Walk Score released its 2013 ranking of Most Bikeable Large US cities, Tucson is ranked #8 with a score of 64.1! Portland, Oregon nabbed the #1 spot, beating out San Francisco. The ranking focused on cities with 500,000 or more residents. 

Top 10 Most Bikeable Large U.S. Cities

1. Portland (Bike Score: 70.3)

2. San Francisco (Bike Score: 70.0)

3. Denver (Bike Score: 69.5)

4. Philadelphia (Bike Score: 68.4)

5. Boston (Bike Score: 67.8)

6. Washington D.C. (Bike Score: 65.3)

7. Seattle (Bike Score: 64.1)

8. Tucson (Bike Score: 64.1)

9. New York (Bike Score: 62.3)

10. Chicago (Bike Score: 61.5)

Note: to keep rankings apples-to-apples the list above only includes cities with 500,000 or more residents.

Across the U.S. bicycle commuting grew 47% between 2000 and 2011. However, in cities that are making investments in bicycle infrastructure and education (which includes all of the Top 10 Bike Score cities listed above), bicycle commuting has grown 80% over the same period. This trend is leading a growing number of multi-family developers to build bike-friendly housing with secure storage spaces for bicycles and even putting repair shops in the buildings.

Bike Score is compiled from a data set that includes bike infrastructure, hilly terrain, number of bikers on streets and more. Bike Score is now available for over 100 U.S. cities.

Seven reality television productions have filmed in the Tucson region since February, whose estimated economic impact totals more than $1.3 million, according to the Tucson Film Office. Despite SB 1242, the Multimedia Production Tax Incentives Bill, stalling in the state legislature last month, the business of television production remains consistent.

“Because Arizona lacks a statewide film and television production incentive, we are losing millions of dollars to the 35+ states who do offer incentives. It has become nearly impossible to attract studio feature films to our state,” said Shelli Hall, director of the Tucson Film Office. “Right now we are capitalizing on the reality television shows and commercial productions that aren’t dependent on incentives.”

Bravo’s Real Housewives of New Jersey‘s five day shoot at Miraval Resort generated $670,000 EEI. SyFy Channel’s Ghost Hunters filmed in the Tucson area for two weeks and generated $668,000 EEI. The five other shows on location were Baggage Battles (Travel Channel),  Deadly Women (Investigation Discovery), Fringe Benefits and The Aviators (both PBS) and a BBC documentary about jet engines in the Cold War.

From July 2011 to June 2012, the Tucson Film Office facilitated more than 60 projects that added up to thousands of hotel room nights and almost $6 million in direct expenditures in the Tucson region, which resulted in $8.9 million in EEI. Of that, 40 percent came from TV commercials, including two that ran during Super Bowl XLVI. Another 40 percent came from reality television shows, including multiple episodes on the Food Network’s Chopped, TNT’s The Great Escape and single episodes of programs for Discovery, National Geographic, A&E and BBC. The remaining 20 percent was an eclectic mix of documentaries, music videos, short films and print catalog shoots. 

The Tucson Film Office, a division of the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau, is responsible for marketing Tucson and Southern Arizona as an ideal location for film, television, and commercial advertising production. filmtucson.com. The mission of Visit Tucson is to drive economic development by connecting visitors with their ideal travel and meetings experiences in Tucson and Southern Arizona. visittucson.org.

The Tucson Small Wonders Map features a collection of more than 60 local, independent businesses and attractions, including fine restaurants, cafés, boutiques, housewares stores, and art galleries.

The CD-sized, full-color map is designed to help visitors and locals find one-of-a-kind places to eat and shop and do fun things. The map’s boundaries cover a walk-able area from Mercado San Agustin on the west side of downtown, through the downtown arts districts, and along 4th Avenue to Main Gate Square near the University of Arizona.

More than 50,000 complimentary copies of the Tucson Small Wonders Map have been printed and are being distributed across Arizona. For a uniquely Tucson experience, visit localfirstaz.com/small-wonders/tucson.

