Utah’s 3,100-Mile Bike “Interstate” Could Revolutionize Riding Across the State

Utah just dropped one of the most ambitious bike-infrastructure proposals in the country: a 3,100-mile paved statewide cycling network designed to put a bike lane within a mile of 95% of Utah residents. On paper it reads like a commuter project, but for mountain bikers, this could be a game changer.

The Utah Department of Transportation says roughly 500 miles are complete, with another 2,600 miles proposed. The plan includes a dedicated funding stream of up to $45 million per year pulled from six different tax sources — a sign the state is serious about giving bikes the same planning priority as cars.

For everyday riders, the implications are massive. Imagine linking your neighborhood directly to a trail network without battling traffic and notoriously bad Utah drivers in the streets. Urban riders could pedal from Salt Lake City or Ogden to foothill trailheads with far less friction. Families could reach green-belt loops without worrying about road crossings. And visitors could land at the airport, hop on a bike, and ride straight into some of the most iconic mountain landscapes in the West. For commuters this is a dream, and for the local trail aficionado it might allow safer, quicker and more practical pedal access to some of their favorite local spots.

While the plan sounds promising, there are challenges to consider: trailheads already feel the pressure of overcrowding, and any system this big requires long-term maintenance, city-by-city cooperation, and consistent funding. But for spots that are often bottlenecked by parking lots and non-driving access, a bike-first transportation grid feels like the beginning of a cultural shift and a solid move for a state that could benefit greatly from infrastructure like this.

If this plan rolls out the way Utah hopes, the distance between a rider and their favorite singletrack might shrink dramatically — not because the trails moved, but because the path to get there finally does.