FIVE TIPS TO HELP YOU BEAT THE EXTREME HEAT WHILE RIDING MASS TRANSIT

I survived our first test week of extreme temperatures in Phoenix.

I’ll admit, there were days when I was dripping in sweat when I returned home from a day full of meetings.  I know, SO not attractive, but this past week I proved you can live without a car in the Valley of the Sun.  Are my sweaty efforts worth saving close to $700 a month in car payments and insurance this month?  Heck ya!!  That’s more money to spend on clothes and trips!

My carfree adventure this past week also made for some interesting stories to tell.  Like the day I got kicked out of a cab.  How did I get kicked out of a cab?  I explain in my Facebook status update…

I got kicked out of a taxi today. Apparently I waisted drivers time only going a mile. Excuse me?? I am not walking a mile in dress shoes in 113 degree heat.

Dress shoes aside, If you want to go carfree, but are apprehensive about the scorching temperatures in the desert, here are some tips to help make it through the day.

1) Plan your errands early to avoid the hottest part of the day Especially if you have alot to carry.  You’ll find by running errands in the morning, you’ll have more time to relax in the afternoon and spend time with family, friends and loved ones.

2) Keep moving! I’ve noticed during my own carfree commute that when you stand still waiting for the train or a cab, you feel the heat more so than when you do when you’re moving around.  This is especially true when there’s no shade for cover.

3) Wear light colored and loose fitting clothing.  Nothing attracts heat more than a dark colored shirt, so be sure you’re ready to greet your grueling carfree commute in the desert with light colored and loose fitting clothing.  Loose fitting clothing helps your skin breathe and release heat from your body.

4) Stay hydrated! I recently did a post about the importance of not only staying hydrated, but also the kind of fluids you consume.  If you’re out and about all day, try mixing up straight water with a sports drink.  And don’t rely on the water at the light rail stations.  Every fountain I’ve used has been warm.  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 diet – that may not work for the carfree commuter who needs a personal tank with the fuel necessary to keep going through the day.  That means plenty of carbohydrates, like fruit, vegetables, and nuts.  Read more here.

Hopefully these tips should get y’all by in Phoenix for the weekend.  I’m jettin’ off to Seattle to help fellow transit geeks celebrate the opening of their new light rail system, the next city to have light rail since the Phoenix system made a debut late last year.  I’ll be sure to take plenty of pictures and show you all the fun!

My friend Leland posted a Facebook status update over the weekend.  Apparently he had gone out over the weekend to enjoy the new late night light rail hours in Phoenix, and ran into a problem when security asked to see his purchased fare.  As you know, rail passengers use an honor or ‘proof of purchase’ system here in the Valley.

I think if you buy an unlimited day light rail pass for $3.50 at 6pm, it should continue working after midnight rather than having to purchase a new pass. Whoever in light rail didn’t think of that obviously doesn’t take it. How uninviting, are they trying to reduce riders??  We were checked while waiting and were pointed out the date on the ticket had just expired. So we had to buy new tickets.

Inquiring minds want to know… what’s up with that??  I emailed METRO spokesperson Hillary Foose.  Here’s her response…

An all-day pass is valid for the transit day which expires at 2:59 a.m. the next day.  So if you buy an all-day pass on Saturday, your pass is valid through 2:59 a.m. on Sunday morning.

And now you know.  Your Friday and Saturday fares are good until the next morning at 2:59 a.m.

For more information on Valley Metro fares and how to purchase tickets online, click here.

A popular Phoenix restaurant along the light rail is having a celebration in honor of the Valley’s new mass transit system.

Portland’s Restaurant and Wine Bar is giving away free “juiciest buns in town” t-shirts to guests who order one of their signature burgers on the night of June 16th.  The restaurant is also unveiling a new item called the Metro Burger, featuring their fresh cut, never frozen, certified Angus beef along with creamy fontina cheese, zesty BBQ sauce, and sauteed onions.

Why am I’m suddenly very hungry??

“We’ve always been strong supporters of downtown and the light rail, even during construction,” says Portland’s co-owner Dylan Bethge.  “Now that the light rail is fully operational, it has played a positive role in our community and our lives, and we’d like to celebrate that fact with a great, new burger.”

The restaurant also has a new drink called the Jefferson, which is best described as a “coffee bar meets happy hour” beverage.  Ask for it by name!

The t-shirt/tank top offer is good while supplies last.

Portland’s is located next to the Arts District station (Roosevelt and Central) – 105 W. Portland Street in downtown Phoenix.  The event runs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.  Read more information on the restaurant’s website here.

I overhear many conversations during my carfree commute using the light rail in Phoenix, however the chatter that sticks out the most involves the question dude, where’s my stop?

Actually, the conversation that sticks out the most was the one between two men talking about their friend “Frankie” who’s back in the pokie.  This time, he held up a local department store at knife point.  He needed new pants for a job interview.

Anyway, the other conversation that stands out is one I hear almost every train ride: Where do we get off? Many people know their destination, but it appears they don’t do the research to find out which station to de-board and how to get to their destination once they get off the train.

I looked online to see which website has the best information about station location combined with nearby attractions and places of interest.  I’ve put together a list of the better ones below.  If I missed any, please let me know in the comment section and I will add the site to my list.

The Arizona Republic‘s website directs you to a page with a fairly extensive list of restaurants and bars along the light rail plus a google map to give you a sense of direction once you de-board the train.  There’s also has a brief description of each restaurant which might help in making your dining/drinking choice.  And let me know if you figure out what’s going on in the thumbnail picture for the 7th Avenue and Camelback station.  As far as the station location information goes, click here and then on the station location to find a list of restaurants and hot spots.

Light Rail Beer is a site where you select a bar, enter your email, and a station location will be sent to your inbox as well as a list of other bars and to print and take with you.  There are several listed along the light rail line, but I can think of a few that are not on the site. The site is easy to use, however lacks detailed information as to how to get to your final destination once at the station.

Museum Spot has a good list going of venues along the light rail, however the information doesn’t tell you exactly which light rail stop to de-board.  Navigating the site will take some resilience on your part, as you have to go deep into the links to get an answer.  To use the site, just look for the attraction and then click on a link which takes you to the attraction’s main page.  Museum Spot can be found here.

Rail Life probably has the best information in terms of local attractions and points of interest around each station.  Mad props go out to fellow blogger Nick and his crew who have been working hard to assemble a great resource of information for people who not only live here but also for those visiting the Valley.  The map is very easy to use.  Just roll your arrow over a station and a pop up screen reveals a picture and links to nearby landmarks.  Click here to see the map.

Valley Metro has a transit trip planner here.  I must say I’ve had difficulty using the site in the past, but VM’s IT people must have worked out the bugs since then because I found it very user friendly in researching for this post today.  In fact, it was probably the easiest of all the sites I tested.  A word of caution: if you are not going to a major landmark, you must at least know an intersection in order for the planner to work.

I hope this helps, and if all else fails and you need more information, I would suggest doing what most people do these days and “Google it” or just go to the main webpage of the restaurant/museum/bar/theater/etc.