Transportation is an important and necessary component of our day-to-day, but in the face of worsening air quality and the sustained effects of climate change, it’s a component we have to be increasingly conscious of. The question is no longer just about where we’re headed or when we get there, but how we choose to do so.
Clean Air SLC is an initiative that aims to distribute equipment and information to help Salt Lake City Residents improve air quality in their communities and inside their homes. We ran a small pilot E-bike Incentive Program in July of 2024 and we were able to fund 277 applications, equally dispersed across the seven City Council districts. Why did we focus on e-bikes? E-bike incentive programs work to help people switch away from gas-powered vehicles for their short-distance commute, such as running errands, meeting up with friends at a local coffee shop or bar, or even commuting to work if that’s an option.
Small but mighty, those short-distance commutes add up! A study conducted by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics found that over half of vehicle trips in the United States were three miles or less, while 60 percent of all vehicle trips were less than six miles. This represents a lot of potential to mitigate emissions plus health benefits and savings on car ownership and fuel costs.
Utahns, on average, spend $12,000 a year on their cars, according to a 2023 report put out by the American Automobile Association. Trading a car for an e-bike presents a huge opportunity to save. And even if you don’t replace your vehicle, you can still save a lot on gas!
The benefits to air quality might be the driving force behind our e-bike program, but there are other reasons to support driving less and biking more. We asked some residents who have made the switch to car-free living to share their stories with us. From riding around SLC with their kids, to commuting to work, running errands, or taking bike-packing trips without a car, read about how they challenged common myths and expectations about choosing to be car-free. We liked learning about the surprising benefits they enjoy!
Davey’s Story
“Wait until you have kids. You’ll drive everywhere then.” This was a common checkmate argument for people who thought transportation cycling a cute but unrealistic pursuit. And for the most part I secretly agreed with them. I thought I’d never have kids, so it wasn’t my problem.
Now I’m a stay-at-home dad with a three and one year old, and I still get everywhere by bike. It’s the best part of my day: Talking with my daughter about the dogs we pass or what’s going on with the weather, explaining what a waterfall is, or playing peekaboo together with my infant son. The bike we have looks like a boat and it’s about the size of one too: a cargo bike with a dutch-style box in the front that’s perfect for a handful of kids, groceries, and the stuff of life. Most bikes like this are electrified by now, mine isn’t and it’s honestly crazy hard to pedal uphill. But a good life isn’t measured by miles per hour. I love how my kids interact with the world and how I feel after a long day of running around with them.
Every outing is an adventure and the real adventures (taking a bike on a train, or camping in the rain) feel epic and inspiring, for me and for them. I can honestly say having a cargo bike has made being the parent of young kids a wonderful experience. I feel strong, in touch with my world, and it saves me at least $3k a year by replacing a second car.
Davey’s Tips for if You’re Just Starting Out
I started down this path by borrowing an old ten speed and riding it to school. If you want to start biking more but aren’t sure how, don’t feel like you need to buy a bunch of stuff and sell your car. Just learn to fix a flat, ride on the days when it’s not raining or snowing, and get a set of fenders once you feel like riding in the rain more. You’ll be surprised how many days are clear, even in the winter.
I recommend exploring routes around town when you aren’t in a hurry, and think like a pedestrian, not like a car: try and take quiet streets and bike paths over the direct routes. If you’re ready to bring your kids on the bike, a bike trailer is a cheap and effective way to start. Look for a used one and make sure your kids fit in it. After that, you’ll start to get a sense for what you prefer and there are a ton of great options out there.
Nicky’s Story
Living car-free comes with many benefits, but what I appreciate the most is how it connects me to the spaces and people around me. I commute by train and bike four to five days a week, and through that, I’ve formed connections with people I wouldn’t have met otherwise. I have one friend I’ve been chatting with on our afternoon commutes for nearly two years. It’s a fun way to bond with fellow cyclists too.
Plus, relying on my bike for errands has been such a blessing. Beyond just getting groceries, the physical activity eases my anxiety and helps me see the beauty in my city in a way I’d miss if I were driving.
Olivia and Alek’s Story
Getting around without a car can feel really intimidating or even impossible, but with the right tools it can be such a positive lifestyle adjustment even just to reduce one’s car trips. Here are some photos, tips & tricks, and resources that showcase how we live car-free!
While our main form of transportation is bicycling, sometimes we just don’t feel like moving our legs. Being familiar with the public transit stops near your home, work, grocery store, favorite coffee shop can be a cheap and easy way to replace car trips.
What’s even better than just taking the train or bus? Multimodal transit! Sometimes, the train or the bus just doesn’t take you all the way to your destination. Taking your bike, scooter, skateboard, etc. with you allows you to go farther than only using one form of transit. Or if the weather gets bad on your ride home you can bail by getting on the bus or the train.
I got to this biking trail in Park City from my house in Salt Lake without driving at all. High Valley Transit’s bus route 107 picks up from downtown Salt Lake and goes all the way to Kimball Junction (and is completely free!). We use this all the time in the summer to bike in some cooler temperatures as well as in the winter to go cross-country skiing. We have even used the High Valley Transit bus system to get all the way to Kamas from SLC to go bikepacking in the Uintas. It requires a bit of extra planning and coordination, but access to outdoor recreation via public transit is absolutely possible in Utah!
Something that makes being car-free so much easier is having a little hauling capacity on your bike. No one wants to carry a backpack full of groceries, but distributing that weight onto your bike makes it a lot more manageable to carry stuff. Installing a rack, basket, and/or having a couple bags to mount to your bike are all ways you can carry a little bit more. Straps and bungee cords can also be a lifesaver for awkwardly shaped or large items, such as this case of Mason jars!
One of the most common questions I get about being car-free is “What do you do in the winter?”. The answer is that I still bike commute everyday (or utilize multimodal transit on days when the weather is really bad). What has made winter commuting easier for me is investing in some warm layers (including a buff for my face!!), rain/snow pants, and studded tires. Utah winters can be harsh, but commuting year round without a car is totally possible (and even fun).
I love being car-free because I know it has a positive effect on my community by reducing air pollution, traffic, and incentivizing more face-to-face interaction. There are also personal benefits to me, such as the improved mental and physical health that comes along with using active transportation. Not to mention the money that is saved when you don’t have to pay for the expenses associated with owning and driving a car!
It almost goes without saying that improving air quality in Salt Lake City is a complex, multifaceted issue. There’s no single solution, but rather, a menu of solutions that each deserve their own consideration. Promoting e-bike use is one response to a gap in sustainable transportation that can have tangible outcomes for the good of our city.
Are you interested in driving less? In addition to running our summer E-bike Incentive program, we’re partnering with Bike Utah this fall to offer free E-bike Commuter Classes to residents. Visit slc.gov/sustainability/ebike to learn more and register for or classes on October 19, 24 or the 26.
Want to learn other ways to help our air quality? Sign up for the Clean Air SLC newsletter to stay updated on future opportunities, and learn more about local air quality issues and what Salt Lake City is doing to address them here.