Cargo Bike Life in an Auto Centric World

I love my cargo bike and using it to replace many car trips. However, there are many auto-centric roads and developments around where I live that make it difficult and unsafe to get around without a car.
In this video I first share some info on my cargo bike and what I use it for. I bought a Ferla Family Cargo bike (now called the Royce) and have loved it! It is a bit more costly than a typical bike and bike trailer, but the experience is so much better especially with my kids since I can easily talk to them while riding. This bike also can carry a greater amount of cargo and weight. This bike really can help a family replace a car if many destinations are accessible by safe and comfortable bike paths. The bike looks great and rides well. The hydraulic brakes are strong, which is an important safety feature. The motor isn’t the most powerful out there, but it is all I (and my wife) need to help on hills or to overcome a headwind.
Second, this video shows the experience of riding on an auto-centric road to pick up some groceries. The auto-centric roadway design limits people’s willingness to walk or ride a bike even to destinations that are close by since cars dominate the environment like bulls in a China shop. This forces people to drive for every little task and complicates traffic even more. *This video was shot at a time with the lowest amount of traffic. During peak times, this road sees traffic congestion and is even more stressful to be around outside of a car. Although this example is in Utah, it is representative of so many stroads all around the US. Surely we can plan and design cities better than this...
Links:
Ferla Bikes:
ferlafamilybikes.com/
Babboe offers a similar style cargo trike model in Europe:
www.babboe.nl/familie-bakfietsen
NHTSA Data:
cdan.nhtsa.gov/SASStoredProce...
South Jordan Traffic and Speed data:
southjordancity.maps.arcgis.c...
Great video by Bicycle Dutch showing the intuitive design of a Dutch protected intersection and how easy and comfortable it is to make a left turn:
• Cycling on a protected...
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Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:17 Cargo Trike Overview
1:12 Trip Route
1:36 We Meet Again Stroad...
2:06 Bike Lane Issues
2:58 Missed Opportunity
4:08 Anti-Intuitive Design
5:01 Auto-Centric Commercial Land Use
5:15 Cargo Bike Reaction
5:40 You Get What You Pay For
6:08 Vehicle Speeds and Safety Risk
7:33 Relative Convenience
8:27 Relief!
8:33 Obvious Points to Ponder
9:03 Outro

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

Thanks so much for watching and I hope you enjoy this video! I also just had a suggestion from a channel contributor to contrast this video with a ride that is along a comfortable route; I love the idea and will create a future video to show what a difference it is to have safe, comfortable, and connected paths to and from a destination.

[@Mark-gt5uu]

NotJustBikes comes to mind

[@mrMacGoover]

The noisy wheel gets the oil , you are right to voice yourself to the township, don't ever give up!

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

Absolutely! There has to be a voice to advocate for change and never give up!

[@rickb3078]

I cycle 10-15k a year, and am extremely comfortable on a bike. But you sir are a braver person than I am. As much as I would want to, I’d take the car in that environment. Such a waste of resources. And it’s not as if there is a lack of space for a protected bike lane.

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

I am with you on this, I typically only brave these types of bike lanes when filming videos! I tend to find alternative routes or just drive in my steel cage of safety. The sad thing is protected bike lanes can often be built cheaper than these on-street lanes, it just takes the proper design knowledge to do it. Sadly, bike lanes like this can be an afterthought since many engineers tend to design these roadways with a clear space shoulder area anyway (which is not needed unless it is a high-speed highway and puts vulnerable cyclists in space designed to provide forgiveness to high-speed traffic). If enough people can walk and bike to localized destinations, then maybe the roads wouldn’t have to be so big and wide either. The irony is a move towards human-centric city design that is truly multi-modal will help resolve the issues of an auto-centric design.

[@amadeosendiulo2137]

This city would be so beautiful... ah, this mountains, never in my life have I seen such mountains irl.

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

The mountains here are amazing, but the cities are sprawling! The mountains around here act like a natural urban growth boundary, although there are still some pretty bad sprawling areas. Thanks for watching!

[@TheFrangalista]

I was referred to this channel from not just bikes and have thoroughly enjoyed every video released. I too am a Utah resident (in the cache valley / Logan area and have much the same complaints and outlined here. I live near a recently constructed through road where the designers created a separate bike/pedestrian path. I have tried to ride it a few times but find it impractical. There are separate stop signs on the bike path for every single intersection including those where through traffic has right of way. They even place stop signs around entrances to private property. I have watched many videos including this that advocate for a more human centred community design and agree with many of them. I find myself wondering though... What are the specific agents of change that can move from a car centred design toward something that is safer and more inclusive towards alternatives? How do we overcome the inertia that is entrenched in government as well as in common attitudes? Even the safest design is going to be compromised if drivers remain oblivious to bicyclists and pedestrians.

