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. Cyclovia Remix started this month and goes until 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.
Tommy Bullman, 4, looks up to his dad Tom Bullman as they head towards their car following their ride in Cyclovia Tucson in Tucson, AZ. on October 30, 2016. Thousands turned out for the autumn version of the twice-yearly biking, walking, strolling 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 was a South 12th Avenue route, which invited 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.
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 route heading downtown through South Tucson.
For more information about Cyclovia Remix, visit cycloviatucson.org.
