A local nonprofit is making an effort to transform Provo’s roads into a more safe and accessible space for all users.
“We're a small nonprofit here in Provo that advocates for street design, and that makes the roads and sidewalks and crossings safer for all users,” Bike Walk Provo's Executive Director Christine Frandsen said.
Frandsen was inspired to get into bicyclist advocacy after spending time in Denmark and the Netherlands, she said.
“They just made it so easy and so comfortable. You just felt so safe. And it made sense. It was faster to get somewhere by biking than by car. And they prioritized that infrastructure,” she said.
Provo’s high student population makes it a great spot to adopt more pedestrian and bicyclist inclusive street design, Frandsen said.
“There's a high demand for it in Provo because we have such a high student population and many students come without cars and need other options to get around, and we're doing good, but we can do better,” she said.
Bike Walk Provo has been around in various forms for 20 years. Frandsen said the organization has been able to advocate effectively because of its connections with the city and local neighborhoods.
For busy roads like 300 South, a bike-through-way can help cyclists cross in a lower speed area, Frandsen said.
“It creates this bike, like a kind of a haven for bicycles where it's lower traffic and it also benefits pedestrians too, because it creates a very safe crossing on an otherwise quite busy road,” she said.
Bike and pedestrian crossings are a visual indication that the city cares about all types of transportation, she said.
Two new bike crossings will be coming to Provo on 300 South later this year.