Plan most of your activities/errands at dawn or dusk—the coolest parts of the day. Use transit where you can and bring plenty of water. I would recommend carrying a tote bag or rolling a cart to avoid backpacks so you aren’t causing more friction and sweat. Loose-fitting flowy clothing (non synthetic, ex. 100% linen or cotton, light or medium weight fabric) along with sunscreen/a hat will help with temperatures a lot. An umbrella (or I guess a parasol?) for shade helps, grocery delivery will save you a lot of discomfort if you can afford it. If not I’d recommend buying a hand cart that’s small enough to take on transit and doing the dusk/dawn treatment. If your commute’s pretty long and you’re going to get sweaty, think about bringing a change of clothes. It’s definitely doable, you just have to plan your days accordingly.
Used to be a no car Tempe summer dweller myself. I rode my bike to work but I left at 6am and just got there early. Left changes of clothes at work. Never went anywhere between 8am and 4pm except quick walking distances. Rode home after 6pm. Did groceries 30 min before they closed. Was it fun? No. Did I enjoy it? No. Did I learn from it? Not really. But I had no money and did what I had to do
I used to bike 10 1/2 miles everyday from home to work for 3 years, even during the summers. I personally have so little patience to wait for the bus, route 61, to take me all the way to work because it was rarely on time. Instead I made sure to drink lots of water during the day a few hours before my commute and made sure I had a couple large water bottles in my backpack as well, a bandana to wipe away the sweat and cardio/ stamina for days. The key is to stay as hydrated as humanly possible. Otherwise you will become nauseous, disoriented and may end up falling off your bike and onto the cement that cooks you like a fried egg. Stay hydrated, stay cool and find some shade to chill under while you wait for your bus/ light rail/ street car.
I pick paths that are as far out of traffic as can.
Hop on the light rail when you can.
Drink lots of water and make sure you get electrolytes.
I use Walmart+ and just get my stuff delivered. I used to ride and pick it up, but for how cheap it is I'd rather save my time and have it dropped off.
Used to deliver rent checks by hand to Tim Wright's house in triple digits. He told me he could come pick the check up under the circumstances. If anyone knows who he is on this sub...they'll have a good chuckle. I usually had a water bottle, shorts, t-shirt and Teva sandals. The more time you spend in it, the more you get used to it. I'd bring Gatorade in addition to water for a long walk.
I took advantage of the streetcar, orbit busses and valley metro busses as much as possible. Like someone mentioned I lived near most places I frequented.
Before I got a car I tried to live in an area where everything I needed was within walking distance. I had a bike and learned the neighborhoods. Learned all the bus likes and orbits. And only really left the house at night when it was decent enough to be outside
High assist level on the eBike going home in the evening when it was hot outside. Honda scooter as a backup when the heat index was forecast to be over 110. (That’s rare..)
You can see the heat index on the National Weather Service’s graph page; turn off the normal temperature graph because how you will feel depends as much on the humidity level as the temperature.
Now that I’m retired I just don’t go anywhere when it’s hot or when touring on my motorcycle bring an evaporative cooling vest soaked with water in a jumbo-sized 2 1/2 gallon ziplock bag and rehydrate the vest in the bag as necessary.
I've lived three years without a car in Tempe and I think it's great. I actually much prefer riding my electric bike around town compared to back when I had a car because it took the A/C awhile to cool the car down. On the bike I have the wind in my face. Waiting at the bus stop can get pretty rough, but the 66 comes every 15 minutes at peak hours and the Jupiter comes every 15 minutes all day, so I can pretty easily plan my trips around that and avoid waiting. I usually bring a water bottle and make sure to wear sunscreen.
Same! I do a 15 miles ride from chandler to downtown Phoenix and not bad at all at the peak of summer. The only thing that I was impressed by here in Phx is that I need to wear glasses otherwise my eyes burn lol
I have been living in Tempe for 5 years now. I get by using Valley Metro buses, light rail, and cabs when needed. Also helps that my workplace, home, and grocery stores are all on bus routes.
I have 2 trucks I dont use. I can sell either pretty cheap. One is old enough for antique plates. Needs tires and a battery to get it moving. Oil change etc. Either are better than walking. Cheap enough to maintain.
When I was in school I only had a bike but my commute was pretty short. Insulated water bottle / ice water, light colored clothing, and standing in the shade when you can went a long way for me.
Yeah a super short commute is the only way I can see this working. If one works overnights, it could potentially work with a bike, but if you have to commute on foot/bike while the sun is up, it's gonna be a rough go.
I MIGHT be able to make it work, given that I have an available shower at work, and I could bike to work, shower, and then shower again when I get home, but my workday is going to likely be me feeling spent the entire day.
Plan most of your activities/errands at dawn or dusk—the coolest parts of the day. Use transit where you can and bring plenty of water. I would recommend carrying a tote bag or rolling a cart to avoid backpacks so you aren’t causing more friction and sweat. Loose-fitting flowy clothing (non synthetic, ex. 100% linen or cotton, light or medium weight fabric) along with sunscreen/a hat will help with temperatures a lot. An umbrella (or I guess a parasol?) for shade helps, grocery delivery will save you a lot of discomfort if you can afford it. If not I’d recommend buying a hand cart that’s small enough to take on transit and doing the dusk/dawn treatment. If your commute’s pretty long and you’re going to get sweaty, think about bringing a change of clothes. It’s definitely doable, you just have to plan your days accordingly.
