IVINS – The 4th Annual Road Respect Tour kicks off its Southern Utah tour on Thursday in Ivins. Road Respect is a collaborative effort between the Utah Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, Utah Highway Patrol and Zero Fatalities to encourage safe cycling and promote positive interactions between bicyclists and drivers.
In past years, the Tour visited Springdale and Hurricane and has twice been hosted in St. George. This year’s Tour will take place in Ivins to recognize Ivins’ accomplishment of becoming the third Road Respect Community in Washington County. The “Road Respect Community” designation acknowledges Ivins commitment to creating a safe, bicycle friendly community through infrastructure planning, communication and collaboration.
“Cycling continues to gain popularity among our residents and visitors so the city embarked on a program to obtain UDOT’s ‘Road Respect Community’ designation,” Ivins Mayor Chris Hart said.
The official presentation of the community designation will be part of the Ivins Road Respect Bike Festival on Thursday at Ivins City Park. The Festival will kick off with local cyclists invited to ride the popular “Veyo Loop” with the Road Respect Cycling Ambassadors. The ride is free and open to the public and includes pastries at the Veyo Pie rest stop.
The event also includes a bike safety rodeo conducted by the Santa Clara/Ivins Police Department and Safe Kids Washington County. In addition to learning how to ride safe, the first 100 kids accompanied by a parent can receive a free bike helmet and every kid who attends with a parent can enter for a chance to win one of two bikes donated by Ivins bike shop IBB Cyclery.
At 11:30 a.m., Mayor Hart will join the Road Respect Ambassadors and lead a three mile Community Fun Ride through Ivins city streets escorted by Santa Clara/Ivins law enforcement officers. Returning back to the park at noon the formal presentation of the Road Respect designation will take place and the drawing for the two free bikes will complete the day.
Ivins City is also hosting a Community Forum on Wednesday at the new Veterans Home beginning at 6 p.m. The Community Forum will feature short presentations by Ivins Mayor Chris Hart, Superintendent Col. Daniel Fuhr of the Utah Highway Patrol, Jordan Mathis, Director of Health Promotion for the Southwest Health Department and Chief Bob Flowers from the Santa Clara/Ivins Police Department. This forum is an opportunity for all Ivins residents to join in the discussion of the benefits and challenges of creating a “bikeable” community.
“We hope you will all mark your calendars and plan to attend to discuss ways to improve the interaction of cyclists and motorists on our roadways and enjoy a piece of Veyo pie,” Mayor Hart wrote in a recent letter to the community.
An informal car show, a Cruise-In, will start at 5 p.m. in the VA parking lot. Local car enthusiasts will be showing off their custom cars & motorcycles, including a vintage Cobra sports car.
The Southern Utah Bicycle Alliance, SUBA, is organizing the Ivins Road Respect Bike Festival and has been the major champion of the Road Respect effort in Washington County.
“We’re so pleased that Ivins has received this state-wide recognition and is working so hard to incorporate safe cycling into the culture of the community,” SUBA President Craig Shanklin said.
Event details and contact information
- What: 4th Annual Road Respect Tour kicks
- When: Thursday, May 29
- Where: Ivins City Park
- What: Community Forum
- When: Wednesday, May 28, 6 p.m.
- Where: Ivins Veterans Home
- Contact: Kai Reed | Telephone: 435-674-5376 | Email: [email protected]
- Online: Road Respect website | Facebook
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