[@sambishop1667]

I also live in Utah and am a little ways down this road, so I can tell you what's worked for me so far. My first recommendation would be to learn as much as you can about how your local government works. I've been attending city council meetings as often as possible. And immediately before each meeting they have what's called a "study session" where they don't make decisions but have in-depth discussions about all sorts of stuff. I've learned a great deal from that. I've gotten to understand the relationship between my city, my county, and the WFRC. (Which the Cache Valley/Logan area is also a part of, I believe.) I've gotten to know the opinions of my mayor and city council members, and I have certainly gotten their attention because I'm the only one who regularly attends those meetings who isn't an elected official or city staff member. I've found the officials and staff to be both very curious and supportive. I'd also reach out to Bike Utah: www.bikeutah.org/contact. Let them know that you're looking for other like-minded people in your area. Working with someone else will keep you motivated and give you someone to bounce ideas off of. Plus you'll really get the attention of your local officials if you can get a group together. Finally, I'd recommend starting small. In my city, for instance, we're starting with a proposal for a bike-parking ordinance. Getting businesses, churches, and the like to be built with bike parking doesn't require any money from the city. The city just needs to change their rules to require it. (The same way they currently require parking for cars.)

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

It kind of makes me laugh that someone thought it would be a good idea to put stop signs at every street and access crossing on a trail! There is no way you will see compliance with that, not to mention bikes can now utilize an Idaho stop here in Utah. It is good that the path is there in the first place, other issues are easier to fix than not having a path at all (although sometimes hard to address through a city’s process). On a similar note, some cities often put stops signs for cars at many intersections without a proper warrant study, which creates safety issues. Stop signs should NOT be used for traffic calming as many residents may ask for. They are strictly a traffic control device and when there isn’t enough traffic, then people find that they are more of a nuisance and will start to run stops signs which then messes with everyone’s expectations at an intersection. The best way to go is to design streets and bike paths that don’t need stop controls by regulating traffic flows, providing traffic calming on streets, and using other traffic control measures like roundabouts where traffic volumes necessitate. Sidepaths should utilize a continuous design at local street and driveway crossings similar to the details in the Dutch Crow manual for the Design of Bike Traffic. We have required continuous paths in the town I work for in our TOD ordinance and are working with Developers on a couple other paths with this feature so cars are a guest in people space vs the other way around. Enough talk on stop signs and crossings! Sam Bishop has some great comments and suggestions and I also agree with comments to make your voice known! Chances are there is a planner already advocating for these kinds of things that would appreciate some public support. I have had residents reach out to me where I work to support good planning principles and it gives me a lot of encouragement! I also look forward to getting help from engaged residents to continue advocating for better city planning. As Sam suggested, getting to know the existing plans, processes, and attitudes of the city you live in will help immensely in your efforts. Cities vary on their ideologies on city planning and vary on having an open mind to realize things can be done in a better way for a multitude of reasons. Getting other members of the public to join you in creating a stronger voice and presence is also important. Good city leadership wants to do what they believe is in the best interests of their residents. When they hear more residents advocating for bike paths and a less auto-centric city, they will be more apt to reflect that in their decisions. Currently here in Utah, the leadership in many cities keep hearing about problems of growth and traffic. Many residents complain about traffic and city leadership and many staff members believe road widening and improvements are the fix (which the problems with this practice have been known for some time). Many staff and leaders are skeptical and believe the multi-modal model won’t work so they continue to push for status quo roads and land use planning. It takes an informed and well-planned approach to make a multi-modal model work for a city, you can’t half do it, or put in a single mile section of protected bike lanes and then expect it to work. Alternative modes of travel need to be safe and competitive in terms of convenience, and this is achieved both through proper infrastructure design and good land use planning. Active transportation infrastructure needs to be treated like roads in that there is a cohesive network that can get you from “anywhere to everywhere” in the city. You shouldn’t have to worry whether or not you can make it to your destination using safe and convenient facilities. As far as special agents of change, it may vary for different places. Cities that see a need to change will do so, but often can be for different reasons and may not do so until there is enough public pressure. Some cities want to be proactive to and is usually guided with political will as has been happening in places like Emeryville, CA and Carmel, IN. The Netherlands got to where it is today due to several reasons (I may need to be corrected by our Dutch friends!) including safety with the “stop de kindermoord” protests, the oil embargo of the 70s (which targeted the Netherlands harder due to Royal Dutch Shell being headquartered there), and after many public demonstrations and increased political will, they found an economic source in natural gas that the central government used to pay 80% of the cost of bike infrastructure for many cities. The sad reality for cities that continue to advocate for the status quo is that their insatiable thirst for a good level of service on their roadways will ultimately be their own demise. I often ask these questions: Even if your city “could” widen enough roads to get rid of traffic congestion, does that really make it a place worth living? Is the legacy your leaders want to leave for future generations one that is full of dangerous, noisy, and expansive roadways? Or is there a better, more livable, more equitable, and ultimately more financially responsible way to do it? I know my answers to these questions. Many cities unfortunately don’t figure it out until they learn the lesson on their own after they sprawled out like Orange County, CA or Houston, TX. Sorry for the mega response, this is what happens when you’re the first comment I respond to and I have some pent up passion! I am not quite sure if it addressed all your thoughts or questions, so feel free to hit me up with anything else. I will also admit my wife is from Cache Valley, so I have learned the area up there pretty well. There is a lot of potential there if things were to be planned well. I am obviously passionate about this stuff and love to talk with others about it so we can help one another out!

