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As more people decide to hop on bikes to get around town, cyclists and motorists are learning how to share the road. A group of cyclists are rallying tonight to promote car-driver awareness.
The rally on 900 East and 900 South is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. Most of the people gathering will be cyclists trying to encourage all commuters to respect each other on the road.
The woman organizing the rally, Rai Farrelly, wants to reduce the tension between cyclists and motorists. Farrelly believes with the increased amount of bikers on the road now is the time to discuss the rules of the road.
A big reason for the rally is personal. She says cars have hit about 10 of her friends in the past year. There's going to be a lot more cyclists in traffic," Farrelly says. "Cycling is becoming more popular. People are training up in the canyons a lot. We just kind of need to raise awareness on both parts."
She says motorists should avoiding texting or talking on the phone because it's so distracting. Also, the law requires drivers to give bikers 3 feet of space.
And she says cyclists need to know the rules as well: stopping at signals, wearing a helmet and giving cars the right-of-way when appropriate.
Another cyclist we spoke to today says we all need to cut down on the aggression we have on the roads. Mike McGlothlen was riding in downtown Salt Lake when a driver cut him off. He says the driver then got out of the car and started swinging a bat at him and his bike. And like most cyclists, one bad experience isn't going to stop McGlothlen from riding. He says, "It is safe, and it's very healthy, and it's fun. I think it promotes a lot of good aspects in life. If you're commuting, you ride into work and you're in a good mood when you get into work. You're not grumpy from being in a car sitting in traffic."
He also ads that everyone needs to concentrate on being aware of their own environment, whether it be a cyclist or a motorist.
The rally goes until 7:30 p.m.
E-mail: ngonzales @ksl.com
