Tucson celebrates Cyclovia's 25th ride with cyclists of all ages

Tucson’s streets became a place for people instead of cars as thousands of cyclists, pedestrians, skaters and families took part in Cyclovia Tucson’s 25th ride. The annual open streets event connected Downtown and South Tucson along 2.25 miles of temporarily closed roads, giving residents a chance to move through the city without sharing the route with regular vehicle traffic. For people who live, work or spend time in central Tucson, the event offered a rare view of familiar neighborhoods at a slower, more social pace.

Organized by Living Streets Alliance, Cyclovia is built around a simple idea: Tucson’s streets should be safe and welcoming for everyone, regardless of how they travel. During the event, major streets were opened for people to walk, bike, roll, play and connect. Riders ranged from toddlers using balance bikes to experienced cyclists, while families and groups of friends stopped along the way for food, entertainment, repairs and community activities.

For first time participants, the car free route made exploring the city feel less intimidating. Leah Ortiz rode with friends Thomas Weiss and Andrew Kessler and said the event gave them an opportunity to see parts of Tucson they had not visited before. Weiss said that although Tucson is a bikeable city, riding near traffic and other cyclists can feel uncomfortable. Closing the streets, he said, helps people become more confident about using bicycles in the city.

The route was designed as more than a ride. Five activity hubs brought together local businesses, nonprofit groups, performers and public agencies. At Mission View Elementary, the Arizona Complete Health hub offered health services including mammograms, prostate cancer blood tests, vision and diabetes screenings, and liver scans. The hub also included music, folklorico performances, food vendors, face painting, jump rope challenges, bike rodeos and tennis lessons.

Other stops highlighted Tucson’s neighborhoods and community organizations. At the Luna y Sol Café area, participants could find coffee, baked goods, music, lowrider bikes, button making, a book exchange and information about pollinator gardens and public land. Free bike rentals from Tugo Bikes helped people join the event even if they did not bring a bicycle. At Ochoa Community School, groups focused on immigration, education, the Santa Cruz River and community organizing shared information, while children had access to games, bubbles, hula hoops and other activities.

Santa Rosa Park offered roller skating, dance and mental health activities, along with music, food and a water refill station from Tucson Water. The Tucson Roller Collective brought extra skates and instruction for roller dancing, and the Esperanza Dance Project performed for participants. At Armory Park, the Rose and Collin Forbes hub honored two people remembered for supporting Cyclovia and advocating for safe, enjoyable Tucson streets. Activities there included parkour, a foam play area, aerial performances, BMX demonstrations, a beer garden and food from several local vendors.

Mechanical problems did not have to end anyone’s ride. R.E.I. Tucson provided free flat repairs and basic adjustments, including work on brakes and derailleurs. Other repair stations were offered by Ajo Bikes, BICAS, Living Streets Alliance and Campfire Cycling. Johnny Yaiken, a bike supervisor with R.E.I. Tucson, said the event allows the store to support the community while bringing people together. He described the crowd as representing all kinds of Tucsonans celebrating life on two wheels.

The event also reflected Cyclovia’s broader role in Tucson’s transportation conversation. Living Streets Alliance describes the program as part of the global open streets movement, which encourages communities to imagine safer and more sustainable ways to move through public spaces. The organization’s work includes outreach, education and advocacy for transportation that is healthy, accessible and dignified. Cyclovia gives residents a temporary example of what streets can feel like when movement and gathering, rather than vehicle traffic, are the priority.

The 25th ride was supported by Arizona Complete Health, Visit Tucson, KXCI, Tucson Water, AARP Arizona, Pima County agencies, the Downtown Tucson Partnership, local breweries and other sponsors and partners. Volunteers helped manage intersections and keep traffic moving around the route, and groups could participate by adopting an intersection with music, decorations or activities. Through its mix of recreation, health services, local food, arts and neighborhood participation, Cyclovia again turned a few miles of Tucson into a shared public space for people of all ages and abilities.