[@jezzarisky]

It’s frustrating that while cities and the state have started adding bike lanes(great), they cater first to cars(bad) which causes lanes to be severely underused, and circles around to becoming an argument of “no one uses them” to expanding or improving lanes If you want a wild design of a bike route, check out the one that heads from the Murray Central Trax/Frontrunner station east down Vine Street. It jumps back and forth between exposed lanes and Sharrows that require the biker to merge on a road where drivers go 35-40(speed limit is 30), gives up at 9th East before picking back up on the other segment of Vine Street and currently just ends at a road construction project. Outside of being close to a shopping district(not connected), the lane I assume is only there as a commuter connector to public transit, and not really intended as making an interconnected network for getting around on bike.

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

You are totally right and it drives me crazy when people say “I told you so” when no one uses exposed bike lanes that don’t make many meaningful connections! Cities will be most successful in encouraging people of all ages and abilities to bike when they implement the 5 design principles from the Dutch Crow Manual for the Design of Bicycle Traffic. The 5 criteria are: Cohesion, Directness, Safety, Comfort, and Attractiveness. They make so much sense too when you learn about them. Vine Street is an example of prioritization of vehicle traffic and the paint for biking more as an afterthought, probably all the planner or advocate at the city could likely get others to agree to. I used to live off of Vine Street about 12 years ago and would walk it all the time with my wife, it was stressful to have to cross as a pedestrian too. Now I just go to Murray everyday to transfer from Trax to Frontrunner on my commute 😃 I have seen Vine Street now and it could definitely be redesigned to make biking easy and more comfortable if that becomes a priority for the city. I always say you get what you pay for through design and funding. I have also heard from the Urban Cycling Institute, “Plan for the traffic you want to see rather than for the traffic you have.” Vulnerable modes should not tango with cars unless the traffic volume is low and the street is traffic calmed to ensure vehicle speeds are low. Streets like Vine Street and especially State Street are the reasons people generally will drive, because that is the kind of traffic they were designed for. Sorry I am just preaching to the choir on this! It is awesome to have you watching the channel locally as well!

[@CoolAirVw]

We need to live near our work.

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

It definitely helps to reduce vehicle traffic if you can live within walking and biking distance from work! Unfortunately zoning laws in so many places segregate land uses and don’t allow too many opportunities for people to be near work. Thanks for watching!

[@sulaimanhyatt8000]

thank you for this video, and for pointing out the massive problem areas in a car centered environment

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

Absolutely! A routine trip to the store shouldn’t be so difficult and dangerous without a car. It is by design and something that needs to change. Thanks for watching!

[@dyslexiksteve2488]

We have some really good bike lanes in the UK but have the same and some worst problems with short-sighted design. In Slough the local council have put in cycle lanes on one of the major roads. The problem with the whole design is it cuts into one of the lanes on each side of the road. As cars are not 2 feet wide, car drivers have no alternative but to straddle the cycle lane. I'm convinced that the person who designed them have no idea what a bike is

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

That sounds sketchy for sure to have limited space and lack of separation on a busy road! I think there are many who design this infrastructure who have never used it. People who plan and design roads need to experience it from every perspective. By increasing the level of service to cars, the level of service and safety of active transportation users is typically compromised. Most places don’t even consider level of service for active transportation.

[@spyderwillster]

Going to have to keep my eye out for this around the valley! Excellent video!

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

Thank you for the comment! If you ever see me cruising in the cargo bike, stop me and say hi! I live in the Daybreak area of course so that is where we usually ride the cargo bike 😃

[@ChadWatkins54]

Thanks for the video Mike. I always look forward to watching new releases

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

Totally, I appreciate that you are watching and joining in the advocacy efforts!! We need more people like you to understand the issues and help give a voice for the public! I have many more videos planned, but even better is what I hope to do in my role as a planner 😃 I can definitely use some help in those efforts and will be asking for it shortly.

