Photo above by ValleyMetro.org

Every year, bicyclists spend a month celebrating life on two wheels through rides, events, advocating for cycling as transportation, and promoting bike safety. May is National Bike Month, however, Phoenix celebrates Bike Month in April.

There are plenty of events for all types of bikers, including families, beginners and experienced riders. This year kicks off with the Bike Prom by Phoenix Spokes People on April 4th and ends with the Arizona Bicycle Club Desert Classic on May 2nd. The El Tour Twilight Criterium on April 10th - 12th was chosen to host the State Championship this year with great racing on tap as well as family friendly activities and entertainment for all to enjoy.

For a ride with a bit of culture, you might want to look into the 10th Annual Scottsdale Cycle the Arts on April 19th, 2015. The 7-mile tour of Scottsdale’s public art gives cyclists the chance to learn more about the art and finishes with free admission to the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, jazz and reggae concerts at the Civic Center Park as a part of the Sunday A’Fair, and see the 100+ Journals Project at the Civic Center Library. Participants must wear a helmet to this event.

Mesa’s Great Arizona Bike Festival on April 10th kicks off with the 70-mile El Tour de Mesa (there’s also 28-mile and 5 ¼-mile rides) and continues with a full day of events, arts, music, and vendors. This includes bike safety lessons for kids, a bike swap meet, a downtown historic bike tour, and a beer garden.

Another great event is the Grid Bike Share Scavenger Hunt on the 18th. Grid Bike Share provides an alternative method to bike ownership by providing customers shared access to 500 bikes throughout the Valley.

Aside from these fun events, Bike Month is really about encouraging people to utilize bicycles as a clean and healthy form of transportation while trying to make bicycling safer for riders. One of Bike Month’s most notable events to accomplish this is the annual Bike to Work and School Day on April 23.

There are many more events, bike drives, expos, rides, and ways to get involved in the Valley bicycling community in April. Check out the Valley Metro Phoenix calendar of events for all the information! There are events in Peoria, Glendale, Chandler, and all across the valley for every family to participate in.