How Does Bike Streets Help Us Advocate For a Better Bike Network?
Just as a safe bike routing tool, Bike Streets does an amazing job integrating local knowledge to help people get around by bike. But there are plenty of people out there that already know their routes, or perhaps might deviate if they’re comfortable on higher stress routes. So why should you use it anyway?
Bike Streets has been over a decade in the making from advocates in Denver, so it should be no surprise there’s an advocacy angle to the tool. Bike Streets helps people get started with the network we have now, but it also sets a roadmap for phased improvements. What if we converted Bike Streets routes to neighborhood byways? Added flashing beacons and signals at major crossings? Build protected bike lanes when there’s no other option? It turns out, we could build all of this at a similar cost of a single major street reconstruction. Check out the new analysis for Salt Lake City.
Whether you’re using the app for navigation or not, be sure to hit “Ride” in the Bike Streets app, help us expand the network with your knowledge of cut throughs and safe routes, and be sure to share it with your friends and family who are curious about biking. Showing strong use of the app is additional support for pushing these improvements.
We’re continuously adding to Bike Streets, filling out the network in Salt Lake City and expanding throughout the county.
