Flagstaff on a bike? (Phoenix: taxi, live, shop)

[gospitsgo81]

Is a car necessary in Flagstaff due to the weather during the winter months, or would a motorcycle or even bicycle be sufficient transportation around the city?

[bobbilly79]

People ride bikes year round. Most major roads have well marked bike lanes, however since I'm more of a walker I usually pay more attention to sidewalk conditions than bike lane conditions.

[breer23]

I usually rode my bike year round, so it's possible. However, I also had my car there for getting stuff at the market and what-not. But Flagstaff is a VERY bike-friendly town. Plus, considering the parking situation of some areas (depending on where you live), a bicycle might be a better option. I lived downtown for a year with no parking space allocated and got more than my share of parking tickets, year-round.

[kdog]

It snows there, sometimes a foot or more. So if you positively have to get places regardless of weather, a bike as a sole source of transportation ain't gonna cut it.

[atkin]

I'm from Flagstaff. Having moved to Phoenix, I can tell you that Flagstaff is very bike-friendly by comparison. Almost every place you need to go is within a 3 mile radius of downtown. The mall is a bit farther out, but in my experience bicyclists don't shop at malls that often. There is an urban trail system that goes through beautiful open spaces. I would probably try to find a place near campus, in the north part of downtown, or north of downtown if I got a chance to move back there.

There are a couple of options (Greyhound and Open Road Tours) for getting to Phoenix if you need an airport, and there's an Amtrak station.

The weather is relatively mild. I think you should be able to afford to take a taxi 5 days a year with all the money you save from not owning a car.