Community

For the past four summers Salt Lake City residents and business-owners have become acquainted with a concept known as Open Streets on Main, when the bustling street is closed down to become a pedestrian-only promenade. Originally created in 2020 to combat socio-economic effects of the pandemic, the summertime experience has been slowly diminishing in relevance and support until Open Streets was paused in 2023.

In its earliest iteration, Open Streets on Main saw extreme success with both residents and business owners. In some cases boosting revenue up to 19%, according to The Department of Economic Development. However, now that Covid-era emergency orders have ended, the popular event found itself strung up in red tape and did not return for the summer in 2023.

Despite the hiatus, members of the Downtown Alliance and Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall still view Open Streets as a positive community activity and have returned in 2024 with a fresh take on the summer event. “I am pleased to announce the return of Downtown Open Streets,” said Mendenhall. “Open Streets fosters community in the heart of the city with an electric atmosphere that prioritizes pedestrians and families while supporting our small businesses. I am grateful for our city staff and the Downtown Alliance, who make this possible and help us showcase a Main Street pedestrian promenade that is walkable, small business-focused, and inviting to all.” Now taking place during two July weekends, Open Streets have collaborated with artist organizations like The Blocks Art District and Alleyways Amplified to present two headline events. Kicking off the month of art and fun, “Main Street: A Fashion and Music Experience” will transform the Eccles lobby into an immersive experience on July 13 from 8 to 10 p.m. The following weekend on July 19 from 6 to 10 p.m., the Eccles Theatre, The Blocks and the Mexican Consulate of Salt Lake City presents four local mariachi bands and renowned Mexican classical guitarist Sergio Fuentes Oseguera.

In addition to invigorating local businesses and celebrating our Downtown community, Open Streets has served as a demonstration of what a permanent pedestrian-only Main Street could look like in the coming years. In 2023, the Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City announced it was interested in the concept of a vehicle-free Main Street shopping district. While the plan is still in its earliest stage, the success of Open Streets has proven the possibilities of a people-over-cars mentality. “Main Street and downtown are at their best when people are prioritized over cars. The programming we have planned will surprise and delight everyone who comes downtown for the fun,” said Dee Brewer, executive director of the Downtown Alliance. “We are grateful for the City’s commitment to this demonstration project and their study of permanent improvements to Main Street to enable more public space and programming on this historic Corridor.”

See the full Open Streets programming below

• Friday, July 12 6-10 p.m. Salt Lake County Arts & Culture presents: Salt Lake Speaks Poetry Slam on the Eccles Front Steps
• Saturday, July 13 8-10p.m. Alleyways Amplified Presents “Main Street: A Fashion and Music Experience” on the Eccles Front Steps
• Friday, July 19 6-10 p.m. Steppin’ on Main presents in partnership with SLCo Arts, The Blocks and Consulado de Mexico en Salt Lake City Mariachi Festival on Eccles Theater Front Steps
• Friday, July 19 6-10 p.m. Twilight Concert Series presents Watchhouse at Gallivan Plaza
• Saturday, July 20 8-11 p.m. Bandah Presents Back to Back DJ’s on Exchange Place Plaza
• Friday, July 19 9-10:30 p.m SB Dance and Curbside Theater presents “Tarotville,” 9-10:30 p.m. on Eccles Theater Front Steps

#BaconToPayson

April 20, 2024 • Payson High School, Payson
Photos by Melissa Majchrzak

Last fall, students at Payson High School launched a social media campaign to bring #BacontoPayson before the old building (made famous as the main set location of the iconic film Footloose) is closed and demolished later this year. The students’ hard work—which included Footloose flash mobs, staging Footloose the play and cardboard cutouts of Bacon—finally paid off. The Footloose star made his visit as part of SixDegrees.org’s new initiative Building Kits by Kevin Bacon program, which aims to distribute 40,000 essential resource kits to young people in need throughout Utah, Colorado and Nevada. More than 1,000 volunteers from the Payson community joined Bacon to assemble $865,000 worth of product distribution, totaling 121,900 items and involved more than 3,000 volunteer hours. 

