Greater Arizona Bicycling Association Inc

Where cycling is more than just riding a bike 

Become a GABA Member
Make A Donation

Paceline

 April 2025

Save the Date!

Mt. Lemmon Hill Climb

Friday, May 2, 2025


Date: May 2, 2025 6:00 am to 3:00 pm

Location: 4100 N. Harrison Rd, Tucson, AZ 85749

Distance: 59.6 miles


Now Offering a 3 Day Event Option!


Day 1: Friday May 2, the Main Event - Our supported ride up Mt. Lemmon with lunch back at the park


Day 2: Saturday May 3, Recovery Ride - guided and self-guided rides to Mo Udall Park for a picnic lunch and ice cream social


Day 3: Scenic Rides - guided and self-guided options exploring some of Tucson's finest rides with refreshments


More details to come!

Keep checking at bikegaba.org for more information



Let us know your thoughts about the GABA Monthly Speakers' Series


You may be aware that after a pause during COVID, GABA restarted its monthly Speakers' Series in January 2025. This series will be held each year from October through March.


We're asking GABA members and friends for feedback about possible future topics and speakers, and ways to improve our meetings. Your responses are greatly appreciated.


The survey takes less than 5 minutes to complete. Please complete it whether or not you attended any of the first three meetings this year.


If you (or someone you know) would be interested in presenting at a GABA general meeting, please contact: speakers@bikegaba.org.


Take The Survey

Volunteers needed to help with annual bicycle and pedestrian count


Pima Association of Governments, the region’s metropolitan planning organization, seeks the public’s help to conduct its annual bicycle and pedestrian count for the greater Tucson area.


PAG needs volunteers to spend two to three hours at a designated intersection to track the number of non-motorized travelers.


The information volunteers help to gather during the five-week count supports local planning efforts such as identifying locations for additional safety improvements.


Dates and locations of the 2025 bicycle and pedestrian count:


  • March 31–May 4
  • Mondays through Thursdays, 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m.
  • Saturdays and Sundays, 7 to 10 a.m.


Visit the sign-up page for additional information and for times and locations

Sign Up Here

Tucson Ride of Silence 2025


The Tucson Ride of Silence 2025 will be held on Wednesday, May 21st. Riders will gather at 5:00 pm and depart at 5:30 pm. As in 2024, the ride will start at Ramada 19 in Reid Park. 


GABA is hosting the event again. We will share the roads with traffic for the entire route but will have escort vehicles and ride marshals at the front and back of the rider group during this slow-paced, silent 8-mile ride, which is essentially a funeral procession.


This annual cycling event is held worldwide to remember cyclists who have been killed or injured while riding on public roadways. The event’s aim is to raise awareness about cyclist safety and the legal right of cyclists to share the road.


To register or for more information, visit GABA's Meetup page at https://www.meetup.com/bikegaba/events/307003998. For detailed information about the worldwide event, visit rideofsilence.org.


Diamondback Snake Bridge getting a facelift


Tucson's famous Diamondback Snake Bridge, just east of downtown, is getting a facelift. 


Starting on Monday, March 10, the bridge will be undergoing repairs, including sandblasting, repairing cracked concrete and repainting the bottom of the bridge, according to a news release from the Department of Transportation & Mobility. 


During that time, traffic will be limited to two lanes in either direction. The bridge will be closed to pedestrians and cyclists throughout the duration of the project. Those walkers and cyclists will be detoured onto Euclid Avenue. Eastbound and westbound walking traffic will also be restricted under the bridge while crews are working, the news release said. 


The traffic restrictions will be in place 24 hours a day. Crews are scheduled to work Mondays-Thursdays, from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. 


The work is scheduled to be completed by mid-June 2025.

Regional Bicycle Network and Map


At Pima Association of Governments, we’re all about transportation planning and how you get around, including on your bicycle.


Not only does cycling help keep cars off the roads to support congestion reduction, using two-foot pedal power is good for air quality, is an affordable form of mobility, and can improve your health. Not to mention, cycling is fun.


To share our enthusiasm for cycling, we developed and regularly update the Tucson Metro Bike Map to help you plan trips whenever you jump on your bike. The map displays bicycle infrastructure amenities such as shared-use paths, bike boulevards, enhanced routes, and separated bike lanes to help you find the easiest and safest way to get to your destination.


A great feature of the new map is its regionality, which makes it a comprehensive resource.


“To assemble data and update the map, we pulled together data about road features from each of the jurisdictions within the County by working with their GIS and Planning staffs,” said Mead Mier-Wellborn, Planning Manager with PAG. “We are extremely grateful to the local experts who filled data gaps and provided detailed review on draft versions of the paper map based on their knowledge on the ground.”


