How difficult is it to live in Boston without a car?

[Lavender Brown]

I've been to Boston, but haven't had much experience with the public transportation there. Does it pretty much depend on the neighborhood you live in? Thanks. :hi:

[ET Awful]

1. It's not hard at all. If there isn't a T stop nearby, there's always a

bus stop within walking distance (in my experience anyway). The first 3 years I ilved there, the only time I drove a car was to go grocery shopping. I always took the bus and then the T to work, etc.

[Lavender Brown]

5. Thanks!

Do most commuters have to take both the bus and the train?

[Gormy Cuss]

7. Bus/subway combos are common but so is single mode.

Depends on where you live and where you're commuting. I knew many people who commuted via bus alone. The MBTA has a great network of service for Boston and the older suburbs, less so for the further out towns but commuter rail reaches far out destinations.

If you live in or commute to Boston/Cambridge area, the T is better than hassling with traffic and parking on weekdays. If you can justify dumping the car all together, you'll save a bundle, more than enough to justify the occasional cab ride or car rental.

[Lavender Brown]

8. I see

Thanks for the info!

[Kathy in Cambridge]

2. A car is a liability in Boston

on street parking is rare, parking garages are outrageously expensive, and traffic sucks. That being said, public trans is the way to go. Try to live close to one of the major subway lines. In the outer suburbs, you definitely need a car.

On edit: car insurance is really expensive here too.

[Pied Piper]

3. Agreed.

It's much easier to just rent a car when you need one, or you could try zipcar.com

[Lavender Brown]

4. Much like New York, I guess

I actually prefer not having my car, so any city that has a good subway system is right for me, as long as the commute isn't too complicated. Thanks! :)

[jmm]

6. Yeah what she said!

My mom likes to nag my brother and I about buying cars. Every time she does I respond we only will if she can come to our neighborhoods and find us parking spaces first. This winter some of his roommates were getting as many as $1,000 worth of parking tickets a month. Even when the weather is nice and snow removal isn't an issue they still have the misfortune of living on a main road near a town line. They can't park in the other town but they can't park near their apartment because they live in an area where even residents can't park for more than two hours.

[Rockholm]

9. No Car Needed. If you need one, rent one.

Zip Car rents cars by the hour. New cars, good cars, efficient and inexpensive.

[rox63]

10. I have a friend in Boston who's never owned a car

Most recently she's lived in Brighton, where she has to take a bus. But a year ago she lived in Brookline, and just took the green line subway from the T stop a couple of blocks from her apt. Depending on what area you're in, there's usually a bus or subway stop nearby. And you can get one of those folding carts with wheels for grocery shopping. And it's not just Boston. Brookline, Cambridge and Somerville also have pretty good access to public transit. Don't know about the other towns nearby.

Here's a link to the MBTA web site. Check it out: http://www.mbta.com/

[BlondieK143]

11. Thanks for posting this!

Going through the same dilemma!

[Say_What]

12. Used to live there and for a couple years had no car. It was not

a problem--rented a car if I wanted to go somewhere outside of Boston. Walking everywhere is great and there's also the T, which I think is still very good.

[unhappycamper]

13. Don't forget car insurance.

I'm 50+ and live in one of 27 (I think) towns that comprise the City of Boston.

Never had a moving traffic violation.
Never had an accident.
Don't have kids.
Drive a paid-for 1998 Mustang (6-banger!)
Carry the mandatory minimums on my policy with NO comprehensive.

Last year's insurance bill: $1,142.

[kalibex]

14. I've found zipcar useful.

Lets you access cars parked at various spots all over the city, for an annual plus an hourly fee - but the company takes care of the insurance, parking, maintenance, gas, etc...

Typical examples: I just signed up for an hour and a half the other day to go pick up a small piece of furniture I'd bought. On Dad's day I used a zipcar to go visit my folks for the afternoon in central MA.

Check it out at:

http://www.zipcar.com

-B

[-..__...]

15. It can be done...

but, depending on your needs, lifestyle and work schedule it can be a pain in the ass.

It's not so bad now, but try waiting in freezing weather for a bus on a Sunday and you'll wish you had the luxury of a vehicle with heat that works at your convenience.

One consideration: expect to be paying a little bit more in rent the closer you live to a subway line.

Also, consider purchasing a monthly T-Pass. Some workplaces offer them at a discount or partial pay.