Bikes are coming back as a mode of transportation in Phoenix; something besides exercise these things are replacing cars for some commuters.  I think this is hard to do in Greater Phoenix, not only because its bloody blazing hurting dangerous hot in the summer, but there is a lack of bike lanes and many car drivers don't look out for cyclists. 

But don't be turned off.  There are plenty of places to cycle in the city, not only in the multitude of trails we have in the mountains like the Phoenix Mountain Preserve but, the streets as well in many places, just not the major thoroughfares.

My foray into the two wheeled man powered world began when I was a kid in Wroclaw, Poland which was then controlled by the communists.  A bike was a luxury and one had to often wait for many months to get one.
I remember running into older ladies carrying vegetables from the vegetable stand.  I remember running into (literally) another bike rider heading my way, each of us was swerving to avoid the other, you know how it is. 

When we moved to Austria, where I lived for a year. There was no bike until my friend and I found an old beat up bike in the forest.  It was rusty, the frame was bent and the wheels had no tires; rough rider.  That did not stop us from riding it on cobbled streets and gaining a few battle scars on the way. 

When the bike broke we pushed around the wheel with a stick; we hit a few things this way as well.
In the US I spent the time until ASU, racing BMX, doing 360 degree turns (360's) in the air going 30 miles an hour, competitions, tricks, riding backward, standing on the bike and adding up the battle scars.

I love bicycles because they offer freedom of movement at a pace faster then walking or running and allow more accessibility then riding a car.

Recently Joanna and I decided to explore Phoenix in detail.  This means a car was out because its major handy cap is that you have to keep going not to get in others way and you go too fast to see anything.

Once we began our exploratory trip, some of which you can read about at Real Estate Confluence, like the Old Rural House in Downtown Phoenix or an apartment building you can never sell. or my discovery of the Downtown Heard Museum for more then its contents.

The amount of details you see when riding a bike is amazing.  We have been discovering places, little niches that have been right under our noses for years.  There is nothing like riding a bike through the tree lined streets of Central Corridor in Phoenix.

The Maricopa County has recently updated their bike trails map to include up to date trails and links to the upcoming Phoenix light rail.  The Phoenix bike map is available here. 

If you want to fell like a rebel try Phoenix Midtown, Phoenix Downtown on a weekend morning. The streets are empty and you can dominate the usually busy streets.  Or try to become the cycle rail, it may be your last chance to ride the light rail trail on a bike before it gets going, just watch out for the rail and some holes here and here.

One of the great rides is from the Phoenix Mountains through Paradise Valley to Gainey Ranch and even McCormick Ranch with a stop over at Dish or the Coffee Bean.  The photo above is of the lakes in those areas and the trails covered by trees, even in the heat of the summer one can squeeze out some pleasure from this.