<p>Valley Metro is building a streetcar line along Apache that will connect with light rail. Won’t be finished in the fall, but sometime the next year. They were doing vibration testing for that when I was there recently.</p>
<p>Tempe has free neighborhood circulator Orbit buses that run every 15-20 minutes, most of which run through part of campus and then to other parts of Tempe.</p>
<p>There is a Safeway grocery/Office Max a half mile south of Barrett on Rural Rd.</p>
<p>If you are from a colder climate, you will find that during the hot months, until mid-October or so, you need to do any bicycle shopping in the cooler evenings, so get lights.</p>
<p>D’s 3 roommates all have cars, but not freshmen and they have specific need. 2 are from Phoenix area and have jobs far off campus with inconvenient transportation options. The third is in a sport that has practices and competition also far off campus. If you don’t have a real need for a car, I wouldn’t recommend bringing one. </p>
<p>Not many people drive there from Midwest. It’s a 2-day drive, well over $100 gas + hotel. Much better to fly, especially if you live in a place with direct flights.</p>
<p>But OMG the roads there are like heaven to drive on. No potholes, wide lanes, long turning lanes, clear sightlines, nobody tailing you, well marked, enormous streetside parking spaces(pricey, but big.) Nothing like that anywhere in the Midwest.</p>