In the next three years Cyclovia Tucson organizers have 45,000 fewer reasons to worry.
Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry said the county will provide organizers with $15,ooo a year for the next three years to help organize the event.
The money will come from the county’s bicycling and pedestrian program.
Living Streets Alliance president and Cyclovia Tucson chair Emily Yetman said the county’s commitment allows them to focus on other areas.
“Knowing that we have a set amount of money to start with for each event is going to allow us to put our efforts elsewhere instead of scrambling to find new sponsors every year, we now know we can count on them,” Yetman said. “We have ambitions for growing Cyclovia to happen more than just once a year. This is really going to help us move toward that goal.”
Yetman said each event costs about $60,000 to put on, but many of the goods and services are donated.
Huckelberry said they are working to complete a section of the Loop that would connect to the south end of the Cyclovia Tucson route, which remains largely unchanged from last year’s route.
“Our goal, if we have one, and it is going to be a little tight is to get that river park connection into Cyclovia,” Huckelberry said. “So that not only can folks start on one end up at Scott, if you are on the riverpark system you could actually get to Cyclovia without riding on a major thoroughfare.”
He said the event meshes well with the county’s priorities.
“One of our main focuses is public health so if we can combine that mission with the livable community mission then it is something we ought to do,” he said.
Cyclovia Tucson will take place on March 18 this year. Check out the newly announced route here.
Far be it from me to oppose a well-funded Cyclovia. However, Southern Arizona’s grumpy taxpayers being what they are, expect this county funding to stir up a hornet’s nest.
My question is: Why isn’t the bicycle industry stepping up to support events like Cyclovia Tucson? It could be very good for business.
Far be it from me to oppose a well-funded Cyclovia. However, Southern Arizona’s grumpy taxpayers being what they are, expect this county funding to stir up a hornet’s nest.
My question is: Why isn’t the bicycle industry stepping up to support events like Cyclovia Tucson? It could be very good for business.
Great news! Congratulations!
Great news! Congratulations!
“My question is: Why isn’t the bicycle industry stepping up to support
events like Cyclovia Tucson? It could be very good for business.”
For the big bike manufacturers the ROI would be diffuse and difficult to measure.
Wonderful
I know of at least one bike manufacturer – Giant – who supports these kinds of “soft” events. The goal at the time isn’t to make money but to make future customers of the product.
I taught a lot of mtb skills sessions, sponsored by Giant, at MBAA events, for the sole purpose of turning (mostly) women riders on to the sport and to encourage them to try a race. Several bikes were sold as a result . . . but at a later time.
It’s Red Star’s understanding and experience that “these kinds of ‘soft’ events” (cyclovia, an urban thing–what we’re actually talking about here) are not generally financially supported by big bike manufacturers, despite your cherished Giant mtb memories. Sorry.
Has anyone asked a big bike manufacturer to be a sponsor of Ciclovia?
Cyclovia could be a good venue to do a bike demo – another kind of “soft” activity that doesn’t yield immediate results other than promotion/good will/product showcase/showing people they care about the community.
Even big bike manufacturers make urban bikes . . . all it takes is a little imagination to figure out how a big bike manufacturer can fit well with an event like Ciclovia. Then someone has to ask.
So ask.
Start with smallish QBP, Quality Bicycle Products, renowned makers of many bike parts and owner of more or less urban/touring brands such as Civia, Salsa and Surly. And work your way up to the really big ones. The big ones. Report back to us and Tucson Pima BAC.
Don’t forget Wal Mart and Target, ask them as well — those two sell a lot of bikes.
It may take the formation of a BAC subcommittee or two, perhaps a sub-subcommittee or two, but eventually findings will get out, correct?
Here’s QBP:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quality_Bicycle_Products#Brands