EWG, DIME and ULTA Discussion on Clean Beauty

February 22, 2024 • The Lounge at La Caille, Sandy
Photos by Verina Chen

Baylee Relf, Master Esthetician and founder of DIME Beauty Co., a Utah-based beauty brand, Jocelyn Lyle, Environmental Working Group’s Executive Vice President of Mission and Partnerships, along with Muffy Clince of Ulta Beauty’s Conscious Beauty initiative, hosted a panel discussion on clean beauty at The Lounge at La Caille. DIME celebrates having its products, including a new fragrance called Seven Summers, verified by the EWG. The EWG is a Washington, D.C. nonprofit that advocates for transparency and clean ingredients in personal care products and keeps an online public database where it rates the safety and sustainability of product ingredients at ewg.org. DIME Beauty products are available at Ulta retail locations and dimebeautyco.com. 

Valley Behavioral Health’s  “Uniquely You” Art Night Fundraiser

April 5, 2024 • Carmen B. Pingree Autism Center of Learning, SLC
Photos by Meagan Hammon, Valley Behavioral Health

Valley Behavioral Health celebrated Autism Acceptance Month with a successful “Uniquely You” Art Night on Friday, showcasing the talents of individuals with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The event raised funds for essential communication software to empower clients to express themselves and connect more fully with the world. The “Uniquely You” event was hosted by the Carmen B. Pingree Autism Center of Learning, a Valley Behavioral Health specialty service, and Valley Behavioral Health’s Adult Ability Center of Lifetime Learning. Attendees purchased exclusive handmade art created by individuals with autism and IDD, celebrating their creativity and talent. Learn more at valleycares.com 

Kilby Block Party

May 10-12 • Utah State Fair Park
Photos by Natalie Simpson, Beehive Photography

Kilby Block Party is a music festival that started to commemorate the anniversary of Salt Lake City’s longest-running, all-ages venue Kilby Court. This year’s event celebrated Kilby Court’s 25th year. And was held at the Utah State Fairpark. It was the largest indie music festival to ever happen in Salt Lake. More than 75,000 concertgoers enjoyed three days of music that featured headliners like Death Cab for Cutie + Postal Service, Vampire Weekend, LCD Soundsystem and more. Visit saltlakemagazine.com for more photos and our coverage of the event.

Call For Photos

We welcome your photos of recent social events around Utah. Please send high-resolution photos (.jpg format) to magazine@saltlakemagazine.com with the subject line “Social” and a package of images and event/caption information in a file transfer service we can access. Submissions must be accompanied by names and a description of the event (who, what, when, where, why).

It was 40 years ago, I was at the Sandcastle Theater, in Woods Cross, marveling at the film Footloose. It wasn’t that the movie itself was a marvel. I was marveling because I recognized the places on the screen. While the film is set in a fictional midwestern town, I could see Utah up there in 35mm.

The Wasatch Front rises over nearly every scene. I had been to the farmland where the film’s wild chicken fight occurs (it was filmed on a schoolmate’s uncle’s property). I had been to the Lehi Roller Mills, where Kevin Bacon’s Ren McCormack works. And, in a sense, I had been to Payson High School, which looked (and still looks) like pretty much every Utah high school of that era.

In this issue, we chronicle the making of Footloose (“Cuttin’ Loose in Payson”) and last spring’s successful efforts by Payson High’s Class of 2024 to bring Kevin Bacon back to his old dance floor. In pulling the story together, it reminded me of that 1984 moment of, well, call it cinematic vertigo. The movie made me feel like I was from somewhere not just anywhere. I came from an actual place and it’s a place that I still love 40 years later.

Thus the theme of our centerpiece article, Salt Lake magazine’s Best of the Beehive. Each year, we share our favorite and readers’ favorite things, and this year, we decided to share the reasons we love Utah. And although we could only cram about 75 (ish) onto the pages, you’ll discover plenty to love.

Need even more proof that Utah is the best place to live? Read our 2023 Best of the Beehive issue here!

I cannot speak for other states, but here in Utah, every town with a population more than a few thousand people seems to have their own bespoke “Days” of celebration in summer or fall. I grew up in Northern Utah County, where we celebrated American Fork Steel Days and Pleasant Grove Strawberry Days. Some cities have tried to stand out with the spelling (looking at you, Taylorsville Dayzz), or eschewing the “days” all together, like the rodeo-centric Lehi Round-up or Highland Fling, which hosts Scottish Highland Games-inspired strongman competitions (many of which involve flinging heavy objects).