The Tucson Metro Bike Map compiles all of the bicycle amenities in the various jurisdictions in a single document, making it useful to residents across the metro area. For instance, the map includes Pima County’s extensive Chuck Huckelberry Loop (a non-motorized, off-road path along the river parks), the City of Tucson’s convenient bicycle boulevards, and the different bike lane features throughout the region.


“From a cartographic standpoint, the intent was to make a visually appealing map but also add another layer of information that the previous bike maps had lacked – place labels. On the new and improved bike map you will find transit centers, parks, waterways, and other points of reference labeled,” said PAG GIS Coordinator Derek Weatherly.


Another big improvement is the enhanced safety tips and diagrams that surround the map to help clarify terminology, such as Bike Boulevard (family-friendly routes that safely provide connectivity through neighborhoods). Also included are new cycling safety tips, a glossary of hand signals for cycling, theft prevention and other strategies to make you bike wise.


PAG partnered with local bike repair locations that help distribute the map to cyclists. Not only do many shops all over the metro area have it, but it’s free.

For those who prefer to access the map online, an interactive version is available to zoom in for greater detail. Find a printable version of the map, interactive link, and a list of locations where you can pick up a copy. 

Find Map Here

Announcing a new GABA members-only Strava club


We have learned that GABA members would like a members-only Strava club. Rather than close the existing GABA official Strava club off from public participation (because it allows GABA to promote its existence in the community), the board has created a second, closed Strava club that is available to GABA members only.


To join the new Greater Arizona Bicycling Association (GABA) (Members Only) Strava club, login to Strava and go to: 


www.strava.com/clubs/gaba-membersonly


and click on the button labeled “Request to join”.


If your GABA membership is current, an administrator will approve your request to join.

 

Looking to Join One of our GABA Day Rides?


Discover our MeetUp Page!


Look for Tumacacori Century and El Tour Training Rides along with our fantastic social and scenic rides!

Visit GABA MeetUp Page

GABA Seeks a Few Good Individuals for its Board

Are you a positive-minded problem solver who likes working with other extraordinary people to accomplish a shared vision and enjoys the occasional challenge in support of GABA and the cycling community?


If so, the following positions on the GABA Board of Directors are open:


Vice President


Volunteer Coordinator


If you are a GABA member (or know of anyone who may or may not be a member who would be great for one of these roles) please send an email for more information.

Send an Email

Discover GABA Volunteer Opportunities for our Supported Rides

At the Greater Arizona Bicycling Association, we are always seeking volunteers for our Outreach events, Day Ride events, and Supported Rides.


Explore our diverse volunteer positions and their brief descriptions to find the ideal role for you. Your involvement truly impacts our cycling community!

View More Information

Do you use Strava?

If you do, be sure to join GABA's Verified Strava Club. Find GABA on Strava by clicking the button below:

GABA on Strava

GABA Board Meetings

Did you know that GABA Members are welcome to attend GABA Board Meetings? GABA Board Meetings currently held currently on the 4th Monday of each month at 6:30pm, with the exceptions of July and December


Meetings are held at the Tucson City Council Ward 6 offices on 3202 E 1st Street, Tucson, AZ 85716.


Due to recent construction at the Ward 6 offices, please contact president@bikegaba.org for further details if you are interested in attending.

Going on Vacation and Need a Bike Case?

GABA has 2 single bike Performance Cargo hard cases with turn-key locks, and 1 soft-sided case for Tandem bikes.


They are free to borrow for active GABA members. $150 deposit is required; cash or check only (no exceptions). First come, first serve.


Please contact Barb at: shedmaster@bikegaba.org

Email Barb
 

Our Valued Sponsors

 
 
 
 

 Send us Your News, Story Ideas,

and Articles!

Do you have something interesting to share with the Tucson cycling community? A link to an event? An article that we don't know about? A topic that might be worth looking into?



If you have something that you think others would like to find out about, please share it with us so we can add it to the next Paceline by clicking the button below.

Contact the Editor

GABA Classifieds 


Do you have a bike-related item you would like to buy, sell, or trade? We have 2 ways to get the word out.


#1 - Post it on the GABA website

In order to post you must be a GABA member - one more good reason to join GABA. To find out how to post click the below button.

Posting Instructions

#2 Post it on Paceline

To post on Paceline please click the button below to send us an e-mail.

Please be sure to include all details, including your contact info. We can take a single photo for your item and we will run it for 2 issues.

Send us a Classified
 

Need help registering for a GABA Supported Ride? Click below for a step-by-step instructional guide to signing up for our supported rides!

Supported Rides Help

Did someone forward this Paceline newsletter to you? Click the button below to join our mailing list.

Sign Up for Paceline

Changed your email address? Send us your new one and never miss an issue.

Change Email Address

Greater Arizona Bycicling Association (GABA)

Contact GABA

Mailing Address

PO Box 43273, Tucson, AZ 85733

Phone Number

(520) 999-7655

Facebook