Bike Law Utah, Ann Groninger, has been representing bicyclists since 2005. She is licensed to practice law in North Carolina and Utah.
Representation in Utah Bicycle Crash Cases
Sitting at the nexus of the Great Basin, Rocky Mountains, and Colorado Plateau, Utah has abundant bicycling opportunities in renowned alpine and desert landscapes. Cyclists can venture on rural roads through southern Utah’s red rock country, climb steep canyons in the Wasatch Mountains, flow through rolling sagebrush hills in the west desert, and enjoy urban commuting on Salt Lake’s growing bike infrastructure. The state has even become a destination for professional cyclists thanks to the Tour of Utah, an internationally sanctioned race.
The League of American Bicyclists ranks Utah as number eight in the nation for bike friendliness. However, that doesn’t mean that cyclists are fully protected. Despite receiving overall high marks, the state received a C- in the category of “laws that regulate driver behavior.” In addition, Utah is the fastest growing state in the nation, so cyclists face increasing traffic in urban and suburban areas.
Cycling in Salt Lake City
Bike Law features a page on biking in Utah’s capital city.
Salt Lake City has more than 200 miles of bike lanes and an active cycling culture. In 2018, Bicycling ranked Salt Lake as the 16th “Best Bike City in America.” Current bike infrastructure includes painted bike lanes, protected and buffered bike lanes, multi-use paths, and neighborhood byways. Despite efforts to make Salt Lake bike-friendly, cyclists still face challenges as rapid population growth has created congestion and poor air quality.
City, Regional, and Statewide Biking Routes
Utah has an extensive cycling network and continues to expand its biking infrastructure. In partnership with the nonprofit Bike Utah, the state has initiated a campaign to build 1,000 new miles of family-friendly bike paths, lanes, and trails by 2027.
Notable routes include:
Salt Lake City & County Bikeways: The Salt Lake Valley is full of routes for commuting or recreational rides that connect between public transportation and community hubs.
Jordan River Trail: A 45-mile multi-use trail, this route parallels the Jordan River as it flows north from Utah Lake to the Great Salt Lake through the Salt Lake Valley’s most populous communities.
Golden Spoke: This 100-mile route runs from Provo to Ogden and links multi-use trails, including the Provo River Parkway, Murdock Canal Trail, Jordan River Trail, Legacy Trail, Denver and Rio Grande Western Rail Trail, and Ogden River Parkway.
Scenic Byway 12: Designated the All-American Road, this famous state route between Panguitch and Torrey, Utah is often listed on “Most Beautiful Road” lists. The highway passes through Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and over Boulder Mountain to the edge of Capitol Reef National Park.
5 Canyons Bike Challenge: Climbing 14,000 feet over 116 miles, this route up and down Little Cottonwood Canyon, Big Cottonwood Canyon, Millcreek Canyon, Emigration Canyon, and City Creek Canyon offers cyclists one of the most difficult cycling challenges in the country. To be honest, few people take on all five canyons in one day, but each Wasatch Front canyon also makes a great ride on its own.
Park City road rides: The mountain town of Park City offers various casual rides through the historic town or challenging climbs over steep mountain passes.
Moab Canyon Pathway: Moab gets most fame for its mountain biking, but recently this desert recreation hub has increased its road biking infrastructure. This paved path connects cyclists to Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Dead Horse Point State Park.
Great Salt Lake: Often referred to as the only long, flat ride for Salt Lake cyclists, the route to the Great Salt Lake travels across the airport bike path to the North Temple Frontage Road that parallels I-80.
Flaming Gorge-Uintas National Scenic Byway: This 120-mile ride starts in Vernal, Utah and travels through the scenic Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Dinosaur National Monument, and the edge of the Uinta Mountains.
