Arizona Bilingual News

The Best Of Two Worlds

Pima County expands bike education and ‘Bike Buddy’ program

001The U.S. Census American Community Survey recently released data showing that bicycling in the Tucson region has increased by 75 percent over just the past five years. With this great news, Pima County is pleased to announce the expansion of its bike education and “Bike Buddy” program to help even more people get into bicycling and make more trips by bike for commuting, school, health, shopping, and of course fun.

The Bike Buddy program includes personalized, one-on-one support services by experienced bicycle instructors who help people learn to ride if they were never taught as children, provide more advanced training for novice cyclists including youth, help folks get their bicycles in good mechanical working order, and assist individuals with finding and using bicycle routes appropriate to their abilities.
When you sign up for the Bike Buddy program, you can receive a free helmet, bicycle U-lock, front and rear bicycle lights, bike bell, and other items to help you get rolling on the roads and paths.
Pima County also has numerous support services and projects that have helped increase bicycling throughout the region over the past decade, saving people money and improving their health. Some of our initiatives include:
Providing bicycle and pedestrian safety training and free BMX-style helmets in over 50 elementary and middle schools per year throughout the Tucson metropolitan area.
Hosting bicycle safety classes for youth and adults at various levels of cycling ability provided by our trained Bike Ambassadors.
Building 104 miles of bike lanes and 62 miles of shared use pathways over the past decade, including The Loop.
Providing support services and funding for events such as the Julian Wash Greenway Celebration (Nov. 1), Cyclovia (Nov. 2), El Tour de Tucson (Nov. 22), back-to-school celebrations, and numerous helmet and safety promotion events.
The County has helped increase bicycling throughout the region in partnership with Perimeter Bicycling Association of America and the Greater Arizona Bicycling Association, and with regional partners including Marana, Oro Valley, the Tohono O’odham Nation, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Sahuarita, South Tucson and Tucson.
Thanks to continuing development of The Loop, a 100-plus-mile shared use pathway system serving Pima County residents and visitors, more people than ever will have the ability to get into bicycling or to expand their bicycling activities.
If you would like to learn more about the Bike Buddy program or to sign up for our individualized bicycle support service and free helmets, lights, locks and other items, please contact the Pima County Bicycle and Pedestrian Program at (520) 724-BIKE or go to www.bikeped.pima.gov for more information.

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