After a brief hiatus, Living Streets Alliance (LSA) is pleased to announce that Cyclovia Tucson is back and better than ever. On April 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., three miles of car-free city streets will be open to people of all ages to walk, bike, skate, explore neighborhoods, participate in free activities, discover businesses and connect with one another. Cyclovia Tucson’s new partner and title sponsor is Banner—University Medicine.

Banner—University Medicine is preparing to open its new, nine-story, 670,000-square-foot hospital tower later in April and will host a sneak preview for the public as part of its energy-packed activity hub at the northern end of the Cyclovia Tucson route. Start the day here with a free zip line, live music, bicycle-blended smoothies, food trucks, complimentary bike valet parking, Wilma & Wilbur Wildcat and tour the interior of Banner—University Medicine’s facilities.

Throughout the entire route, Tucson- and Arizona-based poets and literacy organizations will host interactive and engaging ways for all to experience poetry in a meaningful way in recognition of National Poetry Month (April). From poems chalked on sidewalks to live screen-printed poems on t-shirts, to poetry readings and audio recordings of spoken word, poetry will be plentiful.

In lieu of hosting a Cyclovia event in fall of 2018, LSA focused its efforts on policy, funding and infrastructure changes to make biking and walking in Tucson safer and more comfortable for everyone. This included the implementation of Tucson’s first tactical urbanism demonstration project at the intersection of North 6th Avenue and East 7th Street, passage of the City of Tucson’s Parks & Connectivity bond proposal, Proposition 407, and the adoption of a comprehensive Complete Streets policy for Tucson earlier this month.

With an expected 40,000 participants, Cyclovia Tucson is also made possible with support from the City of Tucson, Pima County’s Clean Air Program, Cigna, the University of Arizona’s Poetry Center and dozens of other partners and sponsors.

For more information, call 520-261-8777, email [email protected] or visit CycloviaTucson.org. For more information on Living Streets Alliance, visit LivingStreetsAlliance.org.