Pedaling The Pueblo

This 2018 interview features John from Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists with some key tips about how to “Be Cool” out on the shared use trails around town. We’re lucky to have so many trails for year-round recreation–including mountain biking, but also hiking, horseback riding, and more! Follow SDMB’s tips to Be Cool with your bike on the trail.

Our guest is Natalie Shepp, senior Program Manager for Outreach and Education at the Pima County Department of Environmental Quality. Natalie encourages folks in Tucson to take the Drive Less Pledge and commit to going car-free at least 1 day a week in order to preserve our air quality and climate. Biking in Tucson is a wonderful (and scenic!) way to lower everyday emissions.

Happy new year from PtP! Here’s a quick episode with tips about getting your bike ready to ride.   featured music by Podington Bear 

PtP host Lydia Barker-Winkworth was one participant in the City of Tucson’s effort to create a new Climate Action & Adaptation Plan through extensive community outreach and input this year. In this episode, she shares some of the preliminary data gathered from community workshops, dialogues, surveys and outreach initiatives. It’s clear that Tucson residents see improving bike infrastructure an...

World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is observed on November 20th as a way to remember those killed and inured on our streets each year. Evren Sönmez is Director of Strategic Policy & Practice at local advocacy organization Living Streets Alliance . Her work is dedicated to promoting better street design through community outreach and prioritizing safety. She talks with PtP host p...

Lydia Barker-Winkworth — Living Streets Alliance intern and Sustainable Built Environments student at the University of Arizona — took to the (car-free) streets during October’s Cyclovia Tucson to interview participants about their experience at the event. We heard from a diversity of Tucson residents along this Fall’s new route (‘Thrive in the 05’) on what makes the day so special. Cyclovia is pa...

As Tucson celebrates 12 years of Cyclovia events, we take a look at the history of the Open Streets movement by resharing this 2018 interview with Gil Penalosa. Gil played a major role in creating one of the world’s first and largest Cyclovia events in Bogota, Colombia. Here he speaks with previous Cyclovia Tucson coordinator, Kylie Walkzak, about the meaning of Open Streets.   For more about Cycl...

Bikes around town In another portrait episode spotlighting Tucson riders, we speak with Lupita Chavez about her iconic Rose Bike. If you’ve attended previous Cyclovia events, the All Souls Procession, Tucson Meet Yourself, or any of our city’s many community events, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve seen or have danced with Lupita and her white, rose-adorned bicycle. Most of the time you can hea...

Lydia speaks with Brendan about his organization, Look! Save a Life which promotes safety for cyclists on Tucson streets.

As you may have seen at Cyclovia or other community events, the Tucson BMX scene is thriving! Saul Moreno of Genuine BMX   (a local brand and ‘BMX family’) talks with us about rising stars in Tucson, opportunities for youth in BMX, and having a blast on your bike! Visit Genuine BMX on Drachman St. during Cyclovia on October 30th to learn more, or try out a ramp for yourself!  

Check out El Grupo 

Bikes around town: In another portrait episode spotlighting Tucson riders, we speak with Nic Wolf about bringing his new puppy, Arlo, around town with him on bike rides. Trailers can be a useful way for bike commuters to schlep anything from groceries to pets! Learn more about biking with your pup safely.

E-bikes are becoming a more common sight around town. Robin Steinberg, long-time Tucson bike enthusiast, tells us what all the fuss is about.

We spoke with Ryan Fagan of the City of Tucson Department of Transportation and Mobility about some of the infrastructure updates Tucson residents can expect to see this year. Keep an eye out for new low-stress Bicycle Boulevards, push-button crossings and more ways that DTM is working to make riding a bike safer. Michigan Ave Project Website 3rd/Treat Project Website    

Mia Hansen is the Executive Director of Southern Arizona Adaptive Sports (SAAS), a local organization that organizes sports programs and lends equipment to people with physical disabilities and mobility limitations. Pat of Living Streets Alliance chats with Mia about SAAS’ adaptive cycling program–the largest in Southern Arizona,– which leads group rides with participants training for El Tour de T...

Bikes around town: Bob Seaman creates truly original pedal-powered art pieces like the Cowcycle in Tucson. Hear more about Bob’s inspiration and s ee Gertrudis in action.  

Jasmine Chan, staff from the City of Tucson who oversees the Parks and Connections Bond Program (Proposition 407) shares about her bike to work experience during the monthly challenge. An experienced person who uses multiple transportation modes, she bikes to the bus stop to ride downtown where she works and then returns to her home by bicycle. Jasmine Chan shares tips and tricks and the mental he...

Work as an individual can be good. Work as a community can be even greater. On this episode of PtP, Michael of LSA meets with Gene Martinez, program coordinator at the John Velanzuela Youth Center in South Tucson, to discuss the youth center’s current work and involvement in the community. From urban tacticalism to getting involved in this year’s Cyclovia, Gene has big plans for the community he s...

Having a safe and convenient place to lock your bike is a crucial, yet often unrecognized issue among the general public in many cities. On this episode of PtP, Michael of LSA sits with Benjamin Elias, a planner at the city of Tucson, to discuss the city’s free bike rack program for local businesses. This program has been designed to establish more bike racks around the city at businesses and comm...

BICAS Education Coordinator of thirteen years, Kristin Mcray brought her bike shop experiences and take on bike shop culture at large. We heard the typical experiences one can assume when entering a specialty shop as well as more positive experiences that are a lot more welcoming to first time riders. Kristin Mcray shared helpful questions and expectations to take into a bike shop the next time yo...

Adonia Lugo, PhD is an urban anthropologist, bicyclist, and activist in Los Angeles. She collaborates to envision a sustainable transportation future centered in the needs and experiences of historically marginalized communities and people of color like her. She has written extensively on the socioeconomic implications of bicycling. Learn more about Adonia Lugo, PhD on her website . Pedaling the P...

Whether on electric bikes, cargo hitches or in bicycle caravans, many Tucson families are finding ways to get their kids to school car-free. Logan Phillips & his daughters ride together every morning, continuing a longstanding family tradition of cycling.   There are lots of local resources for families who want to bike more together. Exo Coffee holds monthly cargo bike rides & round-ups ....

Commemorating ten years of Open Streets in Tucson, Cyclovia Remix features a past Cyclovia Tucson route each month from October 2021-March 2022, highlighting the people, places, and partners that bring our streets to life each and every day. December’s focus is on Blacklidge Drive–taking time to enjoy its neighborhoods, parks, businesses and art installations by bicycle or on foot. What makes this...

Cyclovia Remix brings you specially-curated soundtracks honoring past Cyclovia routes. For November, we’re focusing on Tucson’s very first Bike Boulevard: the bustling and beloved 4th Avenue. In this episode, PtP host pat speaks with Kellen Fortier and Jake Sullivan of Wooden Tooth Records who put together a ride-worthy playlist based on the sights and sounds of their home on 4th Avenue. Cue up th...