Cycling enthusiasts and art aficionados, mark your calendars for April 21st when Scottsdale's streets will morph into a rolling gallery for Cycle the Arts - returning once again to celebrate Bike Month. In a collaboration between the city's Transportation and Streets department and Scottsdale Arts, this free, but registration-required event will feature an 8-mile cycling tour highlighting 13 remarkable public art installations.
The tour is expected to draw in locals and visitors alike, each eager to pedal past artworks while grabbing insights from the artists and community volunteers stationed at each masterpiece, and as part of the festivities, cyclists will snag a slew of keepsakes including t-shirts, stickers, and a handy pocket guide to Scottsdale's Public Art collection, according to the city's announcement. The exclusive artwork flaunted on the event's marketing swag this year has been crafted by local artist Yazmin Yarely Acosta Sagastume and is centered around the One-Eyed Jack sculpture, a 26-foot jackrabbit that confidently stands at Indian School Road and Marshall Way.
In a statement obtained by Scottsdale's news releases, Mark Melnychenko, the city's transportation and streets director, emphasized the event's significance, "April is Bike Month and Scottsdale is celebrating its continued recognition as a Gold-Level Bicycle Friendly Community," while also shedding light on the city's enviable bike network. Kati Ballares, director of Scottsdale Public Art, chimed in with equal fervor, "Scottsdale Public Art is delighted to partner again with the city of Scottsdale to highlight public art throughout the city," adding that the route's 13 projects are "some of the most iconic in the city."
Prospective attendees looking to plot their artistic journey can eagerly anticipate an interactive map slated for release online in May, complete with links to the featured artworks; additional info on Scottsdale’s sizeable public art collection—over 160 pieces strong—can be unearthed by visiting the Scottsdale Public Art website or via the Hoverlay App, the city’s news page revealed. It's no wonder Scottsdale basks in its Gold-Level Bicycle Friendly Community status, awarded by the League of American Bicyclists since 2011, given its expansive bike amenity smorgasbord that includes 123 miles of paved shared-use paths, an impressive 156 miles of unpaved trails coupled with no less than 192 miles of on-street bike lanes.
