Every Thursday night in Salt Lake City, dozens of bicycles fill the intersection of 900 S and 900 E. Salt Lake City’s weekly “999” community bike ride, colloquially known as “The Nines,” has been a part of the local Salt Lake community for more than a decade.

The Nines formally started in 2010, after Salt Lake City resident Naresh Kumar went through a breakup. A therapist suggested he should “find something to keep busy.” Fifteen years later, the event has grown into a Salt Lake City staple. The Nines started with less than 40 cyclists and has grown to hundreds of community members. 

Community for students 

University of Utah freshman Juniper Brand attended her first Nines on Thursday, Aug. 28. She said she hopes this event will foster a sense of community in Salt Lake City. 

“I’m hoping it makes me feel connected to a community of people who like to be outdoors, who like to stay active, [and] also like to have some fun,” Brand said.

Brand is new to Salt Lake City, and she said she hopes the Nines will offer a similar sense of community as certain clubs at the U. 

“I joined the hacky sack club, and now I have a really cool friend group,” Brand said. “Same thing with the Nines. I’m probably going to have a lot of friends here, so I’m excited about it.”

Caelan Kirk, a freshman at the U from Durango, Colorado, had a similar perspective on the event.

“I think it’s really cool that there’s an event where people can meet up and go bike around. There’s nothing like this in my hometown,” Kirk said.  

Other community members

The Nines is open to anyone, regardless of age or ability. Real estate developer Melinda Edmondson has been to two Nines rides so far and said she enjoys the variety of routes and people she has seen.  

“You get to take different paths each time, and different people that you get to ride next to, and so that just makes it a fun experience, because it’s new. It’s like a new adventure every time,” Edmondson said.

She also said the event’s potential for connection is her favorite aspect of the community bike ride. 

“Look around and everybody’s talking and hanging out … and you hear the music and socializing. What’s better than that?” Edmondson said. 

Safety response 

Although well-attended by the Salt Lake City populace, the event has brought up several safety concerns due to its growing size and other factors. Salt Lake City Police Sergeant Miles Southworth said since the event is not permitted with the city, certain safety issues do arise. 

“We want people to be able to have fun and enjoy the city, but we need to balance that with public safety,” he said. 

Southworth also said cyclists are more susceptible to potential road hazards. 

“People on bicycles in general are extremely vulnerable. The laws are there to protect people, and we want to enforce those laws to keep people safe as much as possible,” Southworth said.” With a group this size, we’re going to do the best we can to do that.” 

Clashes with cyclists and drivers are also a potential concern. Edmondson said the Nines that took place on the night of July 24 were her first negative encounter with drivers. 

“We were getting locked out in a few lanes. And the riders around me said, ‘This isn’t normal, don’t judge all rides based on this,” Edmondson said. 

Southworth also confirmed these negative encounters between drivers and cyclists. 

“Sometimes [drivers] are in a very, very big hurry or an emergency, and if they’re not able to get through traffic, that’s very concerning, and people are going to get upset in that situation,” he said. “The rules of the road do apply when you’re on a bicycle.”