Author Archives: BikeWalk Provo Volunteers

Support the BYU Music Building pt. 2 – UVX Stop on 900 East

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A little over a week ago we invited you to join us in asking the Provo City Planning Commission to approve the construction of the BYU Music Building. You may remember that the Planning Commission continued the item because they wanted BYU to increase its car parking in some way (a garage, valet parking, etc.).

Since then, we have met with residents of nearby neighborhoods who plan to encourage the Planning Commission to ask BYU to work with UTA to install a UVX stop on 900 East as part of this project.

It’s a very round-a-bout way to work with UTA on putting a 900 East UVX stop in, but it may be the most effective given the political history of this particular stop and Provo City’s hesitancy to push for it again. (see here and here)

Here is the point: we are once again asking you to email the Provo City Planning Commission–this time encouraging them to have BYU work with UTA and Provo City to install a 900 East UVX stop as part of this construction project.

The item will be heard by Provo City’s Planning Commission on June 10th at 6pm. Please email your comments to dspublichearings@provo.org with a CC to mkaufusi@provo.org, wparker@provo.org, and ipaxman@provo.org and comment live during the meeting shown on the Provo City Channel 17 YouTube Channel that night.

Main Talking points to use:

  • The 900 East UVX stop should have been build originally
  • The 900 East UVX stop would fill a 1-mile gap in the system; most stops in the downtown/BYU area are 1/2 mile apart
  • Parking garages cost at least $30,000 per parking space and are an unwise long-term investment with shared autonomous vehicles coming–a UVX stop could be far cheaper and an asset for the entire city, not just BYU

Secondary points:

  • Only 40% of trips to BYU are by car
  • The peak use of BYU parking is in the day; performances can take advantage of existing empty parking in the evening
  • BYU already has the second-highest student-per-parking space ratio in the state–a rate above the national recommendation
  • Place parking restrictions on the city streets across 900 East if you are worried about spillover—time limits, fees, or parking permit programs
  • Let BYU build!

Here’s an easy way to support biking in Provo: send Smith’s Inspiring Donations money to @provobicyclecollective. Sign up with your Smith’s Rewards card online, hit “my account”, hit “inspiring donations”, then search for Provo Bicycle Collective. Smith’s will donate money to PBC each time you shop there at no cost to you. #provobikemonth #provoproud #bikewalkprovo #provobicyclecollective #bikeprovo #bikeutah

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ACTION ALERT—Support the BYU Music Building

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BikeWalk Provo members, we need you to speak up, either by email or during the Provo City Planning Commission meeting next Wednesday evening.

BYU has announced the construction of a new music building on the corner of 900 E and 1100 N, southeast of its law school. The building will be used primarily for instruction and student performances. It will also serve as a venue for concerts open to the public, which are held during the evening or on Saturdays and can therefore take advantage of the existing parking lots in the evening, when BYU students and employees are gone. 

At a recent hearing, members of the Provo Planning Commission pressed BYU to build a parking garage as a part of this project. Not only do parking garages come at an incredible cost at $30,000 per parking space, but the construction of a parking structure will only induce more driving. It would undermine the progress BYU has achieved over the last several years to discourage driving and incentivize transit and active transportation. Rather than encouraging BYU to continue in this sustainable trajectory, the Planning Commission is asking for the opposite.

Please raise your voice in support of the BYU Music Building by emailing the Planning Commission at dspublichearings@provo.org by Tuesday evening or calling in your comments during the meeting, which will be available via an on-demand YouTube viewing next Wednesday evening, starting at 6 pm soon. The item has been continued and will be heard again at a later date.

Talking points to use:

  • Only 40% of trips to BYU are by car
  • The peak use of BYU parking is in the day. Performances can take advantage of existing empty parking in the evening.
  • BYU already has the second-highest student-per-parking space ratio in the state; a rate above the national recommendation
  • Parking garages cost at least $30,000 per parking space and are an unwise long-term investment with shared autonomous vehicles coming
  • Increase transit accessibility with a 900 E Creamery UVX stop and BYU Ryde shuttles to BYU football parking
  • Place parking restrictions on the city streets across 900 East if you are worried about spillover—time limits, fees, or parking permit programs
  • Let BYU build!

RIDE OF SILENCE ANNOUNCEMENT This year, the Ride of Silence will be virtual instead of in-person. Here’s how to participate: 1. Ride in silence 2. Remember and honor those who’ve been hit & killed while riding or seriously injured 3. Ride slowly and a relatively short distance – this is not a race 4. Wear a helmet & obey road laws for bicyclists Take a selfie photo or 2 and use the hashtag #RideofSilence2020 and location of the event when posting their rides on social media.

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