Comments on: How to Get Around Boston on the Cheap

on 11/22/2005 Although the 'T' is one of the most convenient ways to get around Boston it can be quite a pain especially during rush hour, or if the weather is bad.

If you need to be somewhere at a certain time, leave yourself enough time to make up for any 'T' issues.

Buy your tokens before you run out, because waiting on long lines isn't fun and sometimes the booth people are mean.

Use the maps on the 'T' stations to find out where you are going. Some of the MBTA works are a little less than helpful.

The 'E' line is the only one that doesn't go to Kenmore.

on 11/22/2005 Parking in Boston can be a nightmare but it doesn't have to be. Here are a few tips to get you started.

1) Look for signs.
2) Parking meters are free after 6 pm.
3) Out of order parking meters have a 1 hour limit (up until 6 pm).
4) Do not park at the Aquarium Parking Garage (it is a rip off).
5) Try parking meters along Commonwealth Avenue area (Back Bay) and the Boston University Campus area.
6) Park on Broadway St. in Arlington or the side roads between Broadway and Mass Ave., or on Mass Ave. itself.
I prefer Broadway because you can connect with the #87 MBTA bus which allows for easy access and frequent access to the city. You will end up either at Davis Square (red line) or the Lechemere (green line) stop in Cambridge.
7) If you become a member of the Museum of Science you can park at the Museum of Science. Some of the membership plans offer $2.00 off every time you park at the museum. After 5 pm the rate is $4.50 for members the rest of the day.
8) Park at the many subway station lots on the Orange Line. Oak Grove (Malden/Medford), Malden Center, Wellington garage, and Sullivan Square are decent choices. Price usually around $3.00 to park or $4.00.
9) You might try Constitution Beach or parking along Revere Beach and taking the Blue Line in. Constitution Beach has parking spots at the Beach and especially during the summer, they would not know you weren't at the beach.
10) You might also try parking along Bennington St. in East Boston across from the shopping plaza, near the overpass to the beach. There are some free spaces here and also a 2 hour limit parking (until 6 pm).
11) Park at Anderson RTC center in Woburn and take the Logan Express into the Airport. Or, Park at the Anderson Woburn RTC and take the commuter Rail into the city.
12) Park in Winchester for free on some side streets near the center. Walk to the train and take the train.
13) Park in Quincy Along Sea St. and take the bus into the "T" (red line)
14) Around the Fleet Center there are some Tow zone signs. Look for these signs and read them. They say that you can park there after 6 pm. With the exception of Saturdays and Sundays, when the Tow zone's are not in effect. Try the Friend St. area just beyond the fleet center.
15) The North End is tricky, but you might get lucky on Hanover St. with a 2 hour parking space. I'd recommend parking elsewhere and taking the 'T' or walking.
16) Boston Common garage is a garage underneath the Boston common. It is a pretty decent parking area.
17) Try Fitzinn Parking lots around Boston.
18) Go to the parking garage at Boston University's Agganis Arena. They charge (currently in 2005) $1.00 for each hour $8.00 maximum. Green line access on Comm Ave.
19) Consider parking in Brighton at the 2 hour parking spaces or at parking meters. Parking meters shut off at 6 pm. 2 hour parking signs are good till 6 pm then free parking. Green line access nearby.
20) If you are picking someone up at the airport (Logan), go through the tunnel to the airport (the Callahan)
and exit at the local exit. When you see the Santarpio's pizza, go straight to the stop sign. Go through the stop sign and the next light. You'll see some parking spaces on the right. Usually there is a space or two open along here (2 hour parking) until 6 pm. You can come a little after 4 pm and you're home free. If you are picking someone up from the airport. Park here. Then walk back up the street to the traffic light and turn right. You will enter the driveway to the park and the pedestrian walkway to the Airport blue line station. Go into the station and walk around to where the shuttle busses leave for the terminals. Terminal A and B is bus number 22 and C, D, E is bus 33. Busses are free.
21) Consider parking at Porter Square Shopping Center in Cambridge, it's pretty hard to tell when you are a shopper or someone parking there as a commuter unless you stay all hours of the day. If you're going into town for a few hours its usually fine.
22) Park in Winchester along Main St. (route 38) up by Andrea's Pizza, or on some of the side roads. Catch the #134 bus to Wellington Station (orange line)
23) Consider parking at the Twin City Plaza in Somerville and walk to Lechemere station down the street.
24) Park along some of the side roads of Wakefield or Lake Quannapowit, and walk down to the MBTA station (commuter rail).
25) Park along Vassar St. (Cambridge) (MIT) or (Memorial drive) and walk along the river and across one of the bridges into town.
26) Try for parking spaces in Brighton and or Newton, or Brookline along the green line. Sometimes they are free spaces, other times 2 hour space (check before you park).

on 11/22/2005 Taking the bus is your best bet. It's only 80 cents, but you can just throw a handful of change in and they won't say anything. Also, if you're getting on a green line trolley, a lot of the times you can sneak on since you pay the fare when you get on (like a bus).