Non-freeway commute route north in Salt Lake City?

[stw]

Can any SLC riders help me find a good route for commuting north to down town Salt Lake City without taking I-15?  Fairly new rider and not ready for the freeway yet.

I'll be coming north over point of the mountain on one of the access roads along I-15 I guess. Can get downtown SLC fairly easily but would rather not go on State Street or Redwood Road and hit every light. If there's a better way besides the freeway, let me know.  I'm ending up at 500 West downtown, so I could go of a corridor west of I-15 just as easily as east of it.

Thanks.

[1KPerDay]

I just spent 15 minutes typing out a detailed reply and STN trashed it.

Short answer: no, there isn't a better way. Ride in the carpool lane; you're allowed. Wear your gear. Ride in the left portion of the lane. Watch for idiots. Be careful. the carpool lane on the freeway is safer than crossing a bunch of intersections/surface streets, IMO.

[Justin]

the carpool lane on the freeway is safer than crossing a bunch of intersections/surface streets, IMO.

I'd have to agree with that..

[stw]

Thanks for the replies.  I figure that carpool lane is the safest for the reasons you mention. Just not fully up to highway speeds yet, as a beginner. Will probably be soon but I'm not pushing it.

That carpool lane means you have to go 70 min., right?  Otherwise you get an express bus or SUV tailgating.

[Tejasbusa]

Watch for idiots. Be careful.

I agree with this part 110%.  A year ago I made a trip to SLC to visit my baby's grave and the ONLY time I had any encounters that you could consider even remotely "Close Calls" was in SLC on I15.  I was around 700 or 800 south when this IDIOT is going off the off ramp and my body was even with his front bumper.  He decided to cross the hashed marks and get back in MY lane.  Just came over.  Luckily I had a free spot to my left and moved over rather abruptly.  He did finally see me and looked sheepishly at me.  I slowed down to look him in his side window and just shook my head.  The second time was around 7500 south when this old broad with about a hundred stuffed cats on her dash just decided to move from the far left lane to the far right, no signal, nothing, just moved.  This time I was in the far left lane and saw her coming and was able to slow down.  The traffic was heavy at that point all the way into Provo so I did not get pass her, and I figured I did not want to try because she did her full lane change move two or three times more, just switched lanes from the far left to the far right or far right to the far left lane, no signal, nothing.

[1KPerDay]

Thanks for the replies.  I figure that carpool lane is the safest for the reasons you mention. Just not fully up to highway speeds yet, as a beginner. Will probably be soon but I'm not pushing it.

That carpool lane means you have to go 70 min., right?  Otherwise you get an express bus or SUV tailgating.

More like 80, yeah. It's safer in my experience to go slightly faster than traffic, rather than slower. More visibility, less pissing people off.
If traffic is slowed or stopped you obviously wouldn't be blasting past them at 70-80. You slow down to the point where you feel comfortable being able to stop/swerve WHEN someone pulls out in front of you.
If you're not up to speed, take the cage, IMO. The freeway in rush hour is not a good place to learn to ride.
Buy a hybrid and you can drive in the carpool lane solo (if you get the "C" plates).
 But since they've started whoring out the HOV lane to anyone who pays, it's going to become just another traffic-filled lane IMO. 

[stw]

More like 80, yeah. It's safer in my experience to go slightly faster than traffic, rather than slower. More visibility, less pissing people off.
If traffic is slowed or stopped you obviously wouldn't be blasting past them at 70-80. You slow down to the point where you feel comfortable being able to stop/swerve WHEN someone pulls out in front of you.
If you're not up to speed, take the cage, IMO. The freeway in rush hour is not a good place to learn to ride.
Buy a hybrid and you can drive in the carpool lane solo (if you get the "C" plates).

My cage is a Jeep TJ on 33s and 4 cyl., so I'm used to cruising at 65 in the far right lane  
I'll do a search in the Beginner Garage for suggestions on getting up to speed one the freeway.

 But since they've started whoring out the HOV lane to anyone who pays, it's going to become just another traffic-filled lane IMO. 

"Whoring it out" is right. And the way DOT announces this on the radio spots is a pathetic sort of lie--the lane is "now available for drivers when they are not able to carpool"

[stw]

Just to check in and report my freeway riding is up to speed and now using your advice for commuting on I-15.

Speed is up with comfort margins up through 80-85 with margins for urgent stops.

Worked up to it slowly by riding the empty right lane at speed on Sundays and practicing skills.  Now the rush hour feels ok, and I'm carefully collecting experience.  

And it does seem safer than a thousand intersections on state street or redwood in rush hour.

Thanks.

[1KPerDay]

No prob... I think I may have seen you out there recently. Keep up the good work and don't get complacent. I see cagers doing crazy crap nearly every day.