Bike Utah Responds to the Death of Cyclists in Southern Utah
Media release, 4/10/22:
Bike Utah Responds to the Death of Cyclists in Southern Utah
Salt Lake City, UT–This weekend two brothers were killed on Telegraph Street in southern Utah, despite the fact that they were legally traveling in a dedicated bike lane as participants in the annual Spring Tour of St. George.
“We are gutted by the tragic and preventable death of the two cyclists whose lives were taken this weekend by someone who admittedly drove under the influence. Our hearts go out to their loved ones and to everyone who witnessed the crash, as well as to those who attempted to provide life-saving help,” said Bike Utah Executive Director Jenn Oxborrow. “Bike lanes exist to promote safe, active transportation, allowing vehicles and bicycles to travel simultaneously in different lanes on the same roadway. As we witnessed on Friday, and on numerous other occasions, when drivers are impaired no one is safe.”
According to data from the National Highway Safety Transportation Association, 846 pedalcyclists died in 2019 and alcohol was involved in 34 percent of the fatal pedalcyclist crashes. Nearly 50,000 pedalcyclists are injured by motor vehicle drivers each year. More information can be found here: crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813197.
Per Zero Fatalities, 29 percent of Utah road fatalities involve people who are not in a vehicle. That equates to nearly 100 bicyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians killed annually on Utah roads: one preventable death every three–four days each year. Utah Department of Health data indicates motor vehicle traffic crashes (MVTC) as one of the main injury causes of death, accounting for 231 deaths in Utah during 2019 with a spike in MVTCs in 2020.
Bike Utah’s commitment to making Utah a better place to ride is renewed by the homicides this weekend. We encourage all Utahns to join advocacy efforts focused on safe and equitable travel, statewide, and remind everyone to not drive while under the influence.
###
