A Morning Ride on Wasatch

Last week I invited Devin Weder, UDOT’s project manager for the Wasatch Boulevard corridor, to ride bikes with me along Wasatch. He said yes.

We met early, around 7:30 in the morning, with helmets and bikes ready to go. We rode the corridor to experience it as residents and users do, not just as traffic engineers or decision-makers. This road is not just a commuter route. It is used every day by families, dog walkers, joggers, and a surprising number of cyclists even on weekday mornings. On Saturdays, it is packed. Cyclists come in waves. It was important for Devin to see it all in motion.

We even rode what I call the “bike lane of death”  the part of Wasatch where the bike lane suddenly ends in a concrete curb. It’s jarring and dangerous, and not something you can fully understand until you’re on two wheels experiencing it yourself.

We talked about how speed and road design shape safety, and how a 10 foot shared-use path might not be enough in the long run. I pushed for separate pedestrian and bike space not just for comfort, but because it works. It invites people in and protects them. Devin was thoughtful and open. He shared that the current concept is for a shared-use path and that speed limits will be finalized during the design phase once funding is secured. He also mentioned the ski bus collaboration between UDOT, Sandy, UTA, and the Central Wasatch Commission, which is aiming to improve service even when the canyons are not closed. That is encouraging.

Still, I left the ride feeling like we have more work to do. We need modern design for modern use. We need Wasatch to work for more than just cars and ski traffic. We need to keep showing up and telling the story of what this road really is and what it could be.

And here is the truth: if we want to see that change, we need to vote in leaders who will advocate for it. I am sending each of the candidates running in Cottonwood Heights and Sandy City a list of questions to understand where they stand on the Wasatch Boulevard design, what they will do to change it, and how they feel about the gondola.

We will share those responses when we get them.

Thank you again to Devin for riding. One ride doesn’t change everything, but it helps.

Let’s keep going.
Micki Harris
Save Not Pave

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