One of the most significant aspects of life in Phoenix is transportation.

In short, it's a city where living without a car is very inconvenient. It doesn't have a structure like New York or Chicago, where you can get anywhere by subway.

Public transportation in Phoenix is operated by Valley Metro. There are light rail and bus routes, with the light rail running from downtown Phoenix to Mesa, Chandler, and Tempe. The ASU Tempe campus is along the light rail line, so many students use it.

However, the route coverage is limited, and it falls short of covering the entire Phoenix area. The bus routes are quite diverse, but the intervals between buses are long, and especially in suburban areas, public transportation is virtually nonexistent.

As a result, car ownership in the Phoenix metro area is almost essential. The average number of vehicles per household is relatively high compared to other major cities in the U.S. Major commuting routes like I-10, I-17, US-60, Loop 101, and Loop 202 experience significant congestion during morning and evening rush hours. In particular, the downtown section of I-10 and the northern section of Loop 101 have heavy traffic.

Uber and Lyft operate well, so short-term visitors without cars often use them. A cycling culture has developed in some areas, and the city of Phoenix operates a public bike-sharing system called Grid Bike Share.

However, it's too hot to ride a bike in the summer, and Phoenix is not a city with well-developed cycling infrastructure.

If you're planning to move to Phoenix, be aware that having a vehicle is essential.