To be safer on streets, bicyclists learn the art of defensive riding

With the popularity of cycling mushrooming, there is an ever-growing number of cyclists taking up the sport, and the watchword for all — beginners as well as experienced riders — is defensive driving. Or, perhaps more appropriately, defensive cycling.

If motorcyclists thought their sport was dangerous enough to circulate the bumper sticker, "start seeing motorcycles," bicyclists can take that mantra to heart times two. A bicyclist must make defensive riding an art.

According to Dan Stites, an REI employee who instructs a cycling class as a public service at the Sandy retail store, a cyclist must be on the watch at all times.

"I watch their (motorists) eyes to see if they see me," he said.

On this particular evening, the class was geared more to cycling as a means of transportation as opposed to the recreational aspects. And Stites should know this subject as he commutes every day 30 miles (15 each way) from downtown to his work at the Sandy REI. During the past year, he says, he's ridden TRAX no more than 10 times to work. And although he owns a car, he uses it as little as possible.

Regarding his reason for doing so, he says, "I am doing my part to keep the air clean. When I look across the valley and see all the brown air, I know I am doing my part (to reduce it)." He jokingly added, "I ride my bike more so I can eat more." He is very serious when he says his No. 1 motivation is keeping the air clean. Keeping in shape and saving gas money are merely side benefits.

The emphasis in this REI class was on safety. However, Stites covered all the essential gear to be carried. He noted that a helmet is essential — although it is not a law in Utah.

"Not wearing a helmet would be the silliest thing you could do," he said.

Stites also rides recreationally. About a month ago he took a day ride up the Cottonwood canyons as well as Millcreek for a total of 103 miles. He has yet to do an overnighter but told about another REI employee who started a cross country trip in June. Josh Ramey started in Oregon and plans on about three months to complete the trip.

Another REI employee, Kara Allen, took up the sport just two years ago. "I got into it very heavily," she said. In June, she joined her first "century" (100 mile ride). It was called the Little Red Riding Hood. It was out of Wellsville and was for women only. She said, "It was a really fun way to get introduced to an organized ride without feeling like you had to be competitive."

She said everyone dressed up in costumes, and the support group at the various stops were all dressed as wolves.

When riding, "I work out issues in my head," she said.

Allen particularly likes to ride in the Sandy/Draper area because there are a number of bicycle lanes. "I ride about 150 miles a week," she said.

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E-mail: wjewkes@desnews.com