Pistons Then Pedals

A goal of mine this year has been to take more microadventures in Arizona.

Different phases of life call for different types of travel. Past years have allowed for epic trips like our trip to Italy and a long road trip down the California coast. Because of work pressures, a senior dog, and other financial goals, we’re staying closer to home this year.

So, last weekend, I decided we’d have a poolside day trip. I wanted to leave the car at home and use our eBikes, as well as public transportation.

With volatile oil prices, ever-increasing car prices, and the enshittification (Merriam-Webster Official Website) of the auto industry, we avoid putting miles on our cars when possible.

Traveling From The Tempe Suburbs to Downtown Tempe With Valley Metro

So, for this trip, we took advantage of Tempe’s robust public transportation. Our home is actually in Chandler, which is an adjacent suburb of Tempe. There’s a bus line that is walkable from our home, but it doesn’t run at all on Sundays.

A few miles west of us, there is a bus line that runs all of the way from Chandler Fashion Mall to north Scottsdale. It travels along Rural Road, which becomes Scottsdale Road. It leaves every 30 minutes and also runs on Sundays.

Our largest obstacle was traversing the few miles from our home to the bus stop. We could’ve taken the car, but that would have defeated the purpose. Car share was another option, but that would’ve doubled the cost of our day trip.

Our eBikes offered our solution. Sunday’s high temperature was over 110 degrees with an excessive heat warning. The electrification would allow us to travel to/from the bus stop without the full exertion of a regular bicycle.

The Difference Between eBikes and Electric Motorcycles

It’s important to point out that our eBikes are true eBikes.

Electric bicycles have three legal categories in Arizona. Class I, Class II, and Class III. These classes have been outlined in the Arizona Revised Statutes for years.

There’s a lot of misinformation (as well as disinformation) portraying electric motorcycles as “eBikes.” eMotos are entirely different.

Our eBikes are legal in our area and not capable of the general “hooliganism” which many news organizations are showing.

I can’t do burnouts. I can’t do wheelies. I can’t do 40 mph. These are all beyond the technical capabilities of my little electric bicycle.

While I’m not a lawyer, I’d recommend reading up on your state’s definition of eBikes. It’s also important to note that city laws can often exist in addition to state laws.

For example, the City of Tempe has a detailed website which clearly defines eBikes: https://www.tempe.gov/ebikes

The Multimodal Adventure Begins: Biking to The Bus

At about 9 am, we departed our home on our two Specialized Vado eBikes. Our ride was warm, but not unbearable, as we used a painted bicycle lane to travel over the Loop 101.

About 15 minutes later, we arrived at our destination: a bicycle rack at a library. We chose this location because we knew the bike rack was secure, beneath video surveillance, and in an area with visible pedestrian traffic.

Our eBikes are insured, but I didn’t want to leave them at a bus stop. Less people would be around, so thieves and vandals could have more time to work uninterrupted. We locked the bikes using sturdy locks, grabbed our stuff for the pool, and embarked on the next phase of our trip.

The connecting bus stop was across a large parking lot and beneath the shade of an established mesquite tree. There was also a bus shelter available.

Valley Metro Route 72 to Tempe Streetcar

Using the Valley Metro app, we tracked the bus’ progress as it neared our location.

It arrived promptly on time and the driver pleasantly greeted us. My wife’s bus pass scanned without issue, but the QR code on my Valley Metro app gave me some issues. The driver was patient as I fumbled with the app on this Sunday morning.

My challenge with the app’s QR code was not a one-off, unfortunately. The scanners on the buses just don’t read these codes well. It happens nearly every time.

I later purchased a physical “copper card” so that I can bypass scanning my phone screen next time. It’s still a mystery to me on why Valley Metro didn’t incorporate a tap pay system like so many other cities. If you’re interested in a copper card, Valley Metro has more information on their website,

Once my code finally scanned and my fare was paid, we were on our way. Our next destination was the Tempe streetcar stop at Apache and Rural, where we’d take the streetcar to Mill Ave.

The quiet suburban bus ride went by quickly. Once you start to use public transportation and bicycles, you realize that, even in a sprawling city like Phoenix, our personal automobiles aren’t always as efficient as we like to believe.

Our personal cars let us choose our timeframes, our destinations, and our routes. However, when you’re taking a bus along the same route, you often catch the same cars at traffic lights along the way.

Tempe Streetcar: Fun, But Overbuilt?

Unfortunately, as we neared our stop at Apache Boulevard, we watched the streetcar leave the station. The streetcar only runs every 20 minutes, so we had a lengthy wait for the next one. The station provides a safe shaded area to wait, but, when it’s warm outside, it’s not ideal.

The next streetcar arrived at the scheduled time. We scanned our passes again and then showed our passes to a fare inspector aboard the train. Seeing that we were looking at the list of stops, he helped us decide the closest stop to our destination.

While I love the engineering and the novelty of the streetcar, I understand some of the criticism. The streetcar shares traffic lanes with cars and travels along existing roads. I don’t know what it accomplishes that a bus could not. Also, it travels a short distance. I worry critics of public transportation will end up using it to argue against future projects.

Our rooftop pool pass was at a new hotel on Mill Ave, which is Tempe’s commercial downtown district. From our streetcar stop, it was just across the street. Mill Ave was always known for its’ bars and nightclubs. With the continued decline of alcohol consumption as a society, the area is somewhat rebranding. More high rises, offices, and some restaurants are replacing college bars as they close.

Spending the Day Poolside

We checked in at the front desk and headed up to the pool. We spent much of the day beneath the cabana and enjoyed the refreshing water.

Then, at about 2 pm, we headed home. The sun was at its’ full intensity and it was time to get into air conditioning. We repeated our route home without issue and it went just as smoothly.

My only observation is that, even with the eBikes, the heat at the peak of the day was almost unbearable on the ride home. Our short distance home was the furthest I would go.

No matter how acclimated you are to heat, it’s important to remember how quickly it can become dangerous, regardless of your age or fitness level.