We rode from Camelback and Central to downtown. Rumor was there were hours-long waits in Tempe to get back to Phoenix, so we hopped off at Van Buren. Then what?That's the rub. We walked over to the Arizona Center, which was empty at 4 p.m. on a Saturday. So we rode back up to Camelback.
It was very crowded, both ways. People were enthusiastic. The general patter was that it would be a good way to get from Phoenix to Tempe when not so busy as on this, its opening day, and free. The ride was smooth and fun.
It's not a replacement for automobile travel, but it's a great alternative.
I have to admit a certain fondness for the "Camelback corridor." We go to the Biltmore a lot for books at Borders, snacks at Haagen Dazs, and the sales racks at Macy's. It's a pretty little outdoor mall; excellent people-watching, especially at the corner of the lawn by the Apple Store and the MAC make-up shop.
For another billion dollars maybe we could hook that up with light-rail, too.
5 comments:
i just hope they plan on extending the line westward. If they connected the ASU West campus I'd be a dedicated rider for sure. Not driving I-17 or I-10 would be worth adjusting my schedule to the Metro.
We rode from Christown to downtown Tempe and ate at Rula Bula. Rode back on the special shuttle buses they had set up. A good time was had by all. It's nice when backwards right-wing places like SLC and Phoenix can come into the age of mass-transit, if only a little bit. Progress, albeit slowly.
I love a train. Maybe our new awareness of energy issues--however halting and overdue--will cause us to make real progress toward effective public transport.
trains are a step in the right diection and fun too!
One of my husband's high school classmates was the mayor who actually got the freeway system built. I grew up in Scottsdale during the 20 years of fighting over even that being done!
Then moved to San Diego where it was the environmental canyon savers who fought the freeways for the many years we've lived here. There's rail on the coast, trolleys downtown and to the east, but nothing to the inland backwaters where we live yet...
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