Pull those bicycles out from the shed, pump up the tires and get ready to ride. ¡Bike Thru Burque Week! kicks off with a Biking Bad Tour Saturday, Oct. 8, on the westside and runs through the rest of the week with a variety of fun and healthy events around Albuquerque.
Participants can join the riding challenge, help build a ride map, go on a scavenger hunt, visit pop-up tables around town and win prizes. It doesn’t matter where riders live, just as long as they get on a bicycle and start pedaling.
For the individual challenge and team competition, riders will receive points for different tasks they complete. One point will be awarded for each roundtrip ride, while bonus points can be earned for riding with a business buddy, riding with groceries, biking in hot, cold or windy conditions, and taking a bike on the city bus.
For the individual challenge, the top three riders with the most points will win a prize. Everyone who participates in the team challenge will receive a raffle ticket. Each team member from the team with the most points will win a prize, with teams limited to six riders.
The kids competition is for riders in grades K-8 or equivalent in age. Kids can earn points for wearing a helmet, riding on a path closed to cars, helping to fix a flat tire, riding with a friend or sibling, riding along an acequia and other bicycle-related tasks. The more points kids log, the more raffle tickets they win. Raffle prizes include Explora passes, tickets to the Sandia Peak Tramway, Nuclear Science Museum and more.
For the photo contest/scavenger hunt, bicyclists will ride to find and photograph items such as a historic building, a chile ristra, hot air balloon, or HAWK crossing. The ¡Bike Thru Burque! website says, “Photos will be judged on content, aesthetic appeal, and overall awesomeness.”
Riders can also visit pop-up tables in different parts of Albuquerque for a chance to win raffle prizes and get free stickers and bike maps. On Sunday, Oct. 16, a CiQlovia pop-up table will be located on Kathryn Avenue between Louisiana and San Pedro from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
According to abqciqlovia.org, “CiQlovia is the Albuquerque version of the global phenomenon known as ciclovía or open streets. The word refers to events where city streets are closed to cars and opened up to people on foot and on bike, outdoor exercise classes, shopping, live music and other activities.”
The website says a CiQlovia 2022 map will be coming soon. To see more details about the weeklong event, visit bikethruburque.com.