[@carlray4809]

THIS IS SO COOL 👍, THANKS BROTHER. ❤🙏

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

Thank you!

[@jxpat]

Here in Oulu Finland, there is an entire network of bicycle paths independent of the automobile roads. Bike lanes show road plannees "doing something", but don't make any sense.

[@nplowman1]

Watching this makes me feel so much better for the mediocre bike infrastructure in Boise. Why do all roads in Utah look like highways?

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

It is because we think we “need” these roads to handle transportation issues. Utah is not alone in this of course, it is a nationwide problem. Although the western US states have built some of the more awful roads, Phoenix metro, LA, and Vegas all come to mind. Boise has done some pretty great things using the Boise River Greenbelt as a backbone. It was fun to check it out last year, although the suburb areas still have some pretty big roads like Ten Mile Road in Meridian.

[@sinatrabone]

Correct me if I’m wrong, Mike, but I think it’s because the Utah DOT uses very similar guidelines to build them as they do the freeways.

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

@@sinatrabone it’s true for the most part as far as I am aware. UDOT typically designs with 12’ travel lanes and includes wide shoulders on many roadways. This design typology is absolutely appropriate on freeways and high speed highways (though grade separation for roads and a physical barrier between travel directions should be standard for the safety of drivers when speeds exceed about 40 mph - also grade separated bike/ped connections should be standard as was done for the Mountain View Corridor Trail north of 6200 S). Wide lanes and shoulders are inappropriate in an urban context where bike/peds are present and many vehicles accesses exist as it prioritizes speed and traffic flow over safety.

[@dark_winter8238]

Then you have to take it into account how it's even more dangerous on those roads during bad weather than it already is.

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

For sure! I was riding in this video probably in the best of conditions.

[@kenhunt5153]

I hope that Daybreak Harmon's has more bike users by now. The thing I never understood about the WF was the lack of bike use for errands or getting to work. Many will ride a Century Ride or to get their heartrate up but not for everyday use. I am afraid The Point development will just add to that novelty use of bikes rather than a primary tool in the toolbox of transportation. Forget about UDOT. The widening of 15 north of SLC is a prime example.

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

I have seen fewer people on bikes going to Harmon’s this winter, but bike use is quite regular in the warmer months, not to mention a good number of people with cargo bikes. I have my skepticism about the Point project as well, but hopefully they can prove us wrong. The biggest two problems I see are that Porter Rockwell Blvd cuts through the center of the project and there are tons of exposed parking structures planned for individual buildings, rather than looking at shared structures underground that allow for more shared parking, more public space at ground level, and smaller building footprints that are more human scale. The river to rail trail through the Point will be nice to have a safe and comfortable connection over Bangerter, Frontrunner, and I-15.

[@MrWhatcat]

Great vid! Love seeing people use cargo bikes, something I'm considering in my car-free life! Also engaging for the Lord Algorithm

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

Thanks so much for the comment and support! I have loved having a cargo bike, it makes such a huge difference especially with taking kids around. My son has special needs and can’t ride a bike along with us, so the cargo bike allows him to come with us and he loves it!

[@MrWhatcat]

I can imagine! For me, I've been considering one for exactly the kind of thing you demonstrated here - I can really only get groceries that fit in my small panniers, and that's not all bad, but anytime I need to get something larger, I'm SOL unless a friend gives me a lift or I rent a car. I really dislike how living without a car can make you feel infantilized.

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

@@MrWhatcat it is sad that the way so many cities are planned can make people feel that way! It is not right! I do like that 90% of the stuff I need to pickup generally fits in the cargo bike, so it really cuts down on the need for a car. I even took the bike with me on light rail and the commuter rail train last week so I could use it to help lead a bike tour! It is fairly large for that if the train is full, though other passengers thought it was pretty cool and suggested I sell ice cream out of it 😂

[@nathang4682]

You are very brave lol, thanks for the video. It's honestly insulting that they even put those lanes in places like that. Gives the car brain people ammunition to say "we don't need more car infrastructure, nobody even uses the bike lanes we have!"

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

Exactly! It would be like building an Evel Knievel style jump for cars over a river instead of a proper bridge, and then saying no one drives across the river, so we don’t need a bridge. I like the quote “You don’t know how many people will use a bridge based on those swimming across the river”. I will admit, I typically ride my bike on the sidewalks for roads like this or finding alternative routes if possible rather than biking. Sadly, I drive sometimes too to avoid the risk with my kids, which just adds to the vehicle traffic problem. Thanks for checking out the video and for the comment!

