trips; simply undock a bike, ride it to your destination and dock it at a GREENbike station within 30 minutes. For more information visit greenbikeslc.org.
Getting Around in
One of the newer transportation options introduced in Salt Lake City is electric scooters. If you’ve been downtown lately, you’ve likely seen this popular transportation trend in action. As in many other states, electric scooters have descended upon The Beehive State and they’re creating quite a buzz.
Salt Lake
WRITTEN BY: SHAWN STINSON, VISITSALTLAKE.COM
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ne of the first tasks Brigham Young and his followers undertook upon settling in Salt Lake was to design what would become one of the most logical and easy-tonavigate city street plans in the nation. The grid system — featuring 132-foot-wide streets, wide enough that a wagon team could turn around — allows for simple navigation throughout Utah’s capital city and throughout the Salt Lake Valley. In keeping with that original plan, there are now numerous ways to move around the Wasatch Front.
Salt Lake’s streets are some of the easiest to navigate if you have a basic understanding of the grid system and a rudimentary appreciation of direction. The epicenter of all street coordinates is at Temple Square, from which numeric addresses emanate east, west, north and south. If you can remember the towering Wasatch Mountains are to the east, you’re all set. Of course, there are some streets with names such as Redwood Road and University Avenue, as well as the local vernacular of shortening streets such as 900 South or 1100 East to 9th South and 11th East, but you’ll quickly figure out where the named streets are located and come to appreciate the abbreviated directional numbers. Once you have a basic understanding of the grid system, the next step is deciding what mode of transportation best suits your travel needs, be it an automobile, train, bicycle, scooter or walking. Driving your personal vehicle is easy, but it’s important to note that Salt Lake, and other communities along the Wasatch Front, have taken great strides in developing an effective mass transit system, the use of which is critical for the long-term well-being of locals and visitors alike, especially considering the projected growth of the Salt Lake Valley. The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) operates a comprehensive bus route throughout the valley that complements its ever-growing TRAX light rail system. If you haven’t utilized TRAX, 12
LIFE IN UTAH 2021 | SLCHAMBER.com
Photo credit: Austin Diamond Photography for the Utah Office of Tourism
do yourself a favor and hop on the next time you’re heading downtown, to the airport, the University of Utah or any other high-traffic destination. TRAX tickets are just $5 roundtrip or $6.25 for a full-day pass. The impetus of UTA’s now-expansive TRAX network was Salt Lake City’s hosting of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games; its overwhelming success and ridership has necessitated multiple new lines. One of the most anticipated — and now appreciated — TRAX lines is the one running to the Salt Lake City International Airport. The ride takes just 20 minutes from downtown and costs only $2.50 each way. For those needing to travel further north and south, UTA’s FrontRunner commuter rail runs the length of the Wasatch Front, allowing passengers to travel from Provo, in the south, to Ogden, up north. FrontRunner stations connect seamlessly with UTA’s TRAX lines and buses, allowing passengers to travel effortlessly along its 89-mile route. Visit rideuta.com for information on routes for all UTA mass transit options.
Two companies, Lime and Bird, have deployed hundreds of ready-to-ride scooters at convenient locations around the city. Since they don’t need to be docked and locked, there’s always one nearby — an advantage over transit options like bike sharing and TRAX light rail. Download the appropriate app to your smartphone to see a map of available scooters near you. From there, you just scan the code and you’re on your way. Upon arrival at your destination, simply leave your scooter on the sidewalk for the next person looking for a ride. Don’t forget to “complete” your ride in the app. Whether you’re going a few blocks or a few miles, scooters have proven to be a quick, fun, cost-effective and environmentally-friendly way to get around. Starting at just $1 a ride, they’re perfect for short- to medium-distance trips where it’s a bit too far to walk, but a ridesharing app like Lyft or Uber is overkill. Pairing a scooter ride with another mode of transportation, like driving or TRAX, makes downtown navigation even easier. Instead of driving in circles, searching for a parking spot near that new restaurant everyone’s clamoring to check out, just park where it’s convenient and enjoy a fun scooter ride the rest of the way.
For shorter excursions — in and around Salt Lake’s 19 unique neighborhoods, a plethora of options exist. For most of the year, bicycles are a fantastic option, as there’s been a concerted effort to improve and continually enhance the cycling experience via designated bike lanes and paths.
Like all fun things, both GREENbikes and electric scooters should be enjoyed responsibly. Sidewalks are for pedestrian traffic only, so do your cruising in bike lanes, or in the road close to the curb. Bikes and scooters can move quickly and are virtually silent, so they can be hard for cars to see. Follow all traffic rules and remember the cars will win out over bikes and scooters every time. All riders must be 18 years or older with a valid driver’s license and should always wear a helmet.
In the downtown area, GREENbike SLC is a fun, affordable and simple way to get around. GREENbike SLC is a bike-sharing program for locals and visitors that provides an alternative and emission-free transportation option for getting around town. There are 34 stations strategically placed in popular areas. GREENbike is a membership-based program where members can take any bike from any station as often as they like for a small fee. Memberships options range from 24 hours to a year and allow unlimited 30-minute
Then, of course, there’s the simplest of all modes of transportation: walking. Assuming your destination is relatively close, Salt Lake’s clean, safe and wide sidewalks make a stroll easy and enjoyable. Just remember that during the winter months sidewalks can be a bit slippery, so take precaution, button up and enjoy a brisk walk; rarely is it so cold that a 10 to 15-minute walk in Salt Lake isn’t plausible. Plus, you’ll get to enjoy the sights along the way: excellent street art, beautiful architecture, and the stunning Wasatch and Oquirrh mountains.
