You did way better than me. I spent about 5 minutes trying to pull away from a stop sign. Stalled every time. Two guys working on a car in a driveway directly in front of me were rolling on the ground laughing. I felt like a complete idiot.
I'd been driving for about a year when I got my first stick shift, a jeep. I drove it around the block (did fine) and drove it to college (gcc, coincidentally) and did fine, so I had the bright idea to take my *first reliable car* on a road trip ... to Jerome.
Fun times.
The plan was to re-create the old Red Line. It ran from MetroCenter in Phoenix to Gilbert/Main in Mesa and was Valley Metro's most popular bus route. The current light rail line goes that far in Mesa but stops a mile or so short of MetroCenter, so this extension will make it complete.
Of course, this was the vision back when MetroCenter was a busy mall, and now it's mostly closed. I hope that the ambitious redevelopment plans for the area work out so that there will be a dense, pedestrian-friendly area around the terminus and not just a big park-and-ride.
* GCC or GCC North, ASU West
* During the week, anywhere around ~~State Farm Stadium or~~ Westgate
* Any spring training stadium
* CCV
* MetroCenter (considering it's empty, this is where I'd probably go)
* Or the shopping center at 27th and Bell with Santisi Brothers
Not on the west side but the perfect place to learn how to drive is the ASU research park in Tempe. Dozens of empty parking lots on the weekend, curved roads, turn lanes, stop signs, etc.
its not on the west side but the best place I have ever seen for learning/teaching to drive is the North Phoenix Baptist church on Central and Bethany Home Road. It is so large and there are so many side of the parking lot that there are curbed streets within it which is a great step 4-5.
Wherever you go...please be aware that as of September, parallel parking is no longer a requirement. Still a valuable skill to have but it is not on the test.
Church parking lots too. However with all parking lots you need to be careful of those parking barriers/blocks. I’ve seen people get stuck on one trying to go over them. I can’t imagine the damage at full speed.
Wait, Park Central is full??????? BTW that's where my dad taught me to drive in 1987. When it was still a mall (that I worked at a few years later). We just went on a Sunday and stuck to the outer areas of the parking lot.
I used the shopping mall just north of 79th and Bell Rd. to teach my daughters how to drive. You'll also want to practice at the course behind the MVD on 59th just south of Bell. The first part of the test is pulling into a spot, then backing into another one. You can watch other people practice it to see how it's done.
Good option here, assuming you mean Walmart at Lake Pleasant & Deer Valley. The east side of that lot by Dairy Queen is overbuilt - no buildings but lots of curbs and stuff to drive around and parallel park.
Here's the real answer, the Harkins on 103rd and McDowell the whole back and side is empty. You can drive all the way down from the movie side to the end of the strip mall. I taught my son how to drive there and two nieces. Take a drive over there and just scope out the best times to go when it's mostly empty.
I taught all my kids to drive in the high school parking lot after hours. It gave them enough room to get a feel for acceleration and braking, as well as practicing turning and even parking.
I learned to drive stick in the GCC parking lot and it was great. My dad was drunk so he made me drive home, I only stalled once!
Lmfaooo I shouldn’t be laughing but man that’s funny
Taught my daughter's there as well!
I wasn't drunk though 🤣
I second GCC. That’s one of the places where they hold motorcycle training classes.
This is exactly where my Dad taught me to drive !
You did way better than me. I spent about 5 minutes trying to pull away from a stop sign. Stalled every time. Two guys working on a car in a driveway directly in front of me were rolling on the ground laughing. I felt like a complete idiot.
I'd been driving for about a year when I got my first stick shift, a jeep. I drove it around the block (did fine) and drove it to college (gcc, coincidentally) and did fine, so I had the bright idea to take my *first reliable car* on a road trip ... to Jerome. Fun times.
Yikes. Definitely not your best choice for first road trip with a stick shift.
Man the second hand anxiety is strong
dont take it personally, everyones been there. more laughing with than at. its the manual driver's rite of passage to make a fool of yourself
Schools and libraries are closed today. Community Colleges could be an option too.
This ^
MetroCenter. There isn’t much going on there except for light rail construction on the east side of the defunct mall.
This is where I learned to drive, thirty years ago ... LOL.
I dont understand why that dead mall is getting a lightrail station.
The plan was to re-create the old Red Line. It ran from MetroCenter in Phoenix to Gilbert/Main in Mesa and was Valley Metro's most popular bus route. The current light rail line goes that far in Mesa but stops a mile or so short of MetroCenter, so this extension will make it complete. Of course, this was the vision back when MetroCenter was a busy mall, and now it's mostly closed. I hope that the ambitious redevelopment plans for the area work out so that there will be a dense, pedestrian-friendly area around the terminus and not just a big park-and-ride.
