This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker doesn't want bicyclists riding in the dark without lights — so he's giving away bike lights.
On Tuesday from 5-6:30 p.m. the city, in partnership with Bike Utah and SaltCycle, will provide lights to cyclists who aren't properly equipped. The giveaways are planned along popular routes, although no specific locations have been identified.
Installation assistance also will be provided.
The goal of the bike-light giveaway is to promote safety and prevent accidents, according to Colin Quinn-Hurst, of the Salt Lake City Transportation Division.
State law mandates that bicycles on roadways must be equipped with a white headlight, red taillight or reflector and side reflectors when riding a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise.
In Utah, most bicycle-motor vehicle crashes occur between 4 p.m. and midnight, according to Quinn-Hurst.
The Salt Lake Tribune