Surviving the Heat During Your Carfree Commute

Posted on 23. Jun, 2010 by Tony Arranaga in Featured, News

The forecast in Phoenix on Thursday is hot hot hot! The Valley of the Sun will see the hottest day of the year (so far) as the temperature is expected to reach 111 degrees. People here in Phoenix have experienced triple digit temps off and on for a few weeks. Personally, I don’t consider it really hot until the temps reaches at least 110 degrees.

Last summer, I gave you some first hand tips for surviving the heat during your carfree commute. Whether your mode of transportation is a car, bus, light rail (or even a bike!), you’ll want to take these precautions when dealing with the warmest days this summer.

1) Plan to run your errands early to avoid the hottest part of the day, especially if you have alot of bags or items to carry.  You’ll find by running errands in the morning, you’ll have more time to work or relax in the afternoon when it’s typically the hottest.

2) Keep moving! I’ve noticed during my own carfree commute that standing still while waiting for the bus or light rail will make you feel hot and sweaty as opposed to when you’re on the move.  This is especially true when there’s no shade for cover.

3) Wear light colored and loose fitting clothes.  Nothing attracts heat more than a dark colored shirt, so be sure you’re ready to greet the hottest days this summer with the appropriate clothing.  Loose fitting clothes help your skin breathe and release heat from your body.

4) Stay hydrated! How much you drink is just as important as what you drink.  If you’re out and about all day, try mixing up straight water with a sports drink. METRO light rail stations also have water fountains, just be sure to let the water run for a couple seconds before going in for a sip. You can read my post on staying hydrated during your carfree commute here.

5) Eat properly. Besides staying hydrated, you’ll want to make sure you have a nutritious meal, especially in the morning before you head out the door. While there has been an emphasis in recent years on a high protein, low carb diets, those diets may not work for the carfree commuter who needs a personal fuel tank for energy through the day.  That means plenty of carbohydrates, like fruit, vegetables, and nuts.  Read more here.

Tags: bike, bus, EXTREME HEAT AND YOUR CARFREE COMMUTE, heat, METRO light rail, PHOENIX LIGHT RAIL, Ride Light Rail, weather