An exciting generation of young filmmakers is drastically changing how Mexicans see and represent themselves on the big screen, and challenging traditional notions of Mexican culture and identity.

A festival of works by Mexican producers and directors, especially newcomers to the international film scene, will be featured exclusively at the eighth annual Tucson Cine Mexico, March 20-24.

All screenings will be Arizona premieres, and the closing night film, documentary Teatro Penitenciario-Libertad Desde la Sombra, about penitentiary theater in Mexico, will be a United States premiere.

The festival is free and open to the public, and all films are in Spanish with English subtitles. A complete guide can be found at TucsonCineMexico.org.

The 2013 Tucson Festival of Books, March 9-10, promises to be another best seller with 400+ authors, 275 exhibitors, and hundreds of presentations, panel discussions, and book signings.

Participants include such best-selling authors as Diana Gabaldon, Jodi Picoult, and John Sayles as well as children/youth authors Susan Lowell, Conrad Storad, R.L. Stine. To mark this free event’s fifth year, two programs have been launched that recognize and develop great writing: the Tucson Festival of Books Literary Awards writing competition and Masters Workshop. Details, including a full list of attending authors, are available on TucsonFestivalofBooks.org.

Get social! Follow Festival of Books on Facebook & Twitter.

Tim Vimmerstedt has joined the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau (MTCVB) as Director of Marketing. His responsibilities include managing day-to-day operations of the marketing department and in-house advertising efforts, overseeing seasonal promotional campaigns for various audiences in Tucson’s target markets and assisting in the development and execution of the MTCVB’s marketing and media plans.

“Tim’s knowledge of the Tucson Region, his connections and relationships with key stakeholders and his experience in overseeing operations that include sales, marketing and PR as well as community affairs for several area attractions will be valuable assets to our organization,” said Allison Cooper, Vice President of Marketing for the MTCVB.

Vimmerstedt most recently served as the Director of Operations and Community Affairs for Pima Air & Space Museum. His extensive experience in tourism spans more than 20 years and includes roles within the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Old Tucson, Biosphere 2, Rawhide and the Agro Land and Cattle Company. He can be reached via email at tvimmerstedt@visittucson.org

The MTCVB, an accredited Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the Tucson area as a convention, visitor and film production destination. Learn more at visittucson.org.

Share your insights on Tucson’s top tourism attributes, please take a moment to complete a short survey at visitTucson.org/BrandSurvey

The findings from this public online survey will be incorporated into MMGY Global‘s research and will help shape the strongest identity and position statement for Tucson as a premiere destination for vacation and meetings.

More than 100 college baseball and softball teams, along with parents & fans, will begin to arrive in the Old Pueblo this week for the Tucson Invitational Games.

Games will be played mainly at Kino Sports Complex (baseball) and Lincoln Park (softball.)

Baseball:

Begins February 28 at 7:00PM and continues daily through March 30

Kino Sports Complex South Quad Baseball Fields & Kino Memorial Stadium

For a full schedule and more information, visit TIGsports.com/baseball

Softball:

Begins March 1 at 9:00AM and continues daily through March 18

Abraham Lincoln Park 8100 East Escalante Rd.

For a full schedule and more information, visit TIGsports.com/softball

Admission $6 per day for persons 12 years of age and older (under 12 free)

$25 for 7-day, weekly pass. (Good for unlimited access to both baseball & softball games.)

Available for purchase at the gate.

Connect with TIG on Facebook & Twitter

Quick Facts:

• 3,000 athlete participants
• Around 7,000 spectators
• Approximately 9,000 hotel room nights generated
• Average stay in Tucson 6.2 nights*
• $7.9 million Estimated Economic Impact*

*Provided by Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau, Tucson Sports

After a fun and snowy evening on the third night of the Desert Diamond Cup, the end of FC Tucson SoccerFest is just around the corner and FC Tucson wants all of Tucson to send the month-long soccer extravaganza off in style.

