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| Home > City Guide - Boston - Getting Around | ||
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Getting Around Public Transport The Massachusetts Bay Transport Authority (MBTA), 10 Park Plaza (tel: (617) 222 3200; website: www.mbta.com), operates four subway lines (blue, green, red and orange), which spread out from a central point at Park Street Station, at the northeast corner of Boston Common. The ‘T’, as the system is known, began in 1897 and is the oldest in the USA. The lines run Monday-Saturday 0515-2430 and Sunday 0600-2430. MBTA also runs 13 commuter rail lines, five boat services and 170 bus routes. The public buses are cheaper and have many more stops than the subway but can be more difficult to orientate. A single fare costs US$1 on the subway and US$0.75 on buses, with passes (Boston Visitor’s Passport) for one day (US$6), three days (US$11) and seven days (US$22) valid on both. Route maps are available at all stations. Driving in the City Boston is not on a simple grid plan, curving as it does to accommodate both the Charles River, running more or less west–east, and the coastline, running more or less north–south. To add to this, the ‘Big Dig’ is underway. This is the most expensive tunnel-rebuilding project in America’s history – and the underground portion of the ‘Big Dig’ is scheduled for completion around 2005, while the rest is even further away in 2008. This means that most of the city’s central roads are continually re-routed, dug up, diverted; generally rendering driving difficult – for both residents and visitors. Parking can also be confusing with many areas having local residents’ rules and public parking lots being expensive. A car is only necessary for locations outside the city. Much of the central part of Boston was built before cars and so lends itself to exploration on foot, while public transport in and around Boston is good and inexpensive. Taxis Taxis are plentiful and can be hailed on the street or reserved by telephone, but they are not cheap. All rides within the city are metered at US$1.50 for the first quarter-mile, then at US$1 for each subsequent half-mile. Pick-ups from hotels will incur surcharges. There are plenty of companies including: Boston Cab Association (tel: (617) 536 5010); Bay State Taxi Service (tel: (617) 566 5000); Checker Taxi (tel: (617) 536 7000); City Cab (tel: (617) 536 5100); Green Cab Association (tel: (617) 628 0600); Metro Cab (tel: (617) 242 8000) and Town Taxi (tel: (317) 536 5000). Over the river in Cambridge, providers include: Ambassador Brattle Cab (tel: (617) 492 1100; website: www.brattlecourier.com) and Cambridge Taxi (tel: (617) 498 0006). Water Taxis An interesting way to get to know the inner city area is to use the water taxis, which run throughout the year both as commuter taxis and as ordinary water-buses. City Water Taxi (tel: (617) 422 0392 or (800) 235 6426; website: www.choicemall.com/citywatertaxi) operates ten waterfront stops (Monday-Saturday 0700-2200, Sunday 0700-2000), with all tickets priced at US$10. Shuttles run to Logan International Airport with Harbor Express (tel: (617) 376 8417; website: www.harborexpress.com), which costs US$12 from Downtown. They also operate services to South Shore at Quincy Shipyard, costing US$5. Limousines Limousines are available from: Boston Private Car Inc (tel: (800) 546 6123; website: www.1800limo123.com); The Limo (tel: (888) 290 0095; website: www.thelimoboston.com) and Ultimate Professional Livery Service (tel: (617) 437 8800; website: www.ultimatedelivery.com). Basic hourly rates start from around US$55 not including extras, such as toll fees and a tip of 20% for the driver. Car Hire Hire cars are available from Alamo (tel: (800) 327 9633; website: www.goalamo.com); Avis (tel: (800) 331 1212; website: www.avis.com); Budget (tel: (800) 527 0700; website: www.budgetrentacar.com); Dollar (tel: (800) 800 4000; website: www.dollar.com); Enterprise (tel: (800) 325 8007; website: www.enterprise.com); Hertz (tel: (800) 654 3131; website: www.hertz.com); National (tel: (800) 227 7368; website: www.nationalcar.com) and Thrifty (tel: (800) 367 2277; website: www.thrifty.com). Most car hire companies require drivers to be over 25 years of age or impose surcharges. Weekly rates start from between US$150 and US$250. Bicycle Hire Cycling on the city streets of Boston is not for the fainthearted and only brave locals do it. There are scenic cycle paths, however, along the Charles River. Places to hire bicycles include: The Community Bike Shop, 496 Tremont Street, in South End (tel: (617) 542 8623), and Back Bay Bicycles, 336 Newbury Street (tel: (617) 247 2336; website: www.backbaybicycles.com). Day rates are US$20-35 and two-hour hire costs around US$10. |
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