Cars are overrated. Walking is so slow. Try taking a bike next time.
Discover what Tucson has to offer beyond the main roads and whatever's within walking distance.
A day ride to some of the city's hotspots can give you a new perspective on urban life in Tucson.
Cruising around on your steed lets you be spontaneous. And there's always parking right by the front door.
"I mostly just ride around to find out what's going on around town," said Emily Phillips, a studio art sophomore at the University of Arizona. "Biking is fun, you talk to people, and I always run into somebody I know."
Phillips was riding her bike around Downtown with a friend on a recent Saturday, when artists covered the plaza of the Joel D. Valdez Main Library in chalk.
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"Tucson is a really bike-friendly place," Phillips said.
If you know where to ride, that is.
The first step is a bike map with all bike paths marked in different colors so it's easy to find the quietest road to your destination.
The maps are free and available at many bike shops, or at www.pagnet.org/bikemap online.
To make your bike tour interesting and relaxing, you can include a handful of rest stops.
You could try a route that looks something like this:
Park near the UA campus or ride a bike there. Saddle your iron horse and ride onto campus to see the mall and Old Main and check out a museum or gallery on the way.
The UA Museum of Art and the Center for Creative Photography are free, and the Arizona State Museum has a $3 suggested admission.
After exploring the campus, get ready for the trek to the 17th Street Farmers Market.
Before taking off, consider a drink and quick bite at Espresso Art, 942 E. University Blvd.
Ride west on East University Boulevard and turn south on North Fourth Avenue. After crossing the underpass leading Downtown, take a zigzag path to stick to quieter roads and intersections with traffic lights. Take a right on East Toole Avenue and a quick left on South Fifth Avenue. Cross East Broadway at the light and take another left on East 12th Street and a right on South Fourth Avenue. Continue to East 17th Street and take a left to find the Farmers Market at the end. The market is open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.
Here you can reward yourself with a drink or fresh fruit or search the international foods and produce for some exotic dinner ingredients.
Refreshed? Get ready for the final destination: Downtown.
Going back west on 17th and taking a right at South Meyer Avenue, you can enjoy Barrio Historico, an Old Pueblo neighborhood in Sonoran adobe style. Its old houses are often hidden on tiny side roads, so don't hesitate to take a few extra turns before coming upon the Tucson Convention Center.
When crossing Broadway, you're entering El Presidio Historic District. Some of the stopovers on your tour can include El Presidio Park and the Old Pima County Courthouse at West Alameda Street and North Church Avenue; the Tucson Museum of Art, 140 N. Main Ave.; and Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St.
Taking unexpected turns and stops along the way might lead you to a restaurant or shop you didn't know about or simply show what's hidden beyond the beaten path.
From Downtown, take North Fourth Avenue and East University Boulevard back to UA.
QUICK TAKE
Tucson Bike Tour
Where: The suggested route is about seven miles, but it varies, depending on side trips.
When: Anytime, but the 17th Street Farmers Market is closed on Sundays.
Bring: Water, sunscreen, comfortable clothing, a helmet and lights in case it gets dark.
Et cetera: You can rent a bike near campus at Bargain Basement Bikes, 428 N. Fremont Ave. It's $25 per bike per day. They come with helmets, locks, water bottles, flat kits and free bike route maps. Reservations are recommended. Hours are 8.30 a.m.- 6.30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. -5 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays. Contact the store at 624-2331.