Often, each town’s respective “days” event is named for some aspect of the town’s heritage or history. According to town lore, Steel Days earned its name in 1945, when the mayor of the time decided that “Poultry Day” no longer reflected the city’s economy. You see, the new Columbia Steel Mill had rolled into town and become the largest employer in the area.

Perhaps a bit removed from the history, each town’s celebration usually involves some kind of carnival, parade, art market, fireworks and/or rodeo with a little bit of local flavor unique to each one. Below is a non-exhaustive list of many of the upcoming days of celebration.

Local town celebrations

Fort Herriman Towne Days
June 15–22 | W&M Butterfield Park, Herriman
Fort Herriman Towne Days spans an entire week and is the largest event in Herriman City, with activities for the whole family…including fireworks!

Pleasant Grove Strawberry Days
June 18–23 | Historic Downtown Pleasant Grove, Pleasant Grove
103 Years of the Longest Running Celebration in Utah! 2024 Theme: Strawberry Days: The Heart of Pleasant Grove. Located at the foot of majestic Mount Timpanogos, with the waters of Utah Lake on the west, Pleasant Grove is well known for its annual Strawberry Days event, the longest continuously running city celebration in Utah. Enjoy fresh strawberries at this annual city celebration featuring an old fashioned rodeo, carnival, craft fair, parade, and much more.

Clarkston Pony Express Day
June 21–22 | Town Square, Clarkston

South Ogden Days 
June 21–22 | Friendship Park, South Ogden

Lehi Round-Up
June 24–29 | Wines Park, Lehi
Always held the last full week in June, Round-Up Week is filled with great family activities including an Outdoor Movie, Family Western BBQ, the Round-Up Market, 3 different Parades, the 5K, Family Fun Day and the PRCA Rodeo. The theme for Lehi Round-Up 2024 is, “Once Upon A Time…”

2024 Taylorsville Dayzz
June 27–29 | Taylorsville Valley Regional Park, Taylorsville
Taylorsville Dayzz 2024 is happening on June 27, 28 and 29! It will include all the traditional festivities, including the Taylorsville Dayzz Parade, concerts, carnival rides, food booths, car show, 5K and, of course, the best fireworks in the state. Thursday’s festivities kick off at 4 p.m. with carnival rides, food and craft booths, followed by evening entertainment at 7 p.m.

Riverton Town Days and Rodeo
June 27–29 (Rodeo) | July 3–4 (Riverton Town Days) | Riverton City Park, Riverton
The Riverton Town Days celebration offers days full of fun! Town Days brings together thousands to honor America’s independence and to celebrate our community. This long-standing tradition is a favorite among both new and old residents and can be counted on for cherished memories year-after-year. Town Days kicks off each year with the Riverton Rodeo and includes favorites like the parade, movie in the park, carnival, chuckwagon breakfast, bingo, children’s contests, fireworks, and much more!

North Ogden Cherry Days 
June 29–July 6 | North Ogden Park, North Ogden
Come join us for a massive carnival at North Ogden Park featuring over 25 attractions! Purchase a wristband for access to all the inflatables inside the baseball field for the entire day. Bring your bathing suit and towel and get ready to get wet! This carnival spans two days, Friday and Saturday, with loads of entertainment for everyone to enjoy. Other activities include: Pickleball tournament, Ping Pong Ball Drop, Cherry Days Jr. Posse Rodeo, Cherry Days Luau, parade and fireworks.

Mt. Pleasant Hub City Days 
July 1–July 4 | Mt. Pleasant Rodeo Grounds, Mt. Pleasant

West Jordan Western Stampede 
July 4–6 | Veterans Memorial Park, West Jordan
A Utah tradition for 68 years! The Western Stampede rides into West Jordan bringing rodeo excitement and great family fun. The celebration includes the rodeo, carnival, grand parade, fireworks, food trucks and much more! Visit westernstampede.com for pricing and information!Experience a thrilling adventure at the annual Western Stampede Carnival in Veterans Memorial Park! Enjoy exhilarating rides, exciting games, and mouthwatering treats in a vibrant atmosphere. Fun for all ages, this event promises unforgettable memories for family and friends. Don’t miss out on the excitement!

Farmington Festival Days 
July 8–13 | Forbush Park, Farmington
Farmington’s Festival Days is an annual event celebrating our country and our amazing community.