[@joekerrthejoker]

It’s the exact same here in Edmonton. I do Walmart grocery pickups with my burley and Brompton combo whenever I can. When people ask why I tell them about my free “exercise dividend” - trips only take about 10-15 min longer in total but I get 40 min exercise. So 30 minutes free time that I would otherwise need to do to stay healthy”

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

I love it! It is saving time to ride your bike places since you don’t have to workout separately everyday. Not to mention the money you save on not driving a car and a gym membership 😂

[@sinatrabone]

Great video, Mike. I live in the same general area, and it’s both gratifying and infuriating to see this video! Like you, I try to get just about everywhere I can buy bike. Most people around here think I’m genuinely insane, and judging from some of the dangerous situation is the infrastructure put me in, they’ve got a solid point sometimes. It was nice to meet you on a ride the other day! Let’s get together to see what steps we can take to influence our city in a safer, more accessible direction.

[@scarbotheblacksheep9520]

Could you ever do a video about Bangerter Highway in West Valley? I went to the intersection of 4700 South and Bangerter one day, and I was appalled at seeing what I now know is called a continuous-flow intersection. No bikes, no walking, and three divisions of the road for cars. If Wikipedia is telling the truth, there are eight such intersections on this road alone.

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

That intersection and those like it are terrible from a bike/ped perspective and often confusing to drivers who haven’t used them much before! The one at 3500 S and Bangerter makes me especially nervous because I often see the high schoolers from Granger High there running across the intersection. The primary purpose of that intersection design is to move as many cars as possible without the cost of going grade separated (which at some point is planned). I hope to do a video sometime about how the insatiable thirst for improved level of service of cars typically comes at a great cost to the level of service and level of comfort for bikes/peds - which ultimately pushes many to drive this leading to worse traffic. I love the quote to plan for the traffic you want, not just the traffic you have. That intersection would be a great example to use in that video. Thanks for the suggestion and for watching too!

[@sinatrabone]

I know exactly what you’re talking about. I live very near Bangerter Highway but just down towards the southern end of it. Those intersections are terrifying. I avoid them on my bike at all costs.

[@KS-ce1xw]

nice

[@anthonywalsh2164]

2:06 You can add Australia to that list.

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

Definitely! Road design in Australia, and even other places, has a lot of roadway design commonalities with the US. In the 50s/60s the US was sharing with countries around the world how to build freeway systems (which of course was problematic because they got built through city centers and purposely through minority neighborhoods to support the upper class commuters that moved to sprawlville). Now the Dutch are sharing how to build the best bike networks, and everyone should listen and help improve our cities!

[@willb3636]

Killer quality and editing. Keep this up and I can see you easily hitting 50k in a few months and spreading the word of quality infrastructure. Cheers

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

Thank you, I definitely want to do what I can to spread the word! I hope to keep some good videos coming, though I do experiment with some different ideas and editing sometimes!

[@kennyking6325]

Friends, In some states bikes follow all the traffic laws of motor vehicles. On those busy streets I would were a hi-vis vest. Then just own the road, and use the vehicle lanes when you want and the bike lane when usable. Thank you I love the cargo bike

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

On this type of busy road, visibility can certainly help where many drivers’ minds go into autopilot mode or are distracted. Though I find it unfortunate to put the burden on the vulnerable road user instead of the person driving a dangerous two-ton machine. It is why the design of infrastructure is so important to get right, so people don’t feel like second class citizens while walking and biking. Safety should be prioritized through design! Thank you for watching!

[@CgPallaeon]

Such a great channel! Over the last several years I've gotten more into local access to services and businesses for my town and it absolutely hurts to see that I cannot get to my local Aldi (barely a half mile away) safely via walking or even biking. There are no easy paths or even safe roads to bike on, necessitating the use of a car every time. In fact, there's a neighborhood right behind the Aldi that doesn't even have access to it via a path.

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

Thanks so much for watching and for the comment! It is so sad that your situation is so common in so many auto-centric places. It honestly shouldn’t be that hard for cities to provide a legitimate multi-modal transport system, it just takes the realization to do so and some political will! So much traffic could be reduced if people had the option to walk or bike safely to local destinations. I’m a little busy and slow sometimes, but I have more videos to come, so stay tuned!

[@genehayes]

Great video! I'm up in Centerville and have been trying to bike more for trips under 5 miles or so. Would love to get an ebike or cargo bike at some point. We need better infrastructure!

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

Thanks so much for watching and your comment! I absolutely agree and will continue to advocate for better infrastructure as well as better land use practice too. It is always so awesome and fun to get more locals engaged and to help understand the issues and advocate! If you have kids, a dog, or just want to carry more stuff, I highly recommend a cargo bike. They come in all kinds of configurations and sizes too!

