April is Tempe Bike Month
Here’s the latest on Tempe Bike Month. TBAG will be leading the Community Ride during the Bike-A-Palooza on April 5 and will be partnering with the city to staff the Bike to Work and School Day locations with representatives who can offer advice on route planning, bicycle commuting and bicycle safety. Also keep an eye out for other TBAG events to coincide with Tempe Bike Month.
City of Tempe celebrates Tempe Bike Month in April
TEMPE, Ariz. – The city of Tempe Transportation Program, Tempe in Motion, will hold its 17th annual Bike Month to encourage people to use bikes as an alternative mode of transportation. Tempe Bike Month activities include the Bike-A-Palooza, Bike to Work and School Day and Tempe Community Bike Ride.
Bike-A-Palooza – April 5
Tempe in Motion, Valley Metro and Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists will host the Bike-a-Palooza April 5 from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. Participants should meet at Kiwanis Park in the parking lot off All-America Way just north of Guadalupe Road. Admission is free. Activities include:
- Community Ride – This free leisurely 12 -14 mile community bike ride, is a fun, non competitive ride that weaves through diverse neighborhoods, public art projects and other Tempe sites. First 300 participants will receive free T-shirts and be entered to win a free bicycle. Registration begins at 7 a.m. and the ride starts at 8 a.m. Helmets are required.
- Bike Swap Meet – Buy/sell/trade your new/used bike(s), equipment and accessories. Businesses are required to apply for a special events privilege (sales) and use tax license to participate.
- Bike Rodeo – A fun event that teaches bike safety techniques to children and adults.
- Bike on bus and safety demonstrations and helmet giveaways (first 100).
Bike to Work and School Day – April 16
Tempe’s annual Bike to Work and School Day is set for April 16. All riders will receive free breakfast snacks and the first 400 riders will receive free T-shirts. Participants should bike between 6 and 8 a.m. to one of the following breakfast locations:
- Whole Foods Market, 5120 S. Rural Road, at the northwest corner of Rural and Baseline roads
- Wildflower Bread Company, 6428 S. McClintock Drive, at the southwest corner of McClintock Drive and Guadalupe Road
- Berning’s Fine Jewelry, 1721 E. Warner Road, at the southwest corner of McClintock Drive and Warner Road
- Sixth Street Park, southwest side of City Hall on Sixth Street
- IKEA Tempe, 2110 W. IKEA Way, at the northwest corner of Priest Drive and Warner Road
Community Ride – April 16
Join Mayor Hugh Hallman along with members of the Tempe City Council and Transportation Commission bicycle ride through Tempe. Meet the Mayor at Whole Foods Market at 7 a.m. and bike to Sixth Street Park in downtown Tempe.
Discounted Bicycle Tune-Ups
Residents are encouraged to stop by the following bicycle stores and receive discounted bicycle tune-ups from April 12 to April 20.
- Bicycle Wheelers, 2010 S. Rural Road
- Domenics Cycling, 1004 S. Mill Ave.
- Ehrhardt’s Schwinn, 111 W. University Drive
- Landis Cyclery, 2180 E. Southern Ave. & 1006 E. Warner Road
- REI, 1405 W. Southern Ave.
- Tempe Bicycle, 330 W. University Drive
Tempe Bike Week sponsors include Tempe Bicycle, Valley Metro, Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists, Berning’s Fine Jewelry, IKEA, Whole Foods Market, Wildflower Bread Company, Clif Bar, Tempe Bicycle Action Group, Tempe Police Department, Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Tempe in Motion.
For information on Tempe Bike Month, call Tempe in Motion at (480) 350-2775 or visit www.tempe.gov/tim.
I’ll be at the Wildflower snack stop at ~6:45a as I have in past years
Hi, I can’t seem to find a contact email on the site so I am sorry to deviate from the post topic.
I live in the UK and want to visit my cousin in Tempe. I recently learnt how to ride a bike and would like to make it a biking holiday but can’t afford the expenses and set time of the tours. I wonder if anyone out here can advise me on getting a cycling partner/group while in Tempe as I have never been there before and my cousin will be working most of the time.
Also are there flat bicycle routes in Tempe that stretch up to 20miles? I have phobia for valleys and hills!!
Any response will be appreciated.
Zaza
Zaza,
First off, you’re in for a real treat–most of this area is fairly flat unless you go out of your way to find big hills. Check out a couple of the links under “Routes, Rides & Racing” for copies of some of the area bike maps, which should help with figuring out rides to some degree. Several of the area parks are popular bicycling destinations, especially South Mountain Park.
For finding rides: When will you be in Tempe? And where will you be? You might check out some of the Greater Arizona Bicycling Association (GABA) rides, or the other rides listed in the middle of the page for “Routes, Rides & Racing.” If you’re looking for a fairly casual ride, also consider the Arizona Car Resistance Action Party Ride on Tuesday nights–an 8-mile ride up the greenbelt to the Orange Table Restaurant in Scottsdale, plus return ride.
I hope that helps you get started. Most of the local bike shops should have free copies of the regional bike maps and ride suggestions as well.
Rebecca
Do you guys purchase used bikes? I have a very nice bike that I do not use anymore and would like to sell…