Commuting through the mountains isn't for the faint of heart or the weak of lungs. Depending on which route they take, Whiting and Goff end up riding eight to 12 miles each way. Steep inclines on narrow, rocky trails make up much of the ride, but the beauty and the clear air make extra effort worth it, Whiting said.

On especially wet days, when the dirt trails will be too muddy, Whiting and Goff bike along Beck Street instead, which presents its own problems.

"It's dangerous riding along the shoulder," Whiting said. "Sometimes cars come zipping by really, really close."

"I'd rather be up above the traffic on the trails," he said.

An alternative will soon be available for Davis County residents who want to commute by bike but don't want to tackle the mountain terrain or compete with the cars on Beck Street. Construction on a paved commuter bike trail that will run along the I-15 frontage road into Salt Lake City will start in July, said Stan Porter, chairman of the North Salt Lake Trails Advisory Board.

Whiting said he thinks companies should make a greater effort to encourage workers to commute by bike by providing places to park bikes and places to shower.

Porter and his board are trying to establish a system of trails in North Salt Lake that will give residents access to open space in the foothills and make bike commuting easier. Eventually, the trails will connect to trails that will run along the new Legacy Parkway, Porter said.

The Wild Rose Trail, in the Wild Rose Ravine, was completed last summer, and plans are being made for a park at its trailhead. More trails will be developed in the area in coming years, Porter said.

"For years, people have desired trails in this area, and now the state's finally pushing it," Porter said. "Having trails in your back yard gives you a place to exercise, and it's a lot more enjoyable than getting on a treadmill."

---

E-mail: dfelix@desnews.com