The City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department is a supporting sponsor of this year’s event, which features a group ride that starts at Park Central (3100 N. Central Avenue) at 7 a.m., and ends at the Phoenix Bioscience Core campus (850 N. 5th Street) around 7:30 a.m. Check in at Park Central begins at 6:30 a.m.
The ride is approximately 3 miles long and will travel along protect bike lanes and other paths that are safe and bike friendly. It ends with refreshments and giveaways, and the first 300 people to check in will receive free breakfast and a BTWPhx t-shirt. All participants will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a Lectric eBike and other prizes.
Learn more and register here.
Those who don’t want to participate in the group ride can create their own route and meet the group at the Phoenix Bioscience Core campus at 7:30 a.m. A variety of bike lane options and other paths that are safe and bike friendly are available citywide. If you’re mapping out a course for this year’s event, or just planning a ride to locations in uptown, midtown or downtown, here’s a list of recommended routes to get you to the city center.
Riding from the north:
- Both 12th Street and 15th Avenue have bike lanes from as far north as Northern Avenue. Take either route south to connect to the Grand Canal path. Bicyclists can then ride along the canal toward 3rd Avenue (head east from 15th Avenue or head west from 12th Street) and ride south to connect to locations in uptown, midtown and downtown.
Riding from the south:
- Upon completion of the South Central Extension/Downtown Hub of the light rail, Central Avenue will have bike lanes which will make for a safer route to downtown. Until that project is completed, bicyclists can make their way to 7th Street and head north toward downtown. This is the most direct path with continuous bike lanes.
Riding from the east:
- (Biltmore/Arcadia Lite area) Head west on Campbell Avenue, which has bike lanes from 44th Street to 12th Street. You can connect to the Grand Canal path at 10th Street and continue west toward 3rd Avenue. You’ll then turn left at 3rd Avenue and head south to connect to locations in midtown and downtown.
- (Papago Park area) Ride toward Oak Street, which is designated as a bike route. Head west on Oak Street and cross over State Route 51. If heading to uptown or midtown, continue on Oak Street toward Central Avenue to make your way to your destination. If heading to downtown, turn left at 12th Street and head south. Just south of Interstate 10, follow the bike lane toward 11th Street along Moreland Street. Turn left at 11th Street and continue south. Turn right at Fillmore Street to take the bike boulevard into downtown.
Riding from the west:
- If east of Interstate 17, ride toward Encanto Boulevard and head east. Encanto Boulevard is designated as a bike route from Interstate 17 to Central Avenue, with bike lanes in some areas. Encanto Boulevard connects to 3rd Avenue, where you can ride north or south to destinations in uptown, midtown and downtown.
More information about biking in Phoenix is available on the Street Transportation Department’s Active Transportation webpage: Phoenix.gov/Streets/ActiveTransportation.
