Southwest - Moving to Flagstaff

I am planning on transferring to Flagstaff to finish by geology degree at NAU within the next year. I am planning to visit the area in the next couple months, but wanted to ask some cycling specific questions here.

I basically live car-free and currently commute on a road bike. I have noticed from pictures I have seen of the Flagstaff area that most people are on mountain bikes. Is this mainly during the winter or are their other reasons for it?

What are some good areas to look at for off campus housing? I will be married when I transfer out there so living in the standard dorm room wont most likely be an option.

How well does the public transportation system work?

I don't know much about living in Flag, especially car free living, but one reason there are so many MTBs is because it is a prime MTBing location.

Hey Cradduck, glad to hear you're thinking of Flagstaff. I'm currently living on campus here at NAU, so I can't help you terribly much in the housing department other than to let you know that anything north of the tracks will cost you an exorbitant amount of money. I used to commute on a Kona Smoke and the skinnies on it were perfect for Flag from late-February to late-November.

Like Noisebeam said, there are so many mountain bikes in Flag (mine included!) because there is so much awesome mountain biking to be done in the area. The city has a relatively large population of bike-only commuters, to include many of the professors here at NAU. I have had friends that have commuted in many different cities and most of them have said that Flagstaff is only rivaled (or destroyed) by cities like Portland.

Just send me a PM if you have any specific questions!

NAU is high on my list of schools to do my MS in geology, so I'm interested to know what living is like there. I'm nearing being finished with my BS in geology at Mesa State College in Grand Jct, CO.

I am planning on transferring to Flagstaff to finish by geology degree at NAU within the next year. I am planning to visit the area in the next couple months, but wanted to ask some cycling specific questions here.

I basically live car-free and currently commute on a road bike. I have noticed from pictures I have seen of the Flagstaff area that most people are on mountain bikes. Is this mainly during the winter or are their other reasons for it?

What are some good areas to look at for off campus housing? I will be married when I transfer out there so living in the standard dorm room wont most likely be an option.

How well does the public transportation system work?

I commute each day to NAU on an old Centurian 12 spd. It is very easy to get around town on a bike for most of the year but I'd consider adding some aggresive tread 1.25 or so tires if you're planning on using a road bike in the winter months. There is a great urban trail system in place that is useful for getting around town. I haven't used the public transportation but it is in place and an electric bus was recently added to the fleet. I see them all over town so I'm assuming it is a convenient way to get around.

The Mountainaire and Kachina areas, located ~ 6 miles south of town, are much more reasonably priced them most in-town locations. I know of many people that commute from these areas but a few miles of the ride would be on Interstate 17. There is another way that would require a mile or so on a well graded dirt road that leads to Highway 89A.

Good luck with your move. I work at NAU and it is a wonderful campus.

I lived in Flag from 88 to 92 while going to NAU and unless things have changed drastically there is no pubic transportation system. Part of our bike team lives and trains in Flag so I know the cycling is good, but traffic around the area is pretty horrible as are the roads. As for housing try a google search, but be prepared, prices are a little on the high side.

I lived in Flag from 88 to 92 while going to NAU and unless things have changed drastically there is no pubic transportation system. Part of our bike team lives and trains in Flag so I know the cycling is good, but traffic around the area is pretty horrible as are the roads. As for housing try a google search, but be prepared, prices are a little on the high side.

Things have indeed changed drastically. Flagstaff now has bus service on five routes, and voters recently passed four different ballot initiatives increasing funding for the system. Also, the Urban Trail system is expanding all the time, and connects various parts of the city, so you can actually use it to get around.

+1 on the cost of housing. There are a number of apartment complexes close to campus, but they fill up quickly. Housing rentals are quite high, and are mostly done by word of mouth, especially those in the downtown area.

I lived in Flag from 88 to 92 while going to NAU and unless things have changed drastically there is no pubic transportation system. Part of our bike team lives and trains in Flag so I know the cycling is good, but traffic around the area is pretty horrible as are the roads. As for housing try a google search, but be prepared, prices are a little on the high side.

The most popular road biking route in the area, down past Lake Mary and around Mormon Lake, has very little traffic. You'll only see a handful of cars on a weekday ride and even on the weekends it isn't bad. The majority of the route has very wide shoulders and the road surface is really nice. I've ridden Highway 180 up toward Grand Canyon and while there isn't much of a shoulder, it is a nice ride but it does have heavy traffic on summer weekends. Overall, the traffic here is much mellower than most any other place I've ridden; certainly in Arizona. I've never been run off the road, yelled at, flipped off, or messed with in any way from someone in a car.

In town traffic isn't any worse than any other comparably sized town. There are numerous bike lanes and routes that are very bike friendly. The only time it gets a little crazy is on summer weekends with nutty out-of-towners with their big city impatient driving habits.

All in all, Flag is the most bike friendly place I've lived. Local drivers are used to cyclists and have been, to me anyway, extremely courteous.

I was in Flag for some days last year to take a break in a cycling-tour. Relaxed town, nce people, moderate traffic. Nice memories at the magnificent tour into Oak Creek Canyon.
Sorry, not much helpful I presume
Write a post in the Lonely Planet's Thorntree Forum I would suggest, there are some real Flagstaff experts (a.o. someone called Flagstuff)
Arie

I graduated from NAU in 2002. Mtn biking is huge in flag because of the mountain. Also, the weather makes getting around on a mtn bike super easy. I was a little brave and always used a SS to commute. Initially, I lived on campus, moved off "Lumberjack Hill," then moved back on.

Please enjoy your time in Flagstaff, I can't tell you how much I miss the city. How much I wish I didn't play that one extra video game and instead took a hike or ride.

BTW, check out Coconino Cycles, good guys.

I graduated from NAU in 2002. Mtn biking is huge in flag because of the mountain. Also, the weather makes getting around on a mtn bike super easy. I was a little brave and always used a SS to commute. Initially, I lived on campus, moved off "Lumberjack Hill," then moved back on.

Please enjoy your time in Flagstaff, I can't tell you how much I miss the city. How much I wish I didn't play that one extra video game and instead took a hike or ride.

BTW, check out Coconino Cycles, good guys.

Was Coconino Cycles the place on South San Francisco? They've been closed for a number of years now. It is still strange not having a bike shop in that building because one had been there for many years.

Most people are on mountain bikes because the trails are amazing. The town is also quite small so you usually don't need more than a mountain bike, lots of dirt urban trails, dirt short cuts, rough roads, lots of stop lights, whipping in and out of small streets, curbs, stairs. If you want to ride a road bike you really need to head out of town.

I was there in 90-96 and didn't have a car for a couple of those years. It was not a problem at all.

Flagstaff Mountain bike Trails (http://www.whereweride.com/mountain-bike/arizona/flagstaff/Default.aspx)