I rode past this scene on my way into work this morning. The woman had been stopped by a Tucson Police Department officer on Mountain Avenue just south of Glenn Street.

I’m not sure what the stop was for, but would be surprised if it was for anything other than a stop sign violation at the intersection.

TPD was awarded a grant to focus their enforcement of pedestrian and bicycle violations.The uncreased enforcement will run until May, 18th.

Editor’s note: Karilyn Roach wrote this post. She holds a MS in Urban Planning from the University of Arizona and works as a Program Coordinator with Watershed Management Group, a Tucson non-profit. She currently sits on the Tucson-Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee and rides a Jamis Aurora Elite.

Those palo verdes are looking awfully amarillo these days. And was that splash of pink I just saw on the side of the road penstemon? The signs all point to my daily commute up Via Entrada getting warmer… and lovelier.

Prickly pear led the charge with its delicate yellow and peach flowers. The hedgehog cactus was the other early starter, but I am noticing fewer than I did just last week so I hope he isn’t finished yet.

Brother ocotillo is almost done until monsoon season, but the staghorn cholla is just beginning to explode onto the scene with his purple, peach, and blood red.

The saguaros are getting in on the action too. (Didn’t it seem like these old ladies started showing off a little early this year?)

Then there is my little friend, Granada (pomegranate), waiting to welcome me when I get home.

Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for lizards in your path while you soak in the beauty of (early) summer in the Sonoran Desert.

There are a few more pictures below. Share your favorite sights and sounds of spring and summer in the desert in the Comments section.

Editor’s note: Karilyn Roach wrote this post. She holds a MS in Urban Planning from the University of Arizona and works as a Program Coordinator with Watershed Management Group, a Tucson non-profit. She currently sits on the Tucson-Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee and rides a Jamis Aurora Elite.

Snow and mud greeted riders at the entrance to the race course on Saturday.

The fifth race of the MBAA 2012 season, the Prescott Punisher, was set to be held on Saturday, April 14. After four inches of snow fell on the trails Friday night, race organizers and the Forest Service decided “it was in the interest of rider safety and trail sustainability” to cancel the event.

According to the MBAA website, organizers are looking at the possibility of re-scheduling the race. However with the Whiskey 50 Off-road race to be held in Prescott in just two weeks, and the last MBAA race in Flagstaff in one month, they will be hard pressed to find time.

Some hardy Tucson riders – TJ Woodruff, Charlie Roach, and John and Nora Beck – decided the day should not be wasted and braved snow and mud to pre-ride the Skull Valley climb section of the Whiskey 50 course.

John and TJ, from Momentum Racing, after the ride.

Here are a few more photos of their adventure and the muddy race course.

Editor’s note: Karilyn Roach wrote this post. She holds a MS in Urban Planning from the University of Arizona and works as a Program Coordinator with Watershed Management Group, a Tucson non-profit. She currently sits on the Tucson-Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee and rides a Jamis Aurora Elite.

About 150 kids and their parents came out for Tucson’s first Kidical Mass on Saturday. The website of the original Kidical Mass describes the event as “a legal, safe and FUN bike ride for kids, kids at heart, and their families.” Tucson’s event surely lived up to that!

Living Streets Alliance hosted the event as part of Bike Fest 2012, Tucson’s annual, month-long celebration of bicycles as a means of transportation, recreation and fun.

Staff and volunteers from Living Streets Alliance were at Himmel Park early to set up an information table with free temporary Kidical Mass Tucson and Bike Fest tattoos, stickers and other fun stuff. They also gave away about a dozen free helmets to kids who needed them, and BICAS was there to offer free bike maintenance and advice.

The Kidical Mass ride set out from Himmel Park at 10 a.m., after a brief safety talk from Emily Yetman of Living Streets Alliance. She reminded riders that cyclists are just one user of the road, and we should be considerate of cars and pedestrians and respect traffic signals and laws.

The route circled the east side of Himmel Park and continued down 3rd Street (a planned Bike Boulevard route) into the University of Arizona campus. Riders took a quick snack break outside the Student Union before circling Old Main and returning on 3rd Street to Himmel Park at noon. Riders were rewarded with $1 scoops of ice cream provided by Isabella’s Ice Cream, a locally owned, 100% electric powered, Model T-style truck.

At the end of the ride, one young rider said, “This was the funnest day ever in Tucson!” just before digging into his Solar Strawberry ice cream.

Yetman said one of her favorite parts of the day was “looking back at the group (when we came to a stop light) and seeing a sea of people on bikes as far back as the eye could reach.” She also liked “seeing and meeting so many new faces” and riding her bike with “so many people on a beautiful day.”

She credits the success of Saturday’s event to the momentum that is building for cycling in Tucson, in general, and for Living Streets Alliance, specifically, “thanks to great partnerships with BICAS, Tucsonmama.com, El Grupo,” and others.

Cyclovia, Bikes and Tykes and Kidical Mass may have passed, but Bike Fest still offers some fun, family events. Walk and Roll to School Day is April 13, and Bike to the Zoo is coming up on April 21. The full Bike Fest event calendar is here, and will be updated regularly.

Were you at Kidical Mass? What was your favorite part of the event?

Check out a few photos from the event. Check back often for additional photo from the ride.

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About a dozen families turned out to participate in the Bikes and Tykes events at the Mercado San Agustin on Sunday.

Several speakers discussed the pros and cons of their bike setups, family-friendly routes and safety tips. At one point there were so many bikes there, it made walking around the Mercado a little tricky.

The event was part of the 2012 Bike Fest. Check out the photos from the event.