Owlie, AZ Fiddle pretty much covered it. There's a great website by the bicycle advisory committee www.bikeped.pima.gov

It's the bike map I use for Tucson. There are also lots of great routes just outside the city limits. Lots of neat places to explore with all kinds of terrain.

I've lived in the southeast of Tucson for 10 years. The best part is lots of mountain ranges. Summer sunsets and sunrises burst with color.

Worst part I agree with Fiddle in transportation. Not well planned out but I don't think planners anticipated this kind of growth.

Good luck with grad school, let me know if I can be of more help!
dt