TUCSON, Ariz. — Every Tuesday night Tucson’s active bicycle community takes over the streets in what has become a growing tradition among local bike enthusiasts.

Hundreds of bicyclists gather at the University of Arizona to partake in an hourlong bike ride with other bike enthusiasts, casual riders and people from all walks of life.

Nick Jett, a part-time employee at the Ordinary Bike Shop and student at the University of Arizona, is one of the original organizers of the ever-growing bike night.

“I’ve seen it go from a group of friends that are interested in everything — cycling for sport, fun, commuting, exercise or whatever, to a chain reaction from neighborhood to neighborhood," he said. "All we did was promote it really one time with some flyers. Really it’s all been word of mouth."

“One new person comes and brings a few friends and then next week it’s a little bigger. It fluctuates, it dies down in the winter, when some of the out-of-state (students at the UA) go home, and other people go away for the winter,” he said.

Before the event on Tuesdays, fans and newcomers mingle about the UA’s historic Old Main doing circles with their head and tail lights, whizzing around in the dark like a light show.

The crowd consists of those on mountain bikes, road bikes, children's bikes and even tricycles. One person even rides with a speaker attached to his bike.

"The speaker is self-powered," said the anonymous musical biker. "It's powered by the good vibes from everyone here."

“I’m excited, I’ve never done it before, but it always seemed like a lot of fun,” said undeclared UA junior Guillaume Lassalle as he waited for his first ride. “I’ve been a long boarder and a walker before, but this year I ride my bike to class every day.”

Lassalle's biking companion, Craig Pernick, a wildlife management junior, agreed with his friend’s thoughts.

“It takes longer to drive from my house to campus than it does biking,” Pernick said. “Plus this way I don’t have to pay for gas or parking and I can bike right up to my class. It’s so much more convenient.”

“This is my first time riding in the tour as well,” said international studies senior Alex Inturrerich. “I’m looking forward to it. The weather’s perfect and it’s fun, easy exercise.”

So what makes all of this possible? Tucson’s biking community.

“It is a unique community (Tucson’s bicyclists community)," Jett said. "You get a ton of road cyclists because the weather is great year round, and a lot of commuters (are here).

"I think that it’s kind of a nice mixture. You get a lot of people getting into it because it’s cool in some groups — fixing up the bikes, restoring them. Also with the way gas prices are going people are getting in to it more.”

Jon Hayt has participated in the ride may times before and loves riding with his friend and other bike enthusiasts.

“I never know where we’re going,” said Hayt, a freelance photographer, "but I always have a good time.”