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Golden Spoke ride draws estimated 450 riders; organizers say event highlights trail restoration and transit links
Summary
The Jordan River Commission and partners reported a record turnout for the Golden Spoke ride on May 10, describing a multi‑start, century‑ride format, restoration highlights and partnerships that provided transit passes and food to participants.
Organizers of the Golden Spoke ride told the Active Transportation Committee on June 10 that the May 10 event was the largest in the ride's history and showcased trail restoration work along the Wasatch Front.
Soren Simonson, executive director of the Jordan River Commission, said organizers capped registration at 600 and estimated about 450 participants completed portions of the route this year. Riders began at multiple start points—Ogden, South Salt Lake, Draper, Lehi, Orem and Provo—and many used UTA connections to access trailheads.
Why it matters: organizers said the event not only promoted cycling and trail use but also highlighted restoration projects such as the Provo River Delta work, and created opportunities to demonstrate linkages between trails and public transit.
Simonson said the Golden Spoke celebrates a connected trail spine of roughly 115 miles linking Provo and Ogden, with broader connections bringing the total to an estimated 175–180 miles of regional trail. The event included rest stops, a bike rodeo at the finish and a volunteer corps that helped staff the route.
The Jordan River Commission reported the following event data to the committee: registration cap 600, estimated 450 participants, more than 20 volunteers on site, roughly 200 free transit passes distributed, 26 partner organizations and about $13,000 raised from sponsors and partners to support operations. Simonson credited Move Utah, Wasatch Front Regional Council, Mountainland Association of Governments and a long list of local cities and organizations as event partners.
Sponsorship and volunteer support allowed organizers to provide food vouchers and three food trucks at the finish line in Provo, Simonson said. He asked committee members to promote next year’s event (tentatively the second Saturday of May) and invited jurisdictions to submit corrections or additions to a permanent event website hosted by the Jordan River Commission at goldenspoke.net.
No policy or funding action was taken at the June 10 meeting; Simonson’s presentation was informational and focused on event outcomes and partnership opportunities.
