Boston’s charm lies significantly in its ancient origins that locals and tourists alike can still sense to this day. The vast expanse of Boston Common, centuries-old churches lining busy streets, and historic event markers all play a role in shaping a familiar image of the city. I firmly believe that no other big city in the United States can claim this aesthetic to the extent that Boston can. This memorable layout does, however, come at a cost.
Anyone who makes a daily commute into the city by car or train will tell you (less nicely than I will) that traveling three miles in 45 minutes is not ideal. People may wonder where the stereotype of the bad Massachusetts driver comes from, but understanding it becomes much easier when you yourself have to shift six lanes in 100 feet during rush hour traffic. Those 100 feet will turn innocent drivers you have never met into obstacles that need to be bypassed at all costs. Everybody engages in this behavior, to the point that you can actually cause more problems if you err on the side of caution. Playing Mario Kart will honestly give you a better feel for driving in Boston than navigating any other city by car (yes, someone has thrown a banana peel out of their window at me).
Driving in Boston does have its benefits, despite the road conditions. Beautiful structures, nature, and parks make for a scenic journey in and around the city. I cannot promise that these views will offset the pain of slowly inching toward your destination, but I will say that I spend my morning and evening drives grateful that I can witness the sunrise and sunset strike the skyline to produce beautiful vistas. Some may ask how I can soak this in while driving. I laugh at the naivety of those who think their car will be moving for the majority of their commute.
In all seriousness, driving in Boston simply takes practice. As a student, I have timed my trips to and from campus so I miss rush hour traffic, and I make sure to be hypervigilant of the cars around me. The lanes tend to be narrower and windier than most, so I take extra caution and move toward the side of the road to have a bigger cushion. This also means that driving a more compact vehicle is preferable if someone has the privilege to choose. Escalades and Silverados still somehow find their way on residential streets, but I honestly admire someone who has enough skill to maneuver those behemoths in Boston without any problems. My biggest piece of advice to any new city drivers is that you should give yourself plenty of time with a new route. You will make a wrong turn or take the wrong exit. If you accidentally manage to make it to your destination without any problems, the issue of parking will haunt you regardless. Parking lots are far and few in-between, and large stretches of open street parking likely mean that you cannot park there. For example, if you park on Commonwealth Ave. during a BC football game, the next car you enter will be an Uber to a tow lot. Overall, cutting it close on time can have drastic consequences when driving in Boston, and whatever burden you endure with an earlier departure will not outweigh the risk of hurrying late to an event.
I do realize that unpredictability with timing can put a lot of strain on commuters. Luckily, Boston’s public transportation, affectionately referred to as the T, is slightly less unpredictable. Having the oldest subway system in the country is one first that shouldn’t necessarily be a source of pride for Bostonians, though. Cars and Green Line trains often share the same space, and it is no surprise that rather than just fitting into the track divots, drivers must adjust their car to avoid a bumpy ride. The lack of radial lines also extends commute times, because commuters are forced to travel all the way into the city to switch lines instead of crossing to another line in a more convenient way. Commuters can at least work, read, and complete other tasks on the T while traveling. You will likely need to wake up earlier wherever you are headed, so you can even plan to sleep on the T to catch up on some well-needed rest. Ok, maybe not that one. Certain sections of track cause trains to screech at ear-shattering decibels. Not even modern noise-cancelling technology can overpower the sound of old trolleys begging for mercy from their Sisyphean task.
Comparative free time is not the only benefit of the T. As I previously mentioned, trains usually follow a strict schedule and any delays will appear on the website and at stations. Buses, unfortunately, share the same fate as cars and often fall victim to running behind. Another under-appreciated aspect of public transit is that it brings humanity closer together. I have had great conversations with strangers, while also engaging in some of the best people-watching the city has to offer. Whatever your preference, the T will surely give you a story to tell.
Other less popular modes of transportation can be an option, as well. Anyone with the ability to bike or walk to work or school should do it. Pedestrians and cyclists hold the positions of nobles on Boston roads. Bike lanes are almost as wide as car lanes, and speaking from personal experience, you can apparently blow by any red light with no repercussions! As a pedestrian, you can find crosswalks at every intersection no matter how convoluted it seems. I clearly fail to hide my bias as a driver, but I do believe the walkability of Boston is unique in this country and should never be taken for granted.
I came to Boston from the not-so-far-away Hartford suburbs. Mark Twain once said Hartford was the most beautiful town in the country, but urban sprawl sent us down a trajectory split from Boston’s path. Easy access by car in Hartford is the result of beautiful buildings and neighborhoods being bulldozed for the sake of massive parking lots and highways. Some of these buildings still remain, but they only serve as a reminder of what the city could and should look like.
I despise traffic and unreliable public transit just as much as anybody else. City planning can always work to improve these conditions, yet I urge readers to think about other cities, such as Hartford, that took a different approach. I have experienced the easy commute of my home and grueling commutes around Boston, and I truly believe that all of the potholes, late buses, and slow traffic is a small price to pay to preserve one of our nation’s premier cities.
Joe Monti is a first-year student at BC Law. Contact him at montij@bc.edu.
BC Law: Impact 