What is the best method of transportation in Boston, and surrounding area.?

Question

A friend of mine is moving there, I would like to by a subway pass or commuter rail pass. What is the difference and what is more useful?

Answer 1

Well it depends where exactly your friend moves. Because if they are directly in the city, a subway pass would be more helpful. It is easy to get around on the subway and walking. If you don't know the roads, driving can be confusing. Personally, I drive a lot of places, but only in the areas I know well. The commuter rail is for extended trips outside of the city, generally. If you are going to be going around the city, then the subway pass will come in handy. At www.mbta.com you can see the actual routes, and maybe decide from there.

Answer 2

It really depends on where your friend is going to live. The subway really only reaches the Boston and its immediate surroundings, wheras the Commuter Rail goes much farther out (even to Providence, Rhode Island). In general, unless your friend is going to have a car, most people tend to like living within walking distance to a Subway stop (or a bus stop). See the MBTA website below for more details. (the MBTA runs the subway and commuter rail)

Answer 3

if you have a way to get to a t-station, and if you plan on shopping boston, going out to eat, visiting different parts of the city buy subway passes. the subways will take you every place in boston. there are 4 or 5 different lines.

if you don't live in or don't have a car to get to the t-station and you want to visit your friend alot i would recommend commuter rail passes. the purple line or commuter rail gets you in and out of boston, but not around boston.

if your friend lives in brookline or brighton i would drive in.

Answer 4

the best way to get around boston? Strap on your hikers and WALK. Seriously. The city is beautiful, everything is close together, and there are a thousand nooks and crannies you miss if you take the T. Parking is horrendous, as is trying to figure out what streets you can or can't take this week due to the Big Dig. The streets are all circular and it's very easy to get lost driving around if you don't know where you're going. Just walk around and you can easily get to all the 'good' places.

Answer 5

The best way to get around Boston is the T without question. Just try not traveling during Rush Hour because some of those small trains get crowded quickly.