(Thank you to all that serve our country.)
The Metro Light Rail is one of the most expensive, most controversial and most useful public projects Arizona has undertaken. Sure, in its infancy the light rail hasn’t lessened traffic all that much, but it’s going to take more than 18 months to convince Arizonans to give up their sprawl lifestyles and move closer to public transit.
For all the hassle, Metro light rail has been a boon for ASU students, ASU sports, both the Diamondbacks and the Suns and allowed residents to attend downtown Phoenix or Tempe events with MUCH less parking hassle.
Yet no one has talked about one of its more indirect uses, as a running path. The well-lit, approximately half-mile apart stations make for perfect water breaks, and the parallel sidewalks make it easy to calculate distances. Sure, we all COULD run on the softer canal, but after dark, those places are scary, don’t jive well with barefooters/minimalists and lack the requisite drinking fountains, at least in the downtown Phoenix area.
While there definitely could be a lot more activity along the line (businesses and entertainment) after dark, running is one activity that this downtown Phoenix resident is glad can now be easily done in the not-as-hot evening hours.
Be sure to wave when you go by!
-Notice I say parallel sidewalks. I don’t actually run ON the light rail track. Though I did before it became operational.
