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Old 06-10-2012, 09:41 AM
 
2 posts, read 3,111 times
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Hello all,

I will be living in the Winterhaven area (where Ft. Lowell Road and Country Club meet) and commuting to the UofA daily for work.

Parking on campus is very expensive and I was looking to bike to campus. However, how easy will this be? I will be leaving home around 7-8am and returning home at around 3-4pm. I'm a little concerned about the heat.

Do any bike commuters here have any suggestions as to: a) what route to take and b) how to handle the heat to and from work?

Thanks very much in advance.
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Old 06-10-2012, 10:17 AM
 
Location: Arizona
3,610 posts, read 1,134,451 times
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My opinion might not carry any weight because I am not an avid cyclist, but Glenn St to Mountain Ave is very biker friendly. Getting there from Country Club/Ft. Lowell will be your biggest obstacle as far as traffic goes. FYI, 3-4 p.m. is about the roughest time of the day to be outside when the summer heat is here.
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Old 06-10-2012, 12:20 PM
 
Location: outer space
484 posts, read 932,957 times
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Drop down to Prince, take that to Mtn.
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Old 06-10-2012, 12:44 PM
 
1,433 posts, read 2,866,465 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by robabeatle View Post
Drop down to Prince, take that to Mtn.
Wrong way.

There's nothing you can do about the heat.
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Old 06-10-2012, 03:43 PM
 
Location: outer space
484 posts, read 932,957 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by actinic View Post
Wrong way.

There's nothing you can do about the heat.

How is that the wrong way?

Going one block north to Prince is safer than riding along Ft. Lowell to Mtn or going up Country Club to Glenn.

Often the safest route is not the most direct. In fact, I'd go north on Country Club through the racket ball parking lot, get on the Rillito River trail and take that to Mountain. Sure, it adds maybe an extra mile or so (bonus IMHO), but much safer.

As for the heat: soak your shirt before you leave, you will be dry by the time you get to campus.
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Old 06-10-2012, 04:46 PM
 
Location: Southern Arizona
9,556 posts, read 30,206,030 times
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Definitely doable, JakeA10.

It may take a few route experiments to determine the safest and best route to make it over to Mountain Avenue and then South to the University.

Just keep in mind that from about the 4th of July until Labor Day (Monsoon Season) we do have rather predictable afternoon thunderstorms but otherwise, very doable.

Good Luck
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Old 06-11-2012, 07:34 AM
 
444 posts, read 1,297,055 times
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I used to live in Winterhaven and would sometimes bike to work Downtown via UA. Here's the route I took:
- Out of Winterhaven on Christmas Avenue. Cut down Fort Lowell (roughly a half block) to Treat and head south. You can cut through the La Madera neighborhood on other streets too.
- You'll have to wind around a park just south of Fort Lowell.
- Cross Glenn and then cross Grant. Both have pedestrian signals. Not to be relied upon, but they help. Glenn doesn't have much traffic.
- Cross Speedway. Also a signal. You'll have picked a lot of other bikers by this point.
- Turn right on 3rd. This is a bike boulevard, and will get you to UA with no issues.

Another option is to bike to Glenn and take the #1 bus (all buses have bike racks) to UA. It will drop you along Park Avenue on the west side of campus.

The heat? Leave very early in the morning and, if you have to dress up, bring a second pair of clothes for the ride home. Maybe even the ride in. Also get a fan for your desk at work. Drink lots of water.
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Old 06-11-2012, 01:14 PM
 
1,433 posts, read 2,866,465 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by robabeatle View Post
How is that the wrong way?

Going one block north to Prince is safer than riding along Ft. Lowell to Mtn or going up Country Club to Glenn.

Often the safest route is not the most direct. In fact, I'd go north on Country Club through the racket ball parking lot, get on the Rillito River trail and take that to Mountain. Sure, it adds maybe an extra mile or so (bonus IMHO), but much safer.

As for the heat: soak your shirt before you leave, you will be dry by the time you get to campus.
How do you get 1 block? It could be 3 or 4 from Winterhaven (adding 6 to 8 blocks round trip); besides, Glenn or E-W streets between Ft Lowell and Grant are way safer than Prince.

No one needs a bonus when it's hot.
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Old 06-11-2012, 01:44 PM
 
Location: Arizona
3,610 posts, read 1,134,451 times
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FWIW, there is a bike lane along Country Club down to and beyond Glenn, but it starts a couple of blocks south of Ft. Lowell.
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Old 06-12-2012, 12:05 AM
 
Location: Tucson, AZ
135 posts, read 327,454 times
Reputation: 169
You have several good north-south routes to choose from - doing the same route every single day would get boring. I would think about getting a bus pass for the summer so you can ride home when it's extremely hot or during a thunderstorm. (Or at least carry $1.50 with you in case you break down or something.)

Bike Maps | The Official Website for the City of Tucson, Arizona
Routes & Times : Sun Tran
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