Passing the test
Posted on 05. Oct, 2009 by Tony Arranaga in Featured
Cooler temperatures are finally back in Phoenix. Earlier today we hit a high of 80 degrees and overnight temperatures are expected to dip down into the mid 60′s. Arizona’s fall weather is a welcome relief. I spent the summer living carfree in the desert and passed my biggest test by surviving the hottest July on record (source) – relying only on mass transit and my bike to get around.
I’ll admit the experience was a challenge as a working professional. Fortunately part of my day allows me to work from home. However there were many days when a meeting with clients called for wearing a shirt, tie and sometimes a sport coat. A bottle of water for hydration and a towel to wipe the sweat from my face always came along for the ride. And fighting sweat stains from my shoulder bag was always a constant battle whether I wore a bag for one half hour of one minute. Looking my best in the extreme heat wasn’t always easy.
You’re probably wondering why on earth would I subject myself to the searing temperatures? The month long challenge that started back in January quickly became a passion. During this time, I realized how much I enjoyed letting someone else doing the driving. I also learned how mass transit clears the air by taking more cars off the road. I had extra money in my wallet every month because I was buying less gas. I saw first hand how alternative modes of transportation could actually help reduce our dependency on foreign oil. In addition, I felt good. My body felt good. These benefits only fueled my passion for transit and blogging, however there was something happening on a deeper level. Each passing month gave me the confidence to go from I think I can to I know I can.
I got to thinking about all this while giving a fellow transit blogger from Portland a guided mini-tour of our light rail system. Adron Hall and his girlfriend Jo were visiting the area for a wedding last weekend and decided to stay a few days extra to see the city and our new system.
I started following the Transit Sleuth shortly after my first few months of blogging. Adron is a wealth of knowledge and a great resource. Outside of reading and commenting on posts we’ve only exchanged email. Adron’s work is an inspiration – so I was a little nervous heading into the meeting. Basically, he’s like my blogging version of a rock star. The butterflies quickly vanished and the three of us had great conversation and we had so much fun. Of course, I had to show them my pick for best tacos in Phoenix. Next we took the light rail north and headed to Smeeks and Frances to spend some money at locally owned businesses.
I think they liked my tour. I hear they went back to GB for seconds later that night.
4 Responses to “Passing the test”
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Matthew Petro
06. Oct, 2009
How do you deal with needing to wear a jacket and tie and being carfree at the same time? I’ve figured out carfree travel while looking good and wearing a tie, but adding a jacket or a full suit into the mix still seems like a very sweaty ride or a lot of stuff to put somewhere.
lightrailblogger
08. Oct, 2009
Yeah, it made the commute slightly more challenging only because of the heat. During the day I could forgo the jacket – but there were some night time events that I needed to wear a jacket. Even when you throw it over your arm, it’s still another piece of clothing you have to schlep around. Which is why I always brought a small towel to dab the sweat from my brow.
Adron
08. Oct, 2009
It was excellent meeting you! Had an absolute blast on your tour – loved Smeeks, etc along the light rail line and definitely loved Gallo Blanco!!! The Clarendon (spelling?) that the restaurant is in is also amazing. We’re definitely staying there on our next trip!
Thanks again for our tourz! You got a place anytime you want to fly/roll/train/teleport up to Portland. …and I promise a grand tour.
bowchikabowbow
20. Oct, 2009
Oh Tony I wish there were more people like you in Phoenix. I lived in Tempe since I was six and moved to Washington DC last year and live there for about 9 months without a car and loved it. But then again, in DC, that is the norm. I only met one person who owned a car the whole time I was there.
Now I live in Los Angeles and have my car again, but LA is kind of like Phoenix in that its public transit system is getting much better. Out here we have a subway, light rail and a commuter rail system. But I still have a car because without it I couldn’t get to the beach. But, I almost never use it even though I lived in the most sprawled city in the world. I live in downtown and just walk to work and if I want to go the grocery store I walk or take the subway.
Oh I was going to say that if Phx was like NYC you could have caught a cab on those days that you had to wear a tie. Too bad, a skyline like NYC would look so pretty with those amazing sunsets in the background.