Fountain Green Lamb Days 
July 19–20 | Center Street, Fountain Green
Once known as Wool City and “The Richest Little City Per Capita in the U.S.,” Fountain Green boasted 100,000 head of sheep. The first Lamb Day was held on August 23, 1930. Lamb Days still features a Wool Show as well as craft fair, parade and fireworks.

American Fork Steel Days 
July 13–20 | Art Dye Park, American Fork
This year, we celebrate 78 years since the first Steel Day celebration! For over 100 years the city of American Fork has gathered together to celebrate its history, achievements, business community, and residents. This annual celebration is now known as Steel Days, but throughout the years the festivities have also been called Timber Day, Liberty Day, and Poultry Day. Whether Steel Days has been a family tradition for several years or you’ve never attended, you are invited to come check out our new events, enjoy all of the fun that Steel Days has to offer, and make some memories of your own.

Draper Days 
July 11–20 | Draper City Park, Draper
Draper Days is a fantastic community event held every July in Draper, Utah. The event typically features a festival, parade, 5K race, sports tournaments, movie nights, concerts and many other activities. Draper Days is sponsored and managed by Draper City and supported by a team of sponsors and volunteers.

Payson Scottish Festival
July 12–13 | Memorial Park, Payson

Bountiful Handcart Days 
July 19–20 | Bountiful City Park, Bountiful
2024 Theme – Onward and Upward. Join us for food, drinks, games, and other fun activities at Bountiful City Park! Peter Breinholt will be performing this year! Grab a blanket or camp chair for the free concert at the Bountiful City Park Pavilion. Other events include: Bountiful’s Main Street parade, Mountain Man and Native American demonstrations and annual fireworks show at Mueller Park Junior High.

Spanish Fork Fiesta Days 
July 19–24 | Various venues, Spanish Fork
Fiesta Days hosts numerous events celebrating the community: Speedy Spaniard Mile Run, Grand Parade, Outdoor Quilt Show, Food Vendors, Craft Fair, Carnival, Entertainment in the Park, Adopt a Duck Race, Fiesta Days Rodeo, Fireworks Spectacular Concert and Fireworks Spectacular

Altamont Longhorn Days 
July 22–27 | Altamont

Butlerville Days 
July 25–27 | Butler Park, Cottonwood Heights
Activities include: car show, fireworks, parade, pickleball, chalk art and stage entertainment.

Roy Days 
July 27–August 3 | George Wahlen Park, Roy
Annually, Roy City hosts the Roy Days Events. This is a time-honored tradition and we truly enjoy the time spent with not only our residents, but those of surrounding cities as well. The events typically begin in July with the Miss Roy Scholarship Competition. This is an opportunity to come out and support our local talent. We also host a Fishing Derby, open to all ages with kids 12 and older needing a valid fishing license. The Roy City Arts Council also hosts the Roy Days Art Show. Our main Roy Days Events include a Salmon Bake, Movie in the Park, 5K Run/Wheelchair 5K/2-Mile Walk/Kids Fun Run, Parade, Car Show and Vendor Booths, and of course we always end the night with Fireworks!

Santaquin Orchard Days
July 27–August 3 | Centennial Park, Santaquin
Orchard Days is a long-standing tradition in our community which brings our citizens together to celebrate the heritage of our wonderful city. Includes: Little Buck-A-Roo Rodeo, Chamber of Commerce Pancake Breakfast, Family Night with FREE Family Fun for Everyone, Horseshoe Tournament, Family Comedy Show, Magic Show, Pickleball Tournaments, Grand Parade, Boutique and Craft Booths and more! 

Highland Fling 
July 29–August 3 | Heritage Park and Highland Community Center, Highland
Activities include: Car Show, Kids Night, Horseshoe Tournament, Baby Celebration, Fine Art Show, Splash of Paradise, Backyard Garden Tours, Play Day Rodeo, 5K Glow Run, Strongman Competition & Highland Games, Grand Parade, Disc Golf Tournament, Historical Society Displays, Medallion Hunt and Saturday Kids’ Zone.

Midvale Harvest Days 
July 29–August 3 | Midvale City Park, Midvale
Midvale Harvest Days, a vibrant week-long celebration that captures the essence of community spirit and cultural richness. For more than 80 years, Harvest Days brings together residents and visitors alike for a series of unforgettable events: Harvest Days Parade, Festival, Bingo, Concerts and Fireworks.

