Roaming cabs? Light rail? Difference in areas? (Phoenix, Mesa: RV parks, upper-class)

[TootsieWootsie]

1. Does Phoenix have roaming cabs that you can catch on a corner a la the Sex and the City girls? Chicago definitely does, but Houston--no. So, does Phoenix?
It does look like you can get most anyplace you want in Phoenix via bus or light rail now, tho--right or wrong?
2. I read some of the posts about your light rail system that just opened. I lived in Chicago for a long time, and rode the light rail there and loved it. But, I get from reading the posts, that your light rail system is set-up along "bad" neighborhoods? Did I get the wrong impression?
3. Tempe is a college area with not retirees (that's me)?
Mesa has lots of RV parks I see, but what is it like otherwise? Scottsdale is a little more upper-class with lots of retirees. Am I going in the right direction here?

[Finger Laker]

not really roaming cabs - however, if you are in a place where you would walk you could probably either find one dropping off or queuing at a hotel

I went to a beerfest in mesa and it was about a 45 minute wait after calling a cab

Phoenix isn't a dense, urban center - it's a widespread city ... it's a car culture and since most drive, parking is cheap (usually free) you can get around all right

lightrail is what it is ..... good for those who have a reason to ride it, whatever for the rest of us

since phoenix doesn't have the dense center it's never going to be that please all tool - it goes through some not so nice neighborhoods (nothing inherently dangerous), but also hits key points like mill ave (tempe), downtown phx & the airport

i wouldn't say scottsdale has a lot of retirees - but you will find some retirees everywhere ...... pretty much ever city has a mix of everything

[silverbear]

Originally Posted by TootsieWootsie

1. Does Phoenix have roaming cabs that you can catch on a corner a la the Sex and the City girls? Chicago definitely does, but Houston--no. So, does Phoenix?
It does look like you can get most anyplace you want in Phoenix via bus or light rail now, tho--right or wrong?
2. I read some of the posts about your light rail system that just opened. I lived in Chicago for a long time, and rode the light rail there and loved it. But, I get from reading the posts, that your light rail system is set-up along "bad" neighborhoods? Did I get the wrong impression?
3. Tempe is a college area with not retirees (that's me)?
Mesa has lots of RV parks I see, but what is it like otherwise? Scottsdale is a little more upper-class with lots of retirees. Am I going in the right direction here?

#1 Hailing a cab on the street is virtually unheard of in Phoenix. Cabs are usually summoned by phone, but you'll see them waiting during peak times in certain popular nightlife districts like Mill Avenue in Tempe and Old Town Scottsdale.

#2 Wrong impression -- at least partially. The light rail goes by some great neighborhoods (e.g. Willo, Alvarado, Ashland Place, and Windsor Square); it also goes by some less desirable ones (portions of Washington Street and Apache Boulevard). It's a mix and is generally reflective of the spectrum of socioeconomic levels in Phoenix. There's no place along the rail line that would scare me during the day; there are a few areas I'd avoid at night. The stations near major activity centers are generally in fairly safe areas.

#3 Sort of. The Phoenix Metro Area is one of the youngest in the country. It's not overrun with retirees despite stereotypes to the contrary. On the other hand, Tempe is not a wall-to-wall college town. There are many family-oriented neighborhoods in Tempe. Mesa is huge and unfocused. The west end of Mesa doesn't get much respect, but I think it's actually the more interesting part. East Mesa is more prosperous and less diverse. RV parks seem to be scattered throughout the city.