[@GaigeGrosskreutzGunClub]

Pointing out perceived safety VS actual safety was great -it seems most roads are designed around perceptions of concepts like safety, convenience and efficiency versus actual tangible ones

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

It is always important to understand what designs are actually safe so we aren’t leading people into the fire! I sometimes refer to perceived safety as comfort (though there are other elements to comfort too such as cycling on a rough surface vs a smooth surface). Many times perceived and actual safety can align, though it isn’t great if people feel safe but in reality might be in some danger. If people don’t feel safe, then they just aren’t likely to walk or bike places. Thanks for the comment and for watching!

[@bigwheelsturning]

The other problem is that people in Utah drive with their heads up their butts, and go as fast as traffic allows. Never seen so many people that ignore the posted speed limits. Guess they want to get to "their heaven".

[@J.D.Vision]

What city is this? Those mountains look epic!

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

This is the Salt Lake Valley in Utah with the Wasatch Mountains 😀 The stroad isn’t so nice, but we always have a nice view of the mountains here!

[@quinncasey120]

Nice video. Ive been wanting an ebike for years but it would suck to ride it anywhere meaningful.

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

That’s the hard thing and something cities and DOTs need to realize, so many more people, such as yourself, would love to ride bikes places if it was safe and the network of paths took you where you want to go.

[@hermanjamers]

Eventually I'll probably lose my driver's license and won't be able to drive a motor vehicle. A bicycle will be an alternative to not being able to grocery shop at all. If you only go at most 20mph then you don't need a license. This is why I would consider a cargo bicycle.

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

I have found the cargo bike to be so useful in doing many things. In most cases, my cargo bike will carry whatever I throw at it! Things like a full size refrigerator would be the exception. Thanks for watching 🙂

[@noneofyourbusiness4159]

Do you think it will do good on gravel trails?

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

I take it on some compacted composite granite type trails and it does ok, but really loose gravel could be a problem, just as with any bike. It came with a set of Kendra tires, and they have held up well over the past three years I have had this!

[@duifjeh]

pff... Duchie here ... I wish Americans would go to holland, see how great biking is and then change the whole infrastructure :D

[@crlsktr91]

Nice outro! You should do a highlights video for the major cities in Utah. If you're near Logan I'll buy you a sandwich.

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

That would be a fun video to do! I need to make it up to Logan again too, I used to go all the time since my wife is from the area. It is always fun to meet up with local advocates too, I will have to do so next time I am up that way 😃

[@mrMacGoover]

If only they would redo the suburbs communities to not waste place with dead end streets and streets that have huge distance requirements from street to house.

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

Definitely! Zoning has gone too far from its original intent in the Euclid vs Ambler Realty case where it upheld zoning for separate industrial and residential districts to prevent major health issues. A large front yard setback just limits engagement with the street as a public space and removes flexibility for the home owner. Vibrant streets and places aren’t born from rigid zoning requirements. Organic mixed use development patterns built on the human scale with proper design and building orientation should be the focus!

[@ronwagoner8358]

I just had an "argument" with someone living in St George using the same argument that Mike used in this video and was told that I should go live somewhere else. Where would that be??

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

Gotta love this reaction when people just tell you to leave! It’s not like this isn’t our home or something?! The sad thing is there are limited good options in the US, you have to consider the Netherlands or another country that actually knows how to support a higher quality of life. I know in my case, I grew up here and want to see this place to be somewhere my kids can grow up and hopefully enjoy a good quality of life. I don’t want to give up on my home! It is also funny because I hear a lot of people complaining they don’t like the growth here, which tends to relate to worsening traffic. The irony that most of the general public doesn’t instantly recognize is by continuing the status quo planning practices, it encourages more people to drive and just clogs the roads up even more. You can’t fight fire with fire and expect to put it out. The person who told you to live somewhere else will probably het fed ip with traffic in the next few years and leave themselves while not recognizing the irony of their argument.

[@ronwagoner8358]

@@bikequestwithmikewest Amen, brother, amen! A Sandy, Utah alum here. There's not many options for someone wanting to see more transportation options for Americans to go. The growth in St. George is crazy here too and it's sad to see the powers to be squander this opportunity to put in more bike infrastructure, but , as you can guess, their solution is more and bigger roads. It's funny when our new mayor's solution for people crying about driving their kids to school was becoming difficult, the solution was install a new traffic signal. I mean, seriously?? What about adding proper bike lanes (read, safe) so the kiddos can ride bikes to school?? Anyway, Love the channel. Keep on truck... um... biking...

