County highlighting bike routes in Millcreek

Salt Lake County stepped up its efforts Monday to establish cycling routes in unincorporated areas.

The promotion — coming during National Bike Month — began in Millcreek, where Mayor Peter Corroon teamed up with his "bolt man," county sign and striping specialist Orrey Nell, to install a sign showing that Evergreen Avenue (3450 South) was an official bicycle route.

A couple of additional signs leaning up against the bed of a county pickup truck were waiting to be set up nearby, showing that it was a quarter mile to the new Millcreek Community Center and two miles to the mouth of Millcreek Canyon.

"We're doing this so our residents can get on their bikes and have some fun," said Corroon, citing the health and clean-air benefits of encouraging people to ride bikes around the community instead of driving.

At the same time, he added, "the signs also are good for motorists," warning them to be aware of cyclists along the sides of those roads that will be restriped and equipped with signs of the routes.

County transportation engineer Andrea Pullos said this initial route will connect to Salt Lake City's better-established urban bike trail system on 2000 East about 2800 South, the city/county border.

It follows 2000 East south to where Millcreek becomes Holladay, with two spurs heading east — one up Lambourne Avenue (3150 South), the other up Evergreen to the frontage road west of Interstate 215, which then takes riders on a jog south to 3800 South. From there it's under the freeway and on up Millcreek Canyon.

A second north-south route has been set aside for riders along 2700 East, extending from Evergreen Avenue north to the Parley's Historic Nature Park, where it hooks into Salt Lake City's trail system there.

"We have some good trails to hook into with Wasatch Boulevard and the Bonneville Shoreline Trail," Pullos said. "This connects with Salt Lake City's elaborate system. We want them to hook together and not dead end."

The signs, she added "will let riders know how far it is to different destinations where they're going."

After the county completes a bicycle "best management practices" plan this summer, Pullos expects more bike lanes to be painted on streets in Magna and Kearns, the county's west-side unincorporated communities.

mikeg@sltrib.com Twitter: @sltribmikeg —

City cycling

Salt Lake City is unveiling a new website — bikeslc.com — about commuting to or exploring the city by bike. A news conference is set for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at City Hall.