NE Valley Times

Scottsdale’s Transportation and Streets department and Scottsdale Arts will host the 2024 Cycle the Arts event on Sunday, April 21. This year’s bike tour of the city’s public art collection will feature 13 art installations. Artists, community volunteers, and Scottsdale Arts staff will provide an overview of the artwork at each stop along the 8-mile bike route.

Mark Melnychenko, Scottsdale’s transportation and streets director, expressed, “April is Bike Month and Scottsdale is celebrating its continued recognition as a Gold-Level Bicycle Friendly Community. The annual Cycle the Arts event showcases the city’s extensive on-street and multiuse path bicycle network.”

The original artwork for the event was created by local artist Yazmin Yarely Acosta Sagastume, featuring the city’s One-Eyed Jack sculpture. Kati Ballares, director of Scottsdale Public Art, stated, “Scottsdale Public Art is delighted to partner again with the city of Scottsdale to highlight public art throughout the city. The 13 projects featured on this year’s route are some of the most iconic in the city.”

Attendees of Cycle the Arts will receive commemorative event t-shirts, stickers, and a pocket guide to Scottsdale’s Public Art collection. Ballares hopes that attendees will be inspired by the sampling of the collection and will continue to seek out public art throughout the city.

Scottsdale has been recognized as a Gold-Level Bicycle Friendly community by the League of American Bicyclists since 2011. The city boasts an extensive network of bicycle amenities, including 123 miles of paved shared-use paths, 156 miles of unpaved trails, and 192 miles of on-street bike lanes.

An interactive map of this year’s Cycle the Arts route will be available online in May. The map will include links to artwork featured along the route, and additional information about the city’s public art collection can be accessed by downloading the Hoverlay App or visiting the Scottsdale Public Art information page.