Travels - Boston - Transportation

I purchased this helpful travel guide for my trip.

Instead of being an encyclopedia of facts,
it organizes your trip based on interests, time available and location.

My Goal: Eat chowder, lobster and take pretty pictures.
Bee's Goal: Shop till we drop.

This guide sooo helpful!!!

TRANSPORTATION
One thing I love about larger cities on the east coast is they seem to have rather efficient and useful public transportation systems. When you mention San Francisco's system (MUNI), the first word that comes to mind is unreliable. I like how many of the stops tell you how long until the next bus, but the idea of a schedule is just crazy.

The "T".
It takes you pretty much anywhere in this big college town you want to go. Every stop seems to be about a block, if not right in front of a college. The cars are clean. I never waited more than a few minutes. Forget calling a taxi- above ground, underground, to the airport. Anywhere you go, it only costs $2. What a deal!

I think this is smart. Travelers can exit out of any ticket booth so there isn't a bottleneck of people trying to find their tickets to exit. No penalty if you lose your ticket before exiting. There is no confusion over how much is left on your card or how much a particular destination is going to cost you.

Tickets for the "T" are called Charlie tickets. These are inserted into the ticket booths.






If you load a Charlie card, rides are less than $2. These are held against the sensor. Get one of these if you want to be a cool kid.

 

At the Government Center stop you can even get Dunkin Donuts.

People here must love Dunkin Donuts. That must be why they are everywhere.

If you love your Car.

Cars are no fun in Boston. Not only do you NOT have a Dunkin Donuts waiting in your passenger seat, parking can be tough to find. If you want to park close to a sporting event, be prepared to pay for it. If you would like to make a lot of money here, own a parking lot near a stadium.

Exhibit A.

Yes this lot charges $40 per car. 

Exhibit B.

And this gas station makes more money by turning itself into a parking lot during Red Sox games than actually selling gasoline.

If you want to leave the car at home and have a newfound appreciation for the "T", here is more information: http://www.mbta.com/
Most travel guides and maps at the airport include maps.