WFRC staff presented Beehive Bikeways, a regional effort to create a network of high‑comfort bike and shared‑use facilities that connect Wasatch Choice activity centers and increase everyday biking across the Wasatch Front.

Hugh Van Wagonen (Hugh Van Wagenen in some materials), WFRC active‑transportation staff, described the initiative’s goals: build separated facilities that are comfortable for people of varying ages and abilities, fill gaps between existing regional trails and activity centers, and increase short‑trip mode share. He said nearly 50% of trips along the Wasatch Front are under three miles and that about 20% are one mile or less—distances that make bicycling feasible if comfortable facilities exist.

Staff showed draft corridor maps based on the 2023 regional transportation plan projects, outreach in 2023 and 2024, and follow‑up meetings with city staff. Hugh said WFRC’s modeling suggests a roughly 40% increase in bicycle miles traveled within Wasatch Choice centers if the high‑comfort network were implemented. He added that about 70% of regional jobs (roughly 900,000 jobs) and about 60% of households (roughly 400,000 households) would be within a quarter‑mile of the network.

Why it matters
WFRC framed the initiative as a way to increase safe active‑transportation options for short trips, reduce drive‑alone trips for short errands and commutes, and support the Wasatch Choice centers that concentrate jobs, housing and services.

Questions and next steps
Members asked about winter use, device allowances (e‑bike classes and scooters) and how the bikeways tie into local wayfinding and signage. Staff said Utah state code defines classes of e‑bikes that determine where a device can be legally used and that municipalities will need to reconcile local signage and routing with the proposed regional corridors. Staff said WFRC will incorporate the network into the regional transportation plan, pursue concept‑level funding and work with member cities on corridor advancement through existing programs (for example, Transportation and Land Use Connection grants).

Ending
Staff offered to meet with local jurisdictions interested in advancing corridors and said additional funding analysis and corridor‑level feasibility work are next steps.