Bear Lake Raspberry Days 
August 1–3 | Heritage Park, Garden City
The Raspberry Days Festival is an incredible event held to celebrate the harvest of the world famous Bear Lake Raspberries. The Raspberry harvest usually starts around the 3rd week of July. The Raspberry Days Festival is an annual event filled 3 days with all the fun events

Lindon Days
August 3–10 | City Center Park, Lindon
The Lindon City Days are full of excitement!  Visit the festival and enjoy the activities!

Alpine Days 
August 3–10 | Creekside Park, Alpine
In the spring of 1947, Alpine Days began because there was a need: the local church required shingles. Community leaders brainstormed ideas to raise funds and decided on an event with a bazaar, a miniature parade, meals, contests, games and entertainment. The tradition continues today.

Bluffdale Old West Days 
August 6–10 | Bluffdale City Park, Bluffdale
Where kids can be kids, cowboys are cowboys, and everyone gets in on the fun!

Hurricane Peach Days 
August 29–31 | Hurricane City Community Center, Hurricane
We are excited for another year of displays, contests, parade, rodeo, pioneer displays, vendor and food booths, and the best “continpeachuous” entertainment.

Midway Swiss Days 
August 30–31 | Town Square, Midway
For more that 75 years, Swiss Days, sponsored by the Midway Boosters organization features an outdoor craft fair, with local and national vendors, crafting and creating their wares. Volunteers spend countless hours preparing for the two full days to ensure the event is a success, including Swiss and German food booths. There is the traditional parade, which starts at 10 a.m. (on Saturday), and live musical entertainment throughout each day.

Payson Golden Onion Days 
August 30–September 2 | Payson Memorial Park, Payson
This annual celebration was first held in 1929 as an opportunity for residents and former residents to renew old friendships and make new ones. Originally known as the Onion Harvest and Homecoming, the event honored Payson’s status as an agricultural district and outstanding producer of onions. The celebration was later renamed Payson City Golden Onion Days, and that is the name that remains to this day. Golden Onion Days is typically held each year on Labor Day weekend and includes events such as concerts, carnival, baby contest, car show, 5K and 10K races, parade, fireworks, food and merchandise vendors.

Brigham City Peach Days 
September 4–7 | Various venues, Brigham City
Peach Days is a time when the community comes together to celebrate the bountiful harvest of peaches, a fruit that has become synonymous with Brigham City. This festival offers a wide array of activities and attractions for all ages, making it a fantastic family-friendly event. From parades and live entertainment to delicious food and carnival rides, there’s something for everyone to enjoy during Peach Days.

Green River Melon Days
September 20–21 | Main Street, Green River
Green River Utah’s annual Melon Days Festival, now 118 years old, is a celebration of our town’s famous tasty melon varieties and their growers. Our rural town’s population swells as locals, family, friends and visitors come together for a weekend of melon-munching fun.

Santa Clara Swiss Days 
September 26–28 | Canyon View Park, Santa Clara

Sandy Heritage Festival 
September 28 at 10 a.m. | Main Street Park, Sandy
Mosey on down to Historic Sandy District and get transported to another era in time. Last year in 2023, we had over 80 horses (and even a sheep companion) in our stunning horse parade down the streets of Historic Sandy! The parade starts at 10:00 AM, so plan to arrive early. See the map below for the detailed parade route. Then head on over to Main Street Park for food, vendors, music, bounce houses, face painting and more!

For more stories like this and all of our culture and community coverage. And while you’re here, why not subscribe and get six annual issues of Salt Lake magazine’s curated guide to the best of life in Utah. 

Driving Highway 224 in Park City provides excellent views of the beloved, often flag-adorned, landmark, but what’s the story behind the McPolin Family Barn? 

It was 1922, and the final board was put in place on the majestic white barn. The timber had been salvaged from a tailings mill, and the pieces were assembled without nails. The 7,468 square-foot barn was state-of-the-art with its dairy operations, livestock housing and hay storage all under one roof. The McPolin family stood proudly together and smiled at the finished product. Over the next 100 years, the McPolins’ barn would pass through multiple owners and survive the ravages of time, a nearby fire and the modern real estate development boom.  

