After calling off last year’s annual block party, Cyclovia has returned to Tucson with a new twist.
With the pandemic continuing to impact daily life, the annual community event that repurposes city streets for the public to engage in physical activity for a day, has launched Cyclovia Remix, a new six-month event featuring a variety of outdoor, cultural activities — including group rides, pop-up events and a different bike-riding route each month — beginning this October through March.
“Remix feels like the perfect hybrid approach to bring together the key ingredients of Cyclovia Tucson so we don’t have to wait any longer to enjoy it, pandemic or not,” said Emily Yetman, the executive director of Living Streets Alliance, the nonprofit in charge of the annual event.
The Cyclovia event took off back in 2010 with the intent to bring the community together by repurposing public streets and open them for biking, walking and getting to know the local neighborhoods. Last year, the event was canceled due to concerns regarding the coronavirus pandemic.
The first stop in the Cyclovia Remix is the South 12th Avenue route, which invites participants to connect with businesses on Tucson’s south side starting at 39th Street and down past Drexel Road.
“I feel that it is important to highlight local businesses on the south side because we are competing against large corporate businesses that offer competitive prices and wages yet they do not understand and give back to our community the way we do,” says Mateo Otero, owner of Rollie’s Mexican Patio.
This month’s activities include group bike rides on Oct. 23, 29 and 30, as well as DIY ofrenda kits for Dia De Los Muertos on Oct. 23 . There will also be a fiesta and free bike repairs at Mission Manor Park on Oct. 24.
Throughout the following months, participants can expect routes that go through Fourth Avenue, midtown, the Tucson Botanical Gardens, Himmel Park and the University of Arizona. The regular Cyclovia Tucson event will take place on April 3 with a downtown through South Tucson route.
For more information about the months-long event or to learn more about the October activities, visit cycloviatucson.org.
