Arlington County on Flickr
As always, Utah Bicycle Lawyers want to support your safe habits. However, if you need help or information about dealing with a bike accident, please call us. We know that no matter how safe we try to be, there’s always someone out there not obeying the law, not paying attention, or not sharing the road. It can be scary after an accident, especially when you’re trying to deal with medical bills and insurance companies. That’s why we’re here. Often, our clients don’t want to sue anyone, they just want the situation to be made right so that they can get better and get on with their lives. That’s our goal too. Let us answer any questions and help you navigate your accident.
http://www.slcgov.com/bc/boards-and-commissions-bicycle-advisory-committee