Long before the construction of The White Barn—as it would soon be known—the McPolins made their mark on the booming mining town of Park City. “Dan and Isabelle McPolin were true entrepreneurs,” says Rebecca Ward, Friend of the Farm Committee Member “By the turn of the 20th century, the couple owned a saloon on Main Street, along with the Park City Bottling Works, a lumber yard, a boarding house and many additional businesses.” The McPolins’ business savvy extended to real estate as well. In 1897, Dan purchased 80 acres from the McLane homestead for $600 and an additional 80 acres in 1901 for $750. (The equivalent today to about $49,000 for 160 acres, which boggles the mind.) 

At first, they used the land for cattle grazing and raising hogs. However, by the early 1920s, Dan’s son, Patrick, wanted to try his hand at dairy farming. Dan encouraged the endeavor and soon the family owned 20 dairy cows and began building the large barn. After its completion, it was time to focus on a farmhouse. As luck would have it, the Silver King Con Mill had a vacant 400 square feet office, located in Prospector Square. The McPolins cut the building into two pieces, placed it on a wagon and transported it to their farm. 

Once they reassembled the structure, Patrick and his wife moved their belongings and their two children into the home. In 1925, a baby girl was born in the cottage. Before long, the young family and the farm were thriving and prosperous. 

By 1947, the McPolin children had grown and moved away, and the McPolins sold the farm to Dr. D.A. Osguthorpe, a local veterinarian. Upon purchasing the property, Osguthorpe—known to the locals simply as “Doc”—grew the herd to 100 cows and increased the dairy production. 

In a 2001 interview, Osguthorpe discussed the first time he saw The White Barn. “My grandfather was running cattle in the head of Mill Creek. He received a postcard from McPolin that some of his cattle had got down to their ranch in Park City. This was in 1926. We rode horses from the head of Mill Creek down to the McPolin Ranch and got the cattle out of their pasture. I saw this large barn, and I was just [6 years old.] It looked massive to me. I said, ‘Oh wouldn’t it be great to own a ranch like this, a barn like this?’ And in 1947, I owned the ranch!”

After purchasing the property, Osguthorpe and his family lovingly ran the 160-acre farm. In 1953, Osguthorpe erected twin grain silos on the property. (Today, these 40-foot structures are almost as famous as the barn they adjoin. )

Then,  in 1955, the little farmhouse caught fire and was severely damaged. Undeterred, the family kept going. They moved to the east side of Highway 224 and built a sturdy new house along with a milking station and corral. Unfortunately, this caused a slight inconvenience for Park City residents. As Paige Galvin, Manager for Park City Municipal, explains, “Two to four times a day, Highway 224 would be blocked as the cows were herded across the road.” 

As the decades passed, real estate developers began showing interest in the land surrounding The White Barn. Realizing the need to preserve the open space and the beloved barn, Parkites voted to purchase the land to preserve this icon for residents and visitors. 

In 1990, the property was officially named McPolin Farm, in honor of its original owners. (Although, locals still just call it The White Barn.) After the purchase, Park City gave the barn a much-needed refresher. The city stabilized the rafters and installed a new roof. The city also rebuilt the farmhouse, along with an animal shelter. In 2016 substantial structural upgrades were added.  

 The White Barn turned 100 years old in 2022. It has been through many changes since 1922, but its original character, spirit and magnetism shine on, catching the eye and curiosity of passing motorists. Rebecca Ward says, “During the 2022 Your Barn Door is Open event, we celebrated the barn’s 100-year birthday, and it started to rain. As we ran for cover, we turned around and saw a beautiful rainbow appear behind the silos!”  

A few times a year, for the last decade since I bought a car, I would remark to a friend that I wanted to start driving less. This year, I resolved to follow through with it. The question then becomes… how? How do we get out of our cars and commute to work and also continue to play and explore Utah’s cities and recreation areas while traveling by rail, bike, foot, or scooter (or unicycle, if you like)? One of the things that I have rediscovered in weening off my reliance on my car is how little I had to give up in the transition, and the things that I have gained outweigh them.  

The challenges to committing to alternate modes of transportation also merit acknowledging. Predominant among them is the fact that, largely, our communities were designed for cars and not for bikes, scooters or pedestrians. Benjamin Wood is a board member of Sweet Streets, a non-profit that advocates for people-first design. “For decades now, we’ve been building cities for cars and not for people,” he says. But things are changing. Wood believes we have hit the high-water mark for our community’s over reliance on cars—making this the perfect time to start the transition away from driving. 