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

@@ronwagoner8358 haha we will definitely keep on biking in this case! It is sad though that a place like St George can’t see the potential of biking as a great transportation option in conjunction with the university, the redeveloping downtown, livable neighborhoods, and connectivity to recreational opportunities. When your solution to a traffic problem is to add vehicle capacity, you invite more people to drive and just make the problem worse. Then, those who actually want to walk or bike are discouraged to do so since it is more dangerous with all the extra vehicular traffic - it is a downhill spiral. When it comes to traffic congestion, you can’t fight fire with fire and expect to put it out.

[@ronwagoner8358]

@@bikequestwithmikewest Preaching to the choir! Before I started riding my bike to work, I would walk a portion of my commute to get the exercise. The walk would require me to cross a stroad (in the crosswalk!). It was terrifying. Three times (!) I had cars run the light, either because they weren't paying attention or because, you know, getting to your destination quicker is more important than someone's life, and they stopped, literally, about 10 feet from me!!

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

@@ronwagoner8358 wow it really goes to show how awful stroads are!! I tried crossing one today with my bike at a crosswalk with no traffic signal, and of course no one stops. I just had to wait for a gap in traffic! Realistically people just don’t slow down or stop too often if they are going over 25 mph unless forced by a traffic signal. This is why two-lane traffic calmed streets are way better for safety than a multi-lane road.

[@vincenzodigrande2070]

So much potential left unused there, man, how stubborn can these policymakers be??

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

I know right?! There is a lot of space in the right of way for the stroad in this video, the space certainly can be used more efficiently to support a greater diversity of travel options that are safer, equitable, and more sustainable. Thanks for your continued support of the channel as well!

[@vincenzodigrande2070]

@@bikequestwithmikewest Yeah, but advocacy for bikes to car people usually ends up in nothing. I think the focus to car people should definitely emphasize the benefits for drivers more. There will always be some hard core cyclists going out on the roads anyway, so advocate like getting these people out of the way for drivers. I believe that is more or less what got bike paths and protected intersections built in the Netherlands, not by giving the cyclists what they wanted, but getting them annoying cyclists off the roads for drivers.

[@dailyhauntedhistory]

so if someone is driving like a jerk on a stroad does that make them a stroad chode?

[@emiel1976ep]

America the greatest country in the world. I am so happy to be Dutch and living in the Netherlands. I go a lot faster than cars in the usa it seems.

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

The Dutch cities provide great examples for the world to aspire to! Dutch leaders, engineers, and planners continually look to make improvements and many road and junction projects continue to be designed and completed. There is something to be said about the fact that the Dutch cycling infrastructure is world class and at the same time, it was rated by Waze to the best country in the world for drivers… It is a win-win for all!

[@emiel1976ep]

@@bikequestwithmikewest it is strange in the USA. You can get money as a thing isn't safe enough, but as the government makes a terrible infrastructure, because even for cars it is terrible and dangerous, they don't care that you die in traffic.

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

@@emiel1976ep exactly! Industries out there are shut down if even one bad accident happens, yet thousands are dying on our roads every year and people keep finding ways to rationalize it. If our national rate of road fatalities per 100k people for 2020 was the same as the Netherlands, then 27,129 people would have been saved.

[@emiel1976ep]

@@bikequestwithmikewest here the government has the goal to get 0 traffic deads. It is impossible, but they must try to reach it to make the roads safer. But not only roads, also traffic education is a part of that and what is allowed on the roads. That 4 lane Street is here a highway. That is just crazy. As they make it 2 lanes, it is safer, you get space for a bus lane, side walks, bike pads and a middle part that makes that you can cross the road in 2 stages. Roads that cross the road, can do it a lot safer. They only need to watch one lane ad a time instead of ad least 2 and even than it is impossible because a car can be hidden behind an other one. Traffic will flow better and less maintenance on the roads, cheaper roads and more ways to traffel and faster.

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

@@emiel1976ep I love the way things are done there! You definitely know and understand all these concepts very well. I advocate for smaller streets all the time here and luckily have found some success. There are still many awful multi-lane roads that are just inefficient and unsafe as you have said. A street can carry so many more people if it is moving pedestrians, cyclists, a single car lane in each direction and a dedicated tram line or bus lanes vs. just having car lanes and a small sidewalk.

[@KwizzyDaAwesome]

Doing good work. I wish I had any hope Utah will get its head out of its ass anytime soon.

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

Thanks for the comment! There are some great advocates here in Utah helping to do some good work, though it isn’t easy! Decision makers don’t always understand the externalities of their choices to support status quo land use and transportation planning. I hope to continue to do what I can to help advocate for a better way and to get more awareness for others to do the same!

