Bike Thru Burque

Bike Thru Burque Week is a weeklong celebration of bicycling in Albuquerque. Join us from October 20-27 in biking around your neighborhood, going to a nearby trail, visiting local businesses, or traveling to and from work. Win prizes by participating in biking activities throughout the week such as committing to ride, participating in the team, individual, or kids’ riding challenge, and snapping pictures for the photo contest. We’ll kick off the week by riding at  CiQlovía on October 20 and close out the festivities at Day of the Tread on October 26 and 27.

It’s easy to participate in Bike Thru Burque! Hover over the “Registration” banner to sign up for the individual, team, or kids riding challenge. Once Bike thru Burque week kicks off, hover over “Log Your Ride Points” to log your bike rides depending on whether you’re participating in the individual, team, or kids’ riding challenge. Or participate in the photo scavenger hunt! You can also visit our team at CiQlovia on October 20 where we will be passing out free bicycle safety gear.

Bicycling is both an essential element of the transportation system and a popular activity for recreation. Our temperate climate and sunshine allow for year-round bicycling opportunities. The City of Albuquerque looks for opportunities to build physical infrastructure that encourages people to take advantage of these opportunities and has several benefits for Burqueños and the city as a whole.

Access to Destinations. Investing in bikeways and multi-use trails increases transportation options and can improve access to jobs and services. Over 50 percent of trips in the US are under three miles, and almost 30 percent of trips are under a mile. Bicycling is a practical mode of transportation for trips of these distances, and a wide range of people choose to make shorter trips by bike when safe and comfortable options for doing so are available.

Equity. Bicycling is an affordable mode of transportation. Many individuals and families struggle to afford the full costs of driving, which includes purchasing, maintaining, insuring, and fueling a car. A network of high-comfort bikeways and trails provides a less expensive transportation option that can connect people to transit and can serve people who are too young or too old to drive.

Health. Bicycling is healthy. Studies indicate that bicycling is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and adverse cancer outcomes.

Well-being. Bicycling on trails is a great way to experience nature, which can have a positive impact on mental health. Research has shown that spending two hours a week in nature can have tremendous benefits on health and well-being.

Climate. Riding a bike is one way to help address a changing climate. Replacing motor vehicle trips with bicycling trips in urban environments significantly reduces carbon dioxide emissions and improves a city’s air quality. Bicycling is also more environmentally friendly than driving an electric vehicle, after accounting for energy sources and the materials involved in the production of the vehicle.

Safety. Choosing to bike makes streets safer by reducing the number of vehicles on the road, which can in turn reduce the number of severe injuries and fatalities resulting from crashes. Research indicates that cities with protected and separated bike lanes see fewer crashes and more people bicycling.

Fun! Interest in biking in Albuquerque has grown in recent years. Popular bike-oriented events go hand in hand with community and advocacy support to improve and expand bicycling infrastructure. For over 15 years, the City has hosted Bike to Work Day (now Bike to Wherever Day) and recently added a fall event called Bike Thru Burque. Burqueños embraced bicycling even more during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that interest appears to be continuing.