phoenix without a car ? (Glendale, Tempe: house, to buy, living)

[k1221n]

was planning on moving to phoenix and my tranny blew out, not sure to invest in a new tranny or just keep the money and save up and buy a used car in phoenix. My question is, is it a hard to get around phoenix without a car or does the public transit sytem get you to most of the locations you need to go ?

[Kimballette]

Originally Posted by k1221n

was planning on moving to phoenix and my tranny blew out, not sure to invest in a new tranny or just keep the money and save up and buy a used car in phoenix. My question is, is it a hard to get around phoenix without a car or does the public transit sytem get you to most of the locations you need to go ?

Although the metro area does have a transit system and light rail, compared to other cities in which I've lived, I think it would be very difficult. YMMV, of course, and I'm sure you'll hear a lot of opinions on this topic.

[Bondurant]

Depends on where you'll be living and if you don't mind long bus rides. If you live near a bus line it could work. I work with a guy that did this for 5 years and he hated it. Finally broke down and bought himself a car.

[Beware_of_Dog]

Would be easier to survive it in the winter, but would be brutal in the summer waiting on buses, plus you need to live right on the bus line. You definitely won't want to walk several blocks in this heat to get to a bus stop. Overall, not a good idea.

Arizona is a great place to buy a used car though.

[nickw252]

You would be fine if you lived on the light rail line. The trains come more frequently than most busses so you wouldn't have to wait long. It may not be ideal but it's certainly doable.

When I moved here I took the train everywhere before I got a job and I was fine.

Do you have a job? If not try to get one on the metro line.

[westcoastvp]

You're going to need a car. Phoenix is very spread out.

[AZDesertFox]

Transit advocates shoudln't be here.... we like our way of life and don't want to change it.

[khuntrevor]

You know the saying.....big truck; small ----. There is a website dedicated to life on the LR Making it easy to Live, Work, and Play near the Light Rail - LightRailConnect. It's 3.50 per day and that includes the buses. Weekends on the bus suck, but they are good during the week, the LR is excellent during the week. I don't have a car now, and the pluses outweigh the minuses. You might spend 2500 to get your tranny fixed and still have a car worth close to zero. I bought a 7200 sf lot with a small house for 18,500 and I can be at the best bars in Phoenix in a 15 minute walk on good, well lit, sidewalks.

[Yipster]

Originally Posted by k1221n

was planning on moving to phoenix and my tranny blew out, not sure to invest in a new tranny or just keep the money and save up and buy a used car in phoenix. My question is, is it a hard to get around phoenix without a car or does the public transit sytem get you to most of the locations you need to go ?

I've lived in Tempe without car. It's not fun. Public transit can certainly get you most anywhere, but not always quickly. Buses are unreliable and are prone to breaking down in the Summer.

If you choose to go through with it, pick a part of town that's somewhat centralized, with lots of amenities nearby (grocery stores, restaurants, etc...). Oh, and at least buy a bike.

[Ritchie_az]

If you have a bike that would help. I have an uncle that bikes to work in downtown... from the Arrowhead area of Glendale....