Advocate of the Month: Dannielle Larkin
Name: Dannielle Larkin
Pronouns: she/her
Occupation: St. George City Councilwoman, Small business owner
Associated Advocacy Group: Southern Utah Bicycle Alliance (SUBA), Past Board Member Bicycle Collective
Position at associated advocacy group(s): cofounder of the Bicycle Collective in St. George, Boardmember and Past President of the Southern Utah Bicycle Alliance
What was your first bike?
The first bike I purchased was a Giant Iguana from Bingham Cyclery in Sandy in the 1980’s. It was in the $300 range and it felt like the most colossal and worthwhile purchase of my life. I still think I valued that bike more than any other I’ve owned because it felt like such a sacrifice to spend that much money when I was making $3.25 an hour and working after school 12 hours a week.
Where is your favorite place to ride in Southern Utah? I love to ride north on the trail that parallels SR-18 from St. George to Snow Canyon. It’s a challenging 10-mile climb from my front door to the entrance to Snow Canyon, then pure bliss soaring down that canyon with its breathtaking scenery. I never tire of this ride or its scenic conclusion!
How did you build your relationships with the Southern Utah Bicycle Alliance and the Bicycle Collective?
As an avid cyclist, I saw a need in Southern Utah for access to bicycles and bicycle-related infrastructure. I was attending Southern Utah University in 2015 and needed to complete a community project. I decided to start something I called the Bike Kitchen that repaired bikes for people living at our homeless shelter and utilizing our soup kitchen. This project morphed into a relationship with the Bicycle Collective and an eventual merger. Working with the Bike Kitchen and the Bicycle Collective, I became familiar with SUBA and happily joined their board of advocates in 2018.
What makes the cycling scene in Southern Utah unique?
We have, on average, 320+ days of sunshine a year. Bicycling is almost always a viable option in Southern Utah, whether it be for transportation or recreation. Also of note is the large retirement community and now the access to e-bikes. It has been transformational in getting folks who may have never considered riding out onto our trails in large and happy numbers.
What cycling challenges do you hope to see the cycling community in Southern Utah overcome?
The idea that riding on the road is for spandex-clad enthusiasts only, riding on the dirt trails is only for the young and fast, and trail connectivity is just a luxury of those who have time to recreate. Bikes are for everyone and they can be used as a tool for fun or community connection or a healthy and inexpensive way to get where you need to go.
What future projects do you hope to see happen in your community?
A continuation of our vital trail connectivity throughout the city. As we continue to grow and expand, I want complete streets to be a ubiquitous part of every plan brought to the city.
What is the most important piece to the puzzle to make riding safer in Southern Utah?
Awareness and education. When we reach a point that the driver of the automobile watches out for the cyclist who’s watching out for the walker who’s watching out for the wheelchair who’s watching out for the curb cut…. That’s when we reach transportation nirvana I think.
What advice do you have for someone who is interested in advocacy, but has no idea where to start? Google “biking in (your city)” and start there. There are so many for-profit and not-for-profit avenues in almost every city in Utah. Test a few spaces out and see what feels like a good fit for you. Most Not-for-profits have boards and anyone can attend their board meetings. Start with something that feels fun to you and consider riding your bike to the first meeting/gathering you attend.
How do you make sure you are taking care of yourself and avoiding burnout while working?
I am an early morning appreciator so I love to spend those early hours walking or running or biking to refuel my soul.
How can we engage future generations to continue advocacy work in Southern Utah?
Teaching them about the history of the work helps. Knowing that the trail you love hasn’t always been there and that the bike you ride is far safer than those of the past and that cities have not always been auto-centric… Understanding how things have evolved helps younger generations buy into the philosophy that they are part of the continuing evolutionary process.
Do you have a follow-up question for Dannielle? Would you like more info about your local bicycling advocacy group or have a specific active transportation project you’d like to see initiated? Do you know an advocate we should highlight? Email info@bikeutah.org!
