The Valley Metro plays an important role in providing transportation for people who do not want to drive or do not have a vehicle. According to Valley Metro estimates, nearly 68 million riders will use the bus and light rail in 2010, up from 38 million riders in 2000. In that 10 year span, the population and cost of fuel have increased.
The bus routes primarily run east to west and north to south. As of October 2010, riders can go as far east in the metro area as Power Road in Mesa; as far south as Chandler Boulevard in Chandler; as far west as Luke Air Force Base in Glendale and as far north as Happy Valley Road in Phoenix.
Valley Metro has transit centers where riders can park their cars to take the bus into the city or other destinations in the valley. Many of the larger malls have transit centers. Some transit centers have drinking water, shelters, bike racks, pay telephones and information kiosks. The centers are also places where riders can transfer from one route to another.
Besides bus service on the city streets, Valley Metro operates light rail that runs through west Mesa to north central Phoenix at Camelback Road and 23rd Avenue as of October 2010. Riders can take express buses that operate in the morning and afternoon rush hours that have limited stops. Not all routes operate on holidays and Sundays. Riders can use the bike racks on the front of the buses to transport their bicycles.