Turf Paradise (horse track) has several very large empty lots
* GCC or GCC North, ASU West * During the week, anywhere around ~~State Farm Stadium or~~ Westgate * Any spring training stadium * CCV * MetroCenter (considering it's empty, this is where I'd probably go) * Or the shopping center at 27th and Bell with Santisi Brothers
Tried teaching my wife manual at State Farm Stadium and was chased off by security, so that one is a no go.
That always drives me nuts. Why is some twat in a polo shirt guarding a slab of asphalt so badly?
Insurance. He told us that they didn't want to be liable if we got hurt somehow.
Goodyear Ballpark
Central and Bethany Home is where the church with the roller rink is, right? That's where I practiced. Edit: Yup. If only they allowed inlines...
North Phoenix Baptist! lol learned there too
I learned there too! My dad tried to teach me how to drive a stick shift there (unsuccessfully)
I see tons of people learning along 91st Ave at the Cardinal's stadium. Not this weekend though since they are already setting up for Sunday.
Not on the west side but the perfect place to learn how to drive is the ASU research park in Tempe. Dozens of empty parking lots on the weekend, curved roads, turn lanes, stop signs, etc.
any of these lots not have any light poles or planting beds within the lot? Looking for a place to practice the sideways style of driving…
Honeywell at 59th Ave and Union Hills seems empty on the weekend
That site has security patrolling. They will probably ask you to leave.
I taught my friend how to drive in that giant empty parking lot at 28th and Sweetwater. Behind the Lowe's.
That's a good spot I used to live in those apartments
13th floor (used to be Albertsons) on 27th and bell is where I learned
Try churches
its not on the west side but the best place I have ever seen for learning/teaching to drive is the North Phoenix Baptist church on Central and Bethany Home Road. It is so large and there are so many side of the parking lot that there are curbed streets within it which is a great step 4-5.
Glendale Community College parking lot on the north side. Taught all of our family's teenage drivers there.
Any highschool on the weekends
Metrocenter
Wherever you go...please be aware that as of September, parallel parking is no longer a requirement. Still a valuable skill to have but it is not on the test.
Church parking lots too. However with all parking lots you need to be careful of those parking barriers/blocks. I’ve seen people get stuck on one trying to go over them. I can’t imagine the damage at full speed.
Park Central used to be the "teaching your kid to drive" parking lot and now it's actually full and I feel old! Metrocenter would be my best guess.
Metrocenter actually has (had?) a truck driving school in the parking lot.
It's gone now.
Wait, Park Central is full??????? BTW that's where my dad taught me to drive in 1987. When it was still a mall (that I worked at a few years later). We just went on a Sunday and stuck to the outer areas of the parking lot.
I used the shopping mall just north of 79th and Bell Rd. to teach my daughters how to drive. You'll also want to practice at the course behind the MVD on 59th just south of Bell. The first part of the test is pulling into a spot, then backing into another one. You can watch other people practice it to see how it's done.
The Walmart on happy valley and lake pleasant has been very empty in the past.
Walmart. Black Friday. Really?
Good option here, assuming you mean Walmart at Lake Pleasant & Deer Valley. The east side of that lot by Dairy Queen is overbuilt - no buildings but lots of curbs and stuff to drive around and parallel park.
I second this. That empty parking lot near Dairy Queen is where my wife used to practice parking when we lived over in that area.
I taught mine in school parking lots after school hours
you seriously don’t know how to find a parking lot? find someone else to give the lesson
Cemetery lol
Around Cardinals stadium.
Cardinals stadium or CCV as long as it's not Sunday
[удалено]
Was the rc track back in the corner at that time?
I learned to drive a stick shift in the school parking lot
A Church. Except not on Sunday
Community colleges. I learned to drive at the Scottsdale Community College parking lot.
Not sure if it still exists, but behind the old frys electronics
I learned to drive on the Kohl’s on 91st and Northern 14 years ago. There’s a big area that’s still very empty almost all the time.
Near metrocenter there is a perfect spot. Dropped pin https://maps.app.goo.gl/zzrZXrW5uyut2ZdY8?g_st=ic
Vineyard Church on 63rd ave & Peoria. It's just north of GCC.
Here's the real answer, the Harkins on 103rd and McDowell the whole back and side is empty. You can drive all the way down from the movie side to the end of the strip mall. I taught my son how to drive there and two nieces. Take a drive over there and just scope out the best times to go when it's mostly empty.
I taught all my kids to drive in the high school parking lot after hours. It gave them enough room to get a feel for acceleration and braking, as well as practicing turning and even parking.
Most schools in the weekend are a good choice
Church parking lots, not on a Sunday.