Tucson Pathways

finding safer, smarter, more scenic bicycle commutes

(additional content coming soon - a project by dylan scott)

the stats for ridership

deadliest city
in the nation for bike riders
Source

percent of population
commute by bike for work
Source

deadliest state
in the nation for bike riders
Source
people die
per million residents per year in Arizona
Source

our mission for Tucson

Riding a bicycle is an incredible positive feedback loop.
The impacts are direct and measurable to your health, environment, finances, mental wellbeing, and your community's development.

However most Tucsonans choose not to ride for transportion due to safety concerns.
Most people want to ride more, but remain apprehensive due to the perceived danger of biking through a 'car-centric' city.

Our goal is to fundimentally reimagine how we percieve & navigate through our city.
Beginning by envision our city as neighborhoods connected by crosswalks, rather than roadways connected by intersections.

our idea to see tucson differently

Resist Car-Centric Thinking

via major roads & intersections

Consider Bike-Centric Thinking

via residential streets & crosswalks

our case for bike commuting

environmental.

Every mile you choose to bike over driving will prevent 1 pound of CO2 from going into the atmosphere.

Over the next 20 - 200 years, roughly 3/4 of that pound will become carbonic acid in our oceans as it reacts in the air with surface ocean water.

By reading this, and choosing to even just go on 1 ride, on 1 day, for 1 mile - and prevent 1 pound of CO2 is something to be proud of.

Source 1 / Source 2 / Source 3 / Source 4 / Source 5

* Assumes 20mpg car.

health.

Riding improves your blood pressure, insulin levels, cholesterol levels; and is strongly associated with reduce risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

Exchanging your daily time spent sitting during a drive, for time spent bike commuting, is one of the healthiest upgrade to daily activity one can make without having to change larger behavioral habits.

If your drive to work is ~20 minutes, biking will only require you to leave your house 15 minutes earlier, and result in more than 1 hour of exercise by the end of every workday.

Source 1 / Source 2 / Source 3

Assumes non-highway (inter-city) commutes

financial.

There is no doubt that a car can unlock a level of convenience in city-transport, but if you can offset your need for a car for even 6 months, the money saved on insurance alone can justify a $500-600 bicycle purchase.

A majority of car costs occur come from ownership, not useage. Whether you drive it or not, purchase price, insurance, registration, parking, depreciation already establish a financial commitment before you even factor in driving your car once.

A well maintained used bicycle maintains its re-sale value much longer than a car. This makes it much easier to try commuting, and if its not for you, you can recoup the funds by selling a bicycle on craigslist much faster than re-selling a car.

Source 1

mental.

We know very well there is no 'magic wand' solution to finding happiness or curbing anxiety. Riding a bike may not change your life, but we beg the question: How could it hurt? One ride would provide exercise, sunlight, personal time, and a fresh perspective on how you see your world around you. How could that hurt?

With that said, numerous studies still show that 'lifestyle exercise' such as riding a bike, does boost one's mood, and reduces anxiety.

Most importantly, it seeds positive 'identity marker' - meaning you are more likely to self-identify as healthier, stronger, more resilient, etc. the more you ride a bike.

Source 1 / Source 2

our map to make your own safer route


current release v2.0.2

our media appearances


Additional Content, Data Layers, and Functionality Coming Through Spring/Summer 2020

Want to tell me how much you hate this? Email tucsonauts@gmail.com