FWD > Are YOU The New Face of Bicycling In Arizona?

To be fair, there are a lot of images out there - and a lot of positive things going on to promote cycling in Arizona and around Mesa. Except for one-day events like cause-related rides or marathons or cycling summits or industry promotions, what your MesaZona blogger sees about people who use bikes to get around on regularly, not just for occasional recreation or to snag political points, is a different picture.They're not all tricked-out on high-priced bikes or trendy cycle sportswear - apart from walking, it's their only way to get  jobs and that's if they a job - many do not and many are homeless . . . that was the subject of a post here back on 13 Nov 2015 "Can we get real ....?  http://mesazona.blogspot.com/2015/11/can-we-get-real-reimage-of-cycling-not.html 

 

Included in the post is this image of everyday bikes parked and secured in front of the Mesa Main Public by bike riders who either have no home or get locked out of homeless shelters and need a place to go during the day, with the other choice hanging-out in public spaces. Other homeless in Mesa aren't that lucky to get a bike - they have to use discarded shopping carts to carry aroundall their worldly possessions.

Please keep that point in mind. At the same time, yours truly is happy to your attention a one-day event coming up on Friday 01 April at the Mesa Convention Center:

Arizona Bicycling Summit 2016 Announced

Posted by Ed B on Sunday, January 10, 2016
http://www.cazbike.org/summit/  WATCH THIS SPACE for additional information
Presented by: Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists and the City of Mesa
With Support from: Perimeter Bicycling Association of America
Other Participants: IMBA, ADOT Bike/Ped, GABA, CASAz, FHWA, MAG, Flagstaff Biking Organization, Valley Metro, Yuma Region Bicycle Coalition, Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition, Pima County, Cities of Sedona, Peoria, Tucson, Buckeye more…
Friday, April 1, 2016
Program Time: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm          Check-in begins at 8:30 am
Location: Mesa Convention Center, Bldg C, North Center St., Mesa, AZ  85201
Parking: Between 201-263 N Center St, Mesa AZ (east side of Center St)

Here are some more photos of cyclists: this one from last week's Out to Lunch open-air concert at Mesa Arts Center on Thursday to show that some people choose not to drive and park to get to events in the public spaces here in the  new urban DTMesa.
It always shows they have the free leisure time to attend a mid-day attraction.
They were a small - but very visible - part of the sizeable crowd that turned out for this popular daytime attraction, sitting or standing a distance from the stage.


Life of The Party's on-site catering truck did a brisk business with hot burgers and refreshments. They used to be located here on Main Street Grill at Urban Grill finding success now in a changed business model.

Happy to Mesa Mayor John Giles in his own backyard with son-in-law, daughter and offspring in a photo from Facebook