Safety First

The decades of car-focused community design have had dire consequences for the safety of everyone else trying to get around. Are our streets safe for cyclists and pedestrians? The short answer: “No. Our streets are horrific,” says Wood. “We track every pedestrian death, every street death, and there are about two deaths per month on our surface streets in Salt Lake City.” Road incidents killed 40 pedestrians and nine cyclists in Utah in 2023, according to data from the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and the Department of Public Safety (DPS), and even that is a dramatic drop from 2022, which had 53 pedestrian deaths and 15 cyclist deaths. 

“We’ve designed our streets in a way that encourages drivers to hit the gas,” says Wood. “I don’t necessarily blame drivers for this either, because they are responding to the built environment. We’ve built highways through the hearts of our cities, and we’re losing people as a result.”

• Roads to avoid: Studies have identified that the most dangerous roads for pedestrians are busy, multilane roadways (four or more) with speed limits at or above 30 mph that are adjacent to commercial retail, have billboards or border low-income neighborhoods. In Salt Lake City, think State Street or 700 East, even if they have sidewalks and bike lanes. “Those big major arterials are controlled by UDOT, and they’re actively hostile to anyone who’s not inside of a car,” says Wood. Instead, there are safer options for people who are not driving. Neighborhood byways discourage cut-through vehicle traffic, providing street crossings and connecting people to popular destinations. The city has identified streets that are naturally slow speed and is turning some of them into neighborhood byways (such as Kensington Avenue, Westpointe and Jordan Meadows, Poplar Grove, Rose Park and Fairpark, 800 East and 600 East). 

• Urban trails are paved pathways that cut through cities, typically cordoned off from car traffic, for pedestrian and bicycles, that can also provide a safer commute. 

• Protected bike lanes provide a safer alternative to typical bike lanes, such as the painted bike lane protected by a parking lane from the travel lanes on much of Main Street in Salt Lake City. (There are also protected bike lanes on 300 South, 300 East and 200 East.)

The city is also participating in initiatives like the Vision Zero Network and the Livable Street Program to increase pedestrian safety. “Block by block, the city is identifying trouble areas and making fixes,” says Wood. During the 2024 session, the Utah State Legislature passed H.B. 449, which requires UDOT to consider cyclist and pedestrian safety during the planning process. It also allows road funding to be spent on pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure and safety measures. 

“It took us decades to build what we have right now,” says Wood. “It will take equivalent decades to build a new version of our streets, but we have started that process.”

How and when to drive less

To get you started on your journey, these are some basic steps and things to keep in mind:

• Get a bike. If you have a bike and you’re able to use it, that’s step one. If you don’t own one, consider a GreenBike membership or scooters that can be rented through mobile apps like Spin and Lime. BikeLink has bike storage lockers at most intermodal transportation hubs from Ogden to Provo. For those who have disabilities, the Utah Transit Authority offers Paratransit and other accessibility services. 

• Combine modalities. The train or bike alone is not a substitute for the car, but when you combine them or add your feet, scooter, etc., that’s what replaces a car. 

• Look for high-frequency bus routes. High-frequency route buses typically arrive every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends. “That was the beginning of my transformation,” says Wood. “I moved to an area that was serviced by a high-frequency bus route, and that was the game changer for me.” If the bus comes every 15 minutes, people don’t even have to think about scheduling. They include Routes 1 (South Temple–1000 North), 2 (200 South), 9 (900 South), 21 (2100 South), 200 (State Street) and 217 (Redwood Road) 

• Know your comfort level. If the bus feels intimidating, start with just adding the train—as you can see where it’s going and how often it’s going to arrive. Start with train rides, where feasible, and go from there.  

• Try it for a day. Not ready to commit to ditching the car every day? Try it out for a special event. Most of our big event venues have a train stop next to them. A concert at Gallivan Center? There’s a train right there. Shopping at City Creek? There’s a train right there. Football game at the University of Utah? There’s a train up there. Instead of leaving the show early to escape the parking lot before the crowds, skip the parking hassle entirely and take the train. Bonus: downtown SLC is a free fare zone

• Make it an adventure! You can get to some of the Wasatch Front’s popular recreation areas or nearby hiking trails without a car. “I’m a mountain biker,” says Wood. “I use the train to get to the trails, and then I’m freed, right? There’s no need to park or find a place for my car. I hop off the train and I’m on the mountain.” Some of his favorite trails:

1. Take the Red Line up to the University of Utah, there you can catch the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. 
2. Take the Blue Line to Draper and hit trails Corner Canyon. 
3. “There are also several different train stops that hit the Jordan River Trail. So about once a month, I ride the train to Draper and I bike home [to Poplar Grove].” It might sound intense, but “the best thing about where we live here in Salt Lake City is it’s downhill. Everything drains into the Great Salt Lake. So, from just about anywhere, you have a majority downhill ride back to your house.”

