PinkBike, I feel your pain... I would never ride in downtown Tempe . I used to ride my bike the mile from Hardy Drive through Ash St. to campus in grad school (all while wearing a sundress and NO HELMET) and even that was scary in 1978. I do remember riding down Rural Rd. between Elliot and Chandler Blvd. in a big wide bike lane in the 80s. But, it was still scary, so I quit riding.
Yes, Tucson is more bike friendly, and to me more what AZ is supposed to be.
BTW, I did just retire and I am pretty sure those cars around here in MA are still going to be acting poorly! I just finished reading the local paper and there were 2 incidences of "cyclist-car rage" in the police log and one woman was taken to the hospital. I haven't had too many issues, but I don't ride in urban area with lots of parked cars. And when I lead rides, I am very firm, using my school teacher voice about riding single file (like, "Get in line now!").