Check it out:
Does anyone know this guy? I’ve seen him riding around, but I’ve never actually talked to him. I want to find out what happens with his case.
-Richard
Seems to me that the police should be giving themselves tickets for jaywalking and dangerouse driving. I would think that driving up onto the sidewalk to stop a unicyclist would be a reckless act and quite unnecessary.
its best just not to ever go to Utah.
side note: you know those drink machines at fast food places that you can put the cup under,hit the button and walk away because it delivers a measured amount of soda every time?
well thats what they have a bars too.
remember when France had to get a special exemption just to have champagne at the winter games,Utah blows…
This is municipal fundraising pure and simple. And the hubris that some individuals, though not all, acquire along with the uniform.
Raphael Lasar
Matawan, NJ
Utah laws blow, but the riding and skiing is some of the best in the world.
Here’s a brief enterview with Terry from an earlyer encounter with Utah’s finest:
-From the Salt Lake Tribune
-C
aaah!! I need to stop riding on the sidewalk, I’ve seen that guy riding to work with his breif case, I salute him. Utah really doesn’t blow, just their law force, I don’t know what it is but they have just had a stick up their butt for too long, I suppose they wham on unicyclists and the like just because there is no other crime problems, and they want to use more tax money, that’s just one man’s opinion…
Jonathan Ware
Hello again!
Summer time again so more riding, but it’s hot! Someone should try and get Mr. Mark Gajkowski to join the forums! I looked for an e-mail or anything online but couldn’t find one. Maybe Mr. Ware can talkt to him sometime. Just a thought. And if I goto Utah, I won’t bring my Uni. I don’t need any out-of-state trouble with the law; or any at that.
-David
I swoop down from the lofty reaches to point out
Terry was the cyclist in the article, not Gajkowski.
Nit-Picked, I swing to safty on a ray of pure hyper-bowlie before the first admonishment can be uttered
Tally-Ho!
-C
Utah Code – Title 41 – Chapter 6
Traffic rules and regulations:
Section 1
41-6-1 Defintitions:
(4) “Bicycle” means every device propelled by human power upon which any person may ride, having two tandem wheels, except scooters and similar devices. (Emphasis added)
http://www.le.state.ut.us/~code/TITLE41/htm/41_04002.htm
I’m going to print this out at business card size, laminate it, and stick it in my wallet.
BTW, I’ve never had any problems with the police in Utah. I got kicked out of Gallivan Plaza once when I was riding through, but I wasn’t in the mood to push the issue.
Utah’s not that bad, except that I don’t want to live here ever again. Too crowded for my taste.
Sorry, me again.
Just so you know, if you ever come to Utah, don’t even think about riding on the streets. Utah drivers are dangerous. I’ve seen people doing the stupidest things in cars here. FYI, a red light here means that if the guy in front of you made it, you can make it as well.
Ride on…
Bagpiperboy,
I ride on the sidewalks of Salt Lake City all the time. I’ve not once been harassed by cops. I’ve also never endangered anyone by doing what I do. I think as long as you can demonstrate to a policeman ( or a judge, if it comes to it ) that you can safely operate your unicycle on the sidewalk, there should be no problem.
On a side note, I’ve also ridden in the streets with Critical Mass a few times. I’ve never been harassed by cops, even when there’s been an active police escort. I’d never ride in the street without my bicycle friends, though. Not on my 20", anyway; that’s just dangerous.
-Richard
Here’s some more Unicycling Laws in Utah:
41-6-87.3
(1) A person operating a bicycle or any vehicle or device propelled by human power shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian.
(2) A person may not operate a bicycle or a vehicle or device propelled by human power on a sidewalk, path, or trail, or across a roadway in a crosswalk, where prohibited by official traffic-control devices or ordinance.
(3) A person may not operate a bicycle or any vehicle or device propelled by human power in a negligent manner so as to collide with any pedestrian or other person operating a bicycle or any vehicle or device propelled by human power.
(4) A person operating a bicycle or a vehicle or device propelled by human power on a sidewalk, path, or trail, or across a driveway, or across a roadway on a crosswalk may not operate at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the existing conditions, giving regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing.
(5) Except as provided under Subsections (1) and (4), a person operating a bicycle or a vehicle or device propelled by human power on a sidewalk, path, or trail, or across a roadway on a crosswalk, has all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances.
(Emphasis added)
In my interpretation of the law:
According to subsection 2, we can’t ride in areas which are zoned to be “no unicyling” zones. It must specifically refer to unicycles, not bicycles, since we do not fit under the bicycle definition (see my previous post).
According to subsection 5, we have all the rights and duties applicable to pedestrians. Meaning, they can’t legally kick us off the sidewalk (it also means we have to act like pedestrians while on the sidewalk, whatever that means).
I think that my laminated business card will be two-sided, with the definition of bicycle on one side, and subsection 5 on the other.
Any comments on this? Am I interpreting the law correctly?
Too crowded? This severely limits your choices of other states. You’ll have to pretty much avoid the eastern half of the country entirely. 
Montana’s good, and 99.9% of Nevada (avoid Las Vegas and Reno).
I grew up in Oregon, and while there are more people there (Portland blows away Salt Lake City in terms of size, and in my opinion, quality), in Utah, everyone is crowded into the Wasatch Front. It’s basically one giant city from Salt Lake to Spanish Fork. Besides, I like trees. I may be biased, but I prefer the Pacific Northwest and parts of California.
I emailed the Salt Lake City Council, having checked their ordinances and not found a references to unicycles:
This is the response I received:
The only section of the Salt Lake ordinances that might apply to section 2 of 41-6-87.3 refers to specifically to bicycles and prohibits riding on the sidewalk in the central district.
So, it looks like we shouldn’t have any problems at NAUCC unless we do something really stupid.
Paco, I got kicked out of Gallivan Plaza, also. It was during the Olympics and a few of us (Karl Thompson, Christian Marchant, Michael Grant, Eric and Steven Davis, and my son, James) were riding around enjoying the atmosphere. Then Karl and Christian decided to hop the rocks in the fountain and caught the eye of the security guard.
Other than that, I have ridden sidewalks, streets, parking lots and parks in the Salt Lake area and have never been harrassed by any law enforcement.
I got stopped in Fort Carson, Colorado by the military police for riding at night without a light. I was riding on the side walk and got into the street to bypass some construction when the MP pulled up to me. He was nice about it. If I had stayed on the sidewalk, he probably wouldn’t have said anything.
That’s gay! The police in Salt Lake City must be very bored or all incredibly spiteful. If the article is the truth the police officers seem to be breaking laws trying to enforce laws.
now, wouldnt that count as reckless endangerment? if you drive a car up onto the sidewalk, there is PEOPLE on a sidewalk, is there not? waht would happen if he hit one of them? would he be exempt because he has “The Shield”? or would he be treated as a regular dude?
Excuse me?!! What the hell does their sexual orientation or sexuality have to do with their eidcate and behavior?! Not to mention, most likely their Mormons, so not only are they 99.9% likely to be straight, but also possible married to multiple women. Where’s the gay men in this scenario?
You’re one to judge their morality. That was a pretty immoral, ignorant, and downright offensive statement, and you should think twice about it before you go out and use it in judgement of others.
I think that the cops are out to enforce laws that are there for a reason. It’s stupid that one of them pulled onto the sidewalk, but have we heard the cop’s perspective? Who’s to pass judgement on purely circumstantial evidence? That officer’s probably an ass, but that doesn’t hold bearing on the entire police department.