No Wheels? No Problem. Greenbike Has You Covered

A non-profit bike share company, GreenBike allows riders to check out bikes from stations conveniently and strategically located around Salt Lake City and now has electric-assisted bikes to help you tackle Salt Lake’s hills. GreenBike, along with other rental services, can help make those last-mile connection.

Why drive less?

That is the “how.” Now, let’s clarify the “why.” Why drive less? “Every time you turn the engine on your car, whether it’s a hybrid, an EV or a gas-powered car, you are polluting the environment and contributing to climate collapse,” says Wood. “I’m not saying it’s easy, but one of the most effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint is to drive less.”

There is also Utah’s air quality to consider. During an inversion, dangerous particulate matter, such as PM 2.5, accumulates in the air. One of the primary contributors to PM 2.5 on an inversion day (up to 48% according to the Department of Environmental Quality) are emissions from vehicles, trains and aircraft. On-road mobile sources also produce about 39% of the total annual man-made pollution (NOx, PM2.5, VOC) along the Wasatch Front. 

In addition to doing our part to help our environment, there are a couple of other perks: never sitting in rush hour traffic jams or having to find parking. There are other quality-of-life improvements to ditching our cars.

“It’s hard to even describe how great it’s been. The less I drive, the less I miss driving,” explains Wood. A journey by car tends to be destination-focused—you get where you’re going on the fastest roads possible. When you’re driving, there is not as much of an opportunity to engage with your city on the street level. “Now that I’m biking and using transit and walking, I’m noticing the changes year to year, season to season. I’m finding the coffee shops that are closer to me, the parks that are closer to me, the bakeries that are closer to me,” says Wood. 

“People often think about what they lose if they stop driving. And what you’ll find, when you make the switch, is you gain much more than you lose in just terms of community, connection and a sense of place and home in the city you live in.” 

Ways to Pay UTA Fares

• Hive Pass: The Hive Pass is a discounted UTA transit pass available to all Salt Lake City residents. You can use the Hive Pass on UTA local bus service, TRAX, the S-Line streetcar, UTA On Demand and FrontRunner. The Hive Pass also includes a one-year GreenBike membership. The pass costs $42 monthly (75% off a regular monthly UTA pass). There’s also an option to pay for the whole year up front for a bigger discount. Purchase at slc.gov/hivepass.
• Mobile App: Use the Transit mobile app to purchase almost all UTA fare types, including a reduced fare option for qualified riders. Transit also offers the ability to choose third-party options like bikes, scooters and rideshare services. transitapp.com
• Prepaid Card: A prepaid, reloadable FAREPAY Card saves cardholders 20% off local bus, TRAX, S-Line, and Express Bus fare and up to 20% off FrontRunner fare (after an initial $20 purchase of the card). Purchase and reload a FAREPAY card online. A reduced fare FAREPAY card is also available to all qualifying seniors, youth, people with disabilities and low-income individuals. The 50% discount includes Bus, TRAX, FrontRunner, S-Line streetcar, UTA On Demand and Ski Service. farepay.rideuta.com

Skip Parking at Popular Events

In Northern Utah, most major venues and stadiums are conveniently located near light rail stops. The UTA “Ticket As Fare” program allows event ticket holders to ride UTA services to various pre-approved events for free.

Salt Lake City Street Car

Salt Lake City’s main arteries may be dangerous for pedestrians now, but it wasn’t always that way. Recently, workers were redoing some parts of State Street, when they exposed an old rail. “People were so shocked to see this rail in the middle of State Street,” says Wood. Once upon a time, Salt Lake City was designed with the trolley car in mind. “Virtually every neighborhood in Salt Lake City 100 years ago had an electric high-frequency trolley system running through it. That’s how most of our neighborhoods were built—as streetcar suburbs.” It’s why Salt Lake has these massively wide streets; they used to have a trolley going down the middle of them. “And we tore that out,” says Wood. And if we tore it out, we can put it back in.