I grew up in Salt Lake City, and as a 12 year old, starting riding the shoreline trail on a $150 rigid bike, thanks to my Dad. The area remains without a doubt one of my favorite places to ride. Hero hill, the living room, the quarry, rollercoaster and of course the beacon. 10 minutes from my house, and nothing but steep climbs and fun trails.
When I was 15 I started riding on a daily basis up there. Anything from 7-15 miles, but usually it was the ‘standard route’ which if I rode very fast (and I often did) took about a half hour.
Then, one day part of the standard loop was signed and roped off. I kept riding through, seeing no reason to not be riding my favorite route. A few weeks later the bulldozers came through and tore up the trail I always took to access shoreline.
Fortunately there were plenty of other access trails along the west side; there were 4, in fact. So I simply made one of the other ones my access. But as the building grew taller, I cursed it and wondered why anyone would choose a giant building over a nice trail access. I never enjoyed the other ones as much as the original.
It’s time to stare at bulldozed land and wonder again. Two of the four access points were closed “for revegetation” a year or two ago: our new standard access point and the famed “Anti-myth-rhythm-rock-shocker” trail. Whenever I visited SLC I always rode the Anti-myth trail (from the top where there was no sign), and now I am glad I did.
The bulldozers moved in on both “revegetated” trails this past fall. It’s time for more buildings, pushing the city even closer to the mountains.
This editorial pretty much sums it up. You might say I know the author.
Here in Tucson, there is another issue worth mentioning: money for river trails and improvements. Read all about it in the Daily Star. Considering the amount of money spent (wasted?) on new road construction or improvements, it is time to put something into more/better alternate (bike) routes throughout this city. I’ll be voting for the bonds.
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