The cycling community in Utah is getting bigger and stronger, and for evidence, one has to look no further than our new Bicycle Friendly State ranking. According to the League of Bicyclists, Utah jumped up to #5 in 2015, an increase from #8 last year. Even more impressive, is that Utah is #2 in the western states, behind Washington State.
The Bicycle Friendly States assessment, now in its eighteenth year, is a League of American Bicyclists program that comprehensively evaluates each of the 50 states in five categories: legislation and enforcement, policies and programs, infrastructure and funding, education and encouragement, and evaluation and planning.
According to a press release on May 11, Utah’s most significant improvements between 2014 and 2015 were in policies and programs, infrastructure and funding, and education and encouragement.
“What’s changed this year, thanks to efforts of Bike Utah and many others, is that the Utah Department of Transportation has really come on board as a partner in making the state more bike-friendly,” said Andy Clarke, president of League of American Bicyclists. “With new leadership, an updated statewide bike plan with ambitious safety and use goals, and a commitment to including active transportation in all the agency’s work, exciting things happen across the state.”
The League of American Bicyclists says that Utah has scored well in previous years because of its “vibrant bicycling community and the many towns and cities that have embraced bicycling in all its forms, from mountain to road to racing and triathlons.”
To show how far we’ve come as a state, consider this: When Utah first applied to be included in the LAB’s Bicycle Friendly program in 2009, it was ranked eighteenth. After a slight down turn in the second and third year (No. 21 and No. 31), Utah began its climbing trend to thirteenth, fourteenth, eighth and now to fifth in 2015.
“This is a huge step forward for bicycling in Utah and a testament to the hard work of many individuals and entities across the state,” said Phil Sarnoff, Bike Utah’s executive director. “It is great to be recognized nationally for all of the efforts underway in Utah. However, this pursuit is not just for the ranking. It’s to realize the economic, personal health, air quality, and livability benefits that come from creating a state that is bicycle friendly.”
Other states that rank higher than Utah include Washington (#1), Minnesota (#2), Delaware (#3), and Massachusetts (#4). To see the entire list of state rankings, visit the League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly State program online. To learn more about Bike Utah, visit www.bikeutah.org.
To view Utah’s report card, click here.