In its August 2010 issue,
Outside Magazine
calls Tucson a "cyclist's paradise."
I've been bicycling here for years — winter and summer — and
it's true.
I don't race, and I usually don't ride off-road; I ride city streets
(mostly the side streets) and bike paths.
Here are some tips, links, and info to help you enjoy Tucson bicycling.
(Some of them are for racing, clubs I don't belong to, and other pages
that I thought might be helpful.
Please send me
suggestions and updates!)
Coming soon... change background color... add clickable sections...
reorder...
Clubs, organizations, etc.
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Tucson Velo
covers Tucson bicycling news, rides, stolen bikes, readers' links.
Updated several times a week. MOVE TO A BLOG/NEWS SECTION?
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BICAS
is a non-profit bicyclists' resource center where you can work on your bike,
get parts, meet other riders, take classes...
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Cactus Cycling Club
is here "to create an environment for bikers of all levels to enjoy the sport
together. Nonmembers are always welcome." Site has some delicious-looking
recipes.
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El Grupo
youth cycling, for 12-20 year olds who don't necessarily "do"
traditional sports but who love to ride. Free or low-cost bikes available.
The latest info is in their
blog.
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GABA,
the Greater Arizona Bicycling Association (MORE INFO; MOVE UP?)
Bicyclists, their stories and their blogs
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Alicia Rosemarie Heiserer is an active bicyclist who has the site
AliciaRides.com,
full of information, rides she's organized or is participating in, and more.
-
The story
of Gord Fraser, a Tucson bicyclist (written by Maynard Hershon
in CyclingNews.com) is also about Tucson bicycling and bicyclists.
The page is old (from maybe 2000?) but it's a good read.
Government (more interesting than it sounds)
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Tucson Bicycle & Pedestrian Program
with bicycling news and rules (What's a bike box?
What are those green stripes?), info on free valet bicycle parking
(!), rules about motorized bicycles (love them or not), and more
-
How to
Bike & Ride using the bike racks on the front of city buses.
(Sun Tran)
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Bicycle
Traffic Laws (Pima Association of Governments) is short and sweet summary
of Tucson and Arizona laws for bicyclists. This takes about a minute to read
and can save you a ticket (yet, police ticket bicyclists) or worse.
-
The Tucson Police Department
Bicycle
Patrol: the 42 (as of 2007) police officers who patrol Tucson on bikes.
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Pima County Bicycle
& Pedestrian Program, which works to improve walking and cycling
in Tucson. (Pima County Department of Transportation)
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TCPBAC
(Tucson-Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee)
includes representatives from local and statewide governments and agencies.
(MAKE THIS LAST? MORE USEFUL INFO TO HIGHLIGHT?
Maps, Rides, Cycling Routes
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Tucson Bike Maps
has zoomable PDF copies of maps showing city streets designated for bicycling.
I don't always agree with these recommentations — for instance, I like
to take east-west streets other than the Third Avenue route — but the
maps have a lot of good advice to help you through Tucson's maze of streets
that don't connect in obvious ways. (You can also get this map for free
on paper from bicycle valet parking areas, bike shops, city fairs, and more
— assuming that the budget for PAG hasn't been cut to zero.)
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MapMyRide.com 2,768 rides (as of August, 2010). Includes
organized rides.
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Bikely.com
lists 139 bicycle trails as of August, 2010.
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Bicycling maps of Arizona and its cities from the
ADOT maps page
(Arizona Department of Transportation)
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The views of Tucson's hundreds of murals are better from the seat of
a bicycle, as you can see on my postings to the Tucson Murals Project blog.
Bike Shops
I can't possibly list all of the businesses here in Tucson
that sell and repair bikes.
Here are some that I know and like, ones that seem prominent in the community,
and also peoples' suggestions (please send me yours):
-
Bike Monk (from yelp.com):
Craig's little shop near 22nd & Country Club is a labor of love.
Low prices, expert service and advice, short hours, and worth the effort.
No website; call 520-325-9099 for info.
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REI Co-op
opened a store in Tucson in May, 2010.
I've been an REI member for 20+ years.
These folks know the outdoors.
Visit, join, and check out their members-only Gear Sale with incredible prices
on returned merchandise.
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Pima
Street Bicycle, a shop on (you guessed it) Pima Street.
A low-gloss and fun website with photos of peoples' bicycles,
consignment bikes, the shop and the owners.
El Tour de Tucson
This is the Tucson bicycle race.
MORE INFO.
Last change: 14 August 2010
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