Saturday’s FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup final between Seattle Sounders FC and Real Salt Lake will be broadcast live on the NBC Sports Network in front of a national television audience in prime time. Not only will the match be the final one held in Tucson but it’ll act as the bookend of MLS’s preseason and the final push toward the start of the 2013 season.

NBC Sports Network reaches nearly 80 million homes and all those eyes will be on the Old Pueblo to catch the first national glimpse of MLS soccer in 2013. For those who live in Tucson, it’s the best chance to show America why Tucson is such a soccer-mad city.

Not only will fans have the chance to be a part of nationally televised sporting event, they’ll also experience some other great perks by attending the final:

• A Champion Will be Crowned: Who doesn’t love watching a team lift a trophy following a game? Last season the LA Galaxy won the 2012 FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup after an exciting series of penalty kicks and then went on to win MLS Cup 2012. Will Real Salt Lake or Seattle make this a trend? You can watch for yourself!
• One Ticket, Two Matches: The final isn’t the only great part about Saturday. Fans who purchase a ticket for Saturday also get to watch the third-place match between the New York Red Bulls and the New England Revolution.
• Look to the Sky: Red Bull will be delivering the match ball for the final from the sky! That’s not a typo. The Red Bull Air Force will drop a man from a plane to deliver the match ball.
• Get $5 off Your Ticket: Fans can use the promo code “Soccerfest” to get $5 off any seat in the stadium. The code is only good until midnight Friday, so order your tickets online at www.fctucson.ticketsocket.com now!
• Get Your 2013 FC Tucson Tickets: Want to buy your 2013 FC Tucson season tickets? You can! Head over to the FC Tucson/Kino Sports Complex information table on the concourse to get the 2013 FC Tucson schedule and see the renderings of FC Tucson’s new stadium for 2014. Buy 2013 season tickets now and you automatically get in line for 2014 season tickets!
• The VIP Experience: Want to get closer to the MLS action than anyone else? Then buy some VIP seats for the final. Not only will you be sitting closer to the field than anyone but you’ll also have access to unlimited world-class catering and a free drink ticket. Plus there is an on-site bar in case your one free drink ticket isn’t enough.
• Can’t Beat the Weather: Wednesday’s snowpacolypse was fun for those who attended. But if good weather is your thing, then it won’t get much better than Saturday. The expected forecast is 65 degrees and clear skies.
• Start Your Engines: Audi of Tucson will be displaying their finest vehicles in the parking lot during tailgating hours and on the field in the VIP section. If you like cars and soccer, then Saturday will be a great night for you.
• Safety First: Tucson Medical Center will be handing out complimentary youth bike helmets to all the young fans in the crowd in an effort to promote health and safety in the community.
• Grab Your Gear: The Shop Tucson will be selling plenty of team gear in the concourse during the event. Whether you’re looking for MLS gear, Desert Diamond Cup event shirts or FC Tucson jerseys (you can even get the Audi of Tucson logo on them in time for the 2013 season) you can get it all in the concourse.
• Become a Cactus Prick: Nothing makes soccer more fun than the supporters’ culture and no supporters group is more fun than the Cactus Pricks, the supporters group for FC Tucson. If you love singing, dancing and showing your soccer passion for an entire match, then sit with the best supporters group in the Premier Development League.

There are plenty of reasons to come out to Saturday’s Desert Diamond Cup finals. But simply put: this will be a soccer party. So FC Tucson invites the community to come out and have fun on a Saturday night. It’ll be a night to remember.

January 20 – A free Bicycle Party in downtown Tucson hosted by (Grey’s Anatomy star) Patrick Dempsey, pro cyclist Tom Danielson, and Bicycling Magazine editor-in-chief Peter Flax in the Armory Park neighborhood.

The route will be closed to vehicle traffic so people of all ages and abilities can ride around one of Tucson’s oldest neighborhoods. Armory Park will host music, including Jovert, Tucson High Magnet School’s steel drum band, and other festivities throughout the afternoon. Ride the 2.2 mile route as many times as you want, meet some new bicycling friends, and maybe an autograph or two.