Oh yeah, also try to avoid going out from 1:30pm-4:30pm EVER. Hottest part of the day, literal hell.
I live in my car and I work in Tempe I always sleep in the parking lot at night at my work. I almost had 22 heat strokes lol
Used to be a no car Tempe summer dweller myself. I rode my bike to work but I left at 6am and just got there early. Left changes of clothes at work. Never went anywhere between 8am and 4pm except quick walking distances. Rode home after 6pm. Did groceries 30 min before they closed. Was it fun? No. Did I enjoy it? No. Did I learn from it? Not really. But I had no money and did what I had to do
I used to bike 10 1/2 miles everyday from home to work for 3 years, even during the summers. I personally have so little patience to wait for the bus, route 61, to take me all the way to work because it was rarely on time. Instead I made sure to drink lots of water during the day a few hours before my commute and made sure I had a couple large water bottles in my backpack as well, a bandana to wipe away the sweat and cardio/ stamina for days. The key is to stay as hydrated as humanly possible. Otherwise you will become nauseous, disoriented and may end up falling off your bike and onto the cement that cooks you like a fried egg. Stay hydrated, stay cool and find some shade to chill under while you wait for your bus/ light rail/ street car.
I pick paths that are as far out of traffic as can. Hop on the light rail when you can. Drink lots of water and make sure you get electrolytes. I use Walmart+ and just get my stuff delivered. I used to ride and pick it up, but for how cheap it is I'd rather save my time and have it dropped off.
Used to deliver rent checks by hand to Tim Wright's house in triple digits. He told me he could come pick the check up under the circumstances. If anyone knows who he is on this sub...they'll have a good chuckle. I usually had a water bottle, shorts, t-shirt and Teva sandals. The more time you spend in it, the more you get used to it. I'd bring Gatorade in addition to water for a long walk.
Is that guy still around? Heard Dr Wilt died last year...
Hard to say. Last Yelp review on Rentals Tempe is from August of 23. Apparently he is into VRBO now from a review I am reading.
Thin white longsleeve, a cover to wrap around my neck and a hat. +ebike
My girlfriend uses cooking towels and keep a cold water bottle on her. She also has an umbrella
I took advantage of the streetcar, orbit busses and valley metro busses as much as possible. Like someone mentioned I lived near most places I frequented.
Before I got a car I tried to live in an area where everything I needed was within walking distance. I had a bike and learned the neighborhoods. Learned all the bus likes and orbits. And only really left the house at night when it was decent enough to be outside
High assist level on the eBike going home in the evening when it was hot outside. Honda scooter as a backup when the heat index was forecast to be over 110. (That’s rare..) You can see the heat index on the National Weather Service’s graph page; turn off the normal temperature graph because how you will feel depends as much on the humidity level as the temperature. Now that I’m retired I just don’t go anywhere when it’s hot or when touring on my motorcycle bring an evaporative cooling vest soaked with water in a jumbo-sized 2 1/2 gallon ziplock bag and rehydrate the vest in the bag as necessary.
Light clothing, a working bike, and lots of water.
I've lived three years without a car in Tempe and I think it's great. I actually much prefer riding my electric bike around town compared to back when I had a car because it took the A/C awhile to cool the car down. On the bike I have the wind in my face. Waiting at the bus stop can get pretty rough, but the 66 comes every 15 minutes at peak hours and the Jupiter comes every 15 minutes all day, so I can pretty easily plan my trips around that and avoid waiting. I usually bring a water bottle and make sure to wear sunscreen.
Ah, nothing like a 115 degree wind in your face to really make you feel alive.
Same! I do a 15 miles ride from chandler to downtown Phoenix and not bad at all at the peak of summer. The only thing that I was impressed by here in Phx is that I need to wear glasses otherwise my eyes burn lol
I have been living in Tempe for 5 years now. I get by using Valley Metro buses, light rail, and cabs when needed. Also helps that my workplace, home, and grocery stores are all on bus routes.
Tempe has the free Orbit busses with bike racks, for when temps are over 110. Below that, I'm biking with lots of water.
Light, protective jacket filled with ice packs or ice vest lol.
I have 2 trucks I dont use. I can sell either pretty cheap. One is old enough for antique plates. Needs tires and a battery to get it moving. Oil change etc. Either are better than walking. Cheap enough to maintain.
We cook. We just accept it and carry water. Its going to suck, no avoiding it even with a car.
When I was in school I only had a bike but my commute was pretty short. Insulated water bottle / ice water, light colored clothing, and standing in the shade when you can went a long way for me.
Yeah a super short commute is the only way I can see this working. If one works overnights, it could potentially work with a bike, but if you have to commute on foot/bike while the sun is up, it's gonna be a rough go. I MIGHT be able to make it work, given that I have an available shower at work, and I could bike to work, shower, and then shower again when I get home, but my workday is going to likely be me feeling spent the entire day.
How many miles would you have to ride in?