Why was I ticketed? | The Salt Lake Tribune

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Why is this supposedly bike-friendly city is giving citations to bicycle commuters? I was given a citation as I was riding my bicycle home on Wasatch Drive during my daily commute.

I had slowed down for a four-way stop, put my hands on my brakes, unclipped one shoe and shifted into an easier gear. I then looked both ways, saw there was no traffic, and so continued through the intersection.

But, hidden behind a bush, was a motorcycle policeman who saw that I had not put my foot down and, for the sake of public safety, I think, sounded his siren, pulled me over and gave me a $40 citation.

Doesn't the city have more important issues to address than giving a citation to a 62-year-old woman going slowly on a bike through an empty intersection?

Mayor Ralph Becker's push to make Salt Lake City a more bicycle-friendly community has failed miserably.

Ellen Gibson

Salt Lake City