Many family and childhood memories are made on a bicycle.
It’s also an inexpensive mode of transportation that’s good for your body and the environment.
And, let’s face it, riding a bike is just plain fun.
That’s why Living Streets Alliance has dedicated a whole month-long festival to the bicycle.
Bike Fest 2015 includes about 50 events throughout the month of April — geared toward cyclists of all skill levels — as well as discounts and deals from more than a dozen local businesses.
“There are events planned all month long for everyone,” said Kylie Walzak, program manager for Living Streets Alliance. “The hardcore bicycle commuter or road warrior and the family with kiddos just learning to balance on bikes, with or without training wheels, will find events for them.”
People are also reading…
Events are hosted by anyone in the community who wants to organize one.
Last year, Collin Forbes helped organize eight events, and he says he’s doing it again this year — four Tuesday Night Bike Rides and four Bike-In Movie Nights.
For Forbes, a computer programmer, cycling is a way to get around, exercise and spend time outside each day. Part of what he loves about cycling is being able to say “hi” to people who are out working on their houses or yards.
And, for families, Forbes says cycling is a great way to spend time together for “unstructured conversations.”
“As you ride together, it’s easy to just talk about what you see,” Forbes said. “Also, a bike can offer a lot of independence for a kid, and parents can get comfortable with that by riding with their kids.”
As part of Bike Fest, Transit Cycles, at the Mercado San Agustin, is hosting a Bicycle Easter Egg Hunt, at 10 a.m. today. Families are invited to ride their bikes to the Mercado, pick up a map of egg locations and then ride throughout the neighborhood, gathering three to five eggs per stop, said Duncan Benning, owner of Transit Cycles.
“My favorite part about Bike Fest is that it gets such a strong response from the public,” Benning said. “We see so many people out on bikes and participating in all the great events throughout the city.”
If you love the circus — or feel like your family belongs in one — there’s a Circus Parade Bike Ride happening April 14.
The event’s organizer, Janet K. Miller, said she chose the theme because she’s always loved the circus and it offers a lot of “costuming possibilities from simple to the elaborate.”
But, more importantly, she says it brings us out to play together.
“That’s especially good for grownups, since adults have fewer opportunities to play and be silly,” Miller said. “Of course kids are welcome on the Circus Parade Ride too. Everyone should be prepared to ride on city streets with streetcar tracks and make sure their bikes are well lit front and back.”
“For me, Bike Fest is about going outside and spending time with people,” Forbes said. “It just happens to be on a bike. Waving, smiling and saying “hi” goes a long way for feeling connected to the community.”
We’re all about family fun, but some events, such as Watershed Management Group’s Bike to Beer Ride on April 7, Edible Baja Arizona Magazine’s Progressive Dinner by Bike on Saturday and GABA’s Bike Swapnext Sunday, might be more fun sans-kiddos. Learn more about them and other events at bikefesttucson.com/events.
April 5
Second Annual Bicycle Easter Egg Hunt: 10 a.m. to noon at Mercado San Agustin Courtyard, 100 S. Avenida del Convento. Free. Call: 396-4525.
April 10
Walk & Roll to School Day: This event is held each year during Bike Fest to encourage active ways for children to get to school. Thousands of families across Pima County will walk, ride bikes, skate or scoot to school. Free. Email: Olga.Valenzuela-Ochoa@pima.gov
Bike Fest Bike-In Movie Series, “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure”: Watch the movie at Menlo Park, 325 N. Grande Ave. Bring a blanket or something comfortable to sit on and snacks — some to share if you’re up for it. Event organizers will provide portable camping stoves to make Jiffy Pop. 7 p.m. Free. Email: collin.forbes@gmail.com
April 12
12th Annual Pie Party: Ride your bike to the Pie Party and get free bike valet parking by Living Streets Alliance at the YWCA, 525 N. Bonita Ave. You can enter a pie for the contest, go eat some pie or just hang out. RSVP on Facebook at www.facebook.com/events/1550900291828239. The party starts at 3 p.m. It’s free to enter a pie and $3 per slice or $5 for two slices to eat it. Call: 624-4821.
April 14
Circus Parade Bike Ride: Dress up in costumes, bring whatever circus stuff you want such as hula hoops and juggling balls, practice your circus moves and bring friends to Armory Park, 221 S. Sixth Ave., to ride around downtown. Peanuts and popcorn will be provided. 6:30 p.m. Free. Email: janetkmiller@gmail.com
April 18
Viva La Local Food Festival: Ride your bike to the Rillito Park Race Track, 4502 N. First Ave., and take advantage of the free bike valet, while you wander through the festival and farmers market. The farmers market runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the food festival is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. $6; children under 12 admitted for free. Food and drink items available for $5 each. Proceeds from the festival go to Heirloom Farmers Markets. Call: 333-4292.
Tucson Earth Day Festival and Parade: This year’s theme is “To the Earth Be Kind; Leave Your Car Behind,” making it a great event to ride your bike to. There will be free bike-valet parking. About 100 exhibitors will offer hands-on activities and handouts on different aspects of the environment including energy and water conservation, animal rescue, air and water quality and more. The event is at Reid Park, on Country Club, north of 22nd Street. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Parade is at 10 a.m. Free. Email: tucsonearthday@yahoo.com
April 19
Cyclovia Tucson — Downtown to South Tucson: The streets will be blocked off to traffic so people can bike, walk, jog, skate, scoot and play without worrying about cars. Download the route at cycloviatucson.org. 10 a.m. Free. Email: info@cycloviatucson.org
April 24
Bike-In Movie showing of “The Goonies”: Watch the movie, about a group of kids who set out to find a pirate’s ancient treasure to save their home from foreclosure, at the Franklin Docks, Franklin Street at Ninth Avenue, across the street from Xerocraft and BICAS. Bring a blanket or something comfortable to sit on and snacks. Event organizers will provide portable camping stoves to make Jiffy Pop. 7 p.m. Free. Email: collin.forbes@gmail.com
April 25
Pima Community College Campus Police Bike Safety Fair: Learn about bike safety, bike laws and theft prevention at the downtown campus, 1255 N. Stone Ave. Kids can get free bicycle helmets, coloring books and more. Food trucks will be on-site. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free admission. Email: rryrigoyen@pima.edu