[@singletona082]

Honestly? GIven my poor vision eliminates driving as an option? Seeing a cyclist PoV of literally going to the nearest store in town from a suburb for a grocery pickup scares me. That's.... literally one of the simplest activities and it's barred to me because poor infrastructure that creates a 'cars first and only' mindset where if I were to try cycling? I'd be seen as an inconvenience at best, and more likely... a target for someone drunk or stupid enough to not want me on 'thier' road.

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

This is what is so messed up about the way things are currently planned and why this is an ethical dilemma. Driving is seen as a transportation “solution” when it should be one of many transportation “tools”. A one size fits all solution will not work and does little to ensure equity or a quality of life for everyone. There are also so many other reasons why driving as a one size fits all solution to transportation is a poor choice.

[@emiel1976ep]

The Asphalt quality isn't that bad as I normally see in the north America. Why not ride closer to the side of the road? Nobody is there and you create distance to the cars. That cycling infrastructure is a joke. There is a lack of knowledge and the people that make the decision about how to build the roads, don't even do it good for cars.

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

We can certainly do better than this with creating safe places to ride a bike! Really, the best thing we can do to help people who love to drive cars is to give safe and convenient ways for people to get around that don’t really care about cars. My analogy is it is like forcing people to play tennis who don’t care for it and make the tennis enthusiasts wait in line every time to play! I rode the bike as intended by the striping for the video, otherwise I would typically ride farther into the shoulder so long as there isn’t too much debris. This road is a bit newer, but Utah seems to do better than other cities since there is so much growth that keeps injecting funding into the system. The problem will be what happens when the growth slows, stops, or moves elsewhere.

[@emiel1976ep]

@@bikequestwithmikewest OK, I would avoid those roads. I am Dutch but I also tide in other European countries and outside the Netherlands, it isn't much better than the USA. The most people can drive better than they do in the USA, but that is because the level of education is way higher. Also, the infrastructure isn't that bad as in the USA. As you want to ride your bike in a pleasant way, leave the USA and move to the Netherlands. As you wait in the USA, you will be dead before it is ad the level as it was here in the 90's. One thing. The doors of cars aren't a problem. The problem is, is that people aren't learned how to open a door as they get out. Here we have cars parked and people riding on bikes next to it with no problem. It is a problem in countries where people didn't learn how to open a door, because it wasn't necessary. They also never learned what to do as they see someone riding a bike on the road. All that us a big part of the driving license in the Netherlands. Adding that and make that people need to go to a driving school instead of learning it from their parents, lowers the accidents a lot as it is done the right way, even with that infrastructure. I don't own a car anymore. I sold my car several years ago and it was the best thing I did. I don't use public transport. I only walk or use one of my bikes. I am faster than I was with my car and I can go everywhere and park for free and in front of the place where I need to be. People need to experience it before they switch. That infrastructure and people wearing a helmet, isn't helping.

[@lightdark00]

Basically it seems people have to die to see a good improvement. Don't you want to be the tribute?

[@rickb3078]

People already die wholesale in traffic and nothing changes. Big increase in 2021 vs 2020

[@lightdark00]

@@rickb3078 But you need a big uptick in deaths for them to take notice.

[@rickb3078]

@@lightdark00 12% increase in the first 9 months of 2021 to 31720. Given the fragmented nature of record keeping I wouldn’t be surprised if the number is noticeably understated. Don’t forget the large amount of people with life altering injuries.

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

@@rickb3078 it is unfortunate that so many people rationalize the violence on our streets as “a risk of modern life”. Many of of us here of course cannot accept that and there are advocates for implementing Vision Zero policies. It is a challenge to get much movement in our national standards, but is can be easiest on a local level where it is more likely to find the needed political will.

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

Too many places in the US are reactionary for sure, which is wrong in my opinion. We need to be proactive, and I think we have had enough tributes already. I don’t think any of us want to volunteer as a tribute either, I know my wife wouldn’t appreciate that! Thanks for continuing to watch and support the channel too!

[@3of11]

You’ve discovered that state traffic engineers are the lowest form of life on earth.

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

It is a tough one, some engineers are full steam ahead on roads and are skeptical that anything other than the status quo will work. On the other hand, I personally know people working for our DOT that get it and are solid advocates for better infrastructure design. Much of what a DOT does is also directed politically from a state’s legislature. Though I have straight up had engineers tell me what I advocate for won’t work. All I know is it is quite ironic since I have yet to see a metro area in the US where they made traffic “work” through road widening in a congested area. I can only imagine how things would be if a 100% effort was given for a true multi-modal approach where alternative modes were made to be safe and convenient.

[@tongalix3380